The reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris over the weekend, five years after the devastating fire, was a historic moment for the world. Yet the event also served as a striking illustration of the dramatic shift in global perceptions of American leadership as President-elect Donald Trump appeared alongside world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump’s presence underscored a stark contrast to the waning visibility of President Joe Biden, whose absence from the ceremony and diminishing presence on the world stage did not go unnoticed.
While there’s still over a month until Trump officially takes office, his Paris visit painted a vivid picture of a man already assuming the mantle of leadership. Footage of Trump engaging with global leaders circulated widely, projecting strength and competence. As CNN’s Scott Jennings remarked, the optics couldn’t be clearer: the world is ready to move forward under Trump’s leadership.
Folks forgot what it was like to have a strong American president. Trump’s visit to France lets the world know that America is back, baby. https://t.co/36izBrxqGW
— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) December 7, 2024
Contrast this with President Biden, whose recent international appearances have been marred by gaffes and missteps. Jennings pointedly highlighted Biden’s lack of engagement during his Africa trip, his absence at the Notre Dame reopening, and even his forgettable presence at a White House tree-lighting ceremony, where he appeared disheveled. These moments stand in sharp relief against Trump’s poised interactions with foreign dignitaries, underscoring a readiness for a more assertive presidency.
The Notre Dame reopening wasn’t merely symbolic. As Jennings noted, it was a moment of deep significance to Catholics and Christians worldwide—a constituency Biden, a self-proclaimed devout Catholic, might have been expected to honor with his presence. Instead, it was Trump who seized the moment, signaling a return to the strong, visible American leadership many believe has been missing for the past four years.
Jennings praised Trump’s approach, calling him “the power center of the United States” even before his inauguration. He emphasized how the president-elect has already begun laying the groundwork for tackling the global and domestic challenges left behind by the Biden administration. Jennings noted, “This is going to be an active start to this presidency. And the rest of the world responds to leadership. We’ve not had a strong president; we have one now, and everybody knows it.”
🚨🔥@ScottJenningsKY lays out the hard facts to CNN: The world has moved on from Joe Biden:
“The rest of the world is already treating Trump like he is the power center of the United States.”
“The rest of the world responds to leadership. We’ve not had a strong President. We… pic.twitter.com/u8bSYGfzjD
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) December 9, 2024
While Trump’s appearance in Paris was met with widespread praise, it only further highlighted the shortcomings of Biden’s tenure. His absence from such a momentous event, coupled with his faltering public appearances, has fueled criticism of a presidency increasingly viewed as weak and disengaged. Even CNN’s own Jessica Dean admitted the stark contrast, calling Trump’s actions “striking” and acknowledging the unmistakable shift in how the world perceives American leadership.
Biden’s presidency, bookended by a string of domestic and international failures, is drawing to a close with little fanfare. As Jennings noted, the “world has moved on.” Trump’s proactive diplomacy and visible presence at events like the Notre Dame reopening reflect a leader ready to reassert America’s place on the global stage—a sharp pivot from the passive approach that has characterized the Biden era.
