French officials resolved an awkward seating dilemma when Notre Dame reopened on Saturday, placing first lady Brigitte Macron between the wives and daughters of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Joe Biden , sitting in the front row of the ceremony.
The appearance of Trump and the outgoing president’s family shortly after one of the most heated campaigns in U.S. history created a headache for protocol planners.
Trump has always mocked Biden as “Sleepy Joe,” while Biden called Trump a “threat to democracy” and publicly stated on the eve of the November 5 vote that he believed Trump was a “fascist.”
The future 47th president was treated like a VIP in Paris on Saturday, sitting in the front row of the congregation to the right of French President Emmanuel Macron.
Jill Biden, who represented the outgoing president, and the couple’s daughter Ashley also sat in the front row, but Bridget separated them from Trump.
President Joe Biden, 82, decided not to travel to Paris, appearing visibly tired on Tuesday and Wednesday during his historic first visit by a U.S. leader to Angola in southern Africa.
Before the ceremony began, the First Lady and Trump found themselves briefly seated and could be seen exchanging pleasantries.
Trump made his signature raised fist gesture as he entered the cathedral – a gesture immortalized when he survived an assassination attempt in July.
Wearing an uncharacteristically yellow tie, he paused briefly to chat with Prince William, heir to the British throne, before taking his seat.
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