French officials have resolved an awkward seating dilemma at the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral by placing First Lady Brigitte Macron in the front row between newly elected US President Donald Trump and Joe Biden's wife and daughter during the ceremony.
The presence of Trump and the outgoing president's family gave protocol planners a headache so soon after one of the most bitter election campaigns in American history.
Trump ridiculed Biden throughout as “Sleepy Joe,” while Biden called Trump a “threat to democracy” and said on the eve of the Nov. 5 vote that he considered him a “fascist.”
The future 47th president was treated as a guest of honor in Paris on Saturday and was immediately assigned the seat to the right of French President Emmanuel Macron, in the front row of the congregation.
Jill Biden, who represented the outgoing president, and the couple's daughter, Ashley, also sat in the front row, but Brigitte separated them from Trump.
President Biden, 82, decided not to travel to Paris and appeared visibly tired as he made a historic first visit by a US leader to Angola in southern Africa on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Before the start of the ceremony, the US first lady and Trump sat alone and exchanged pleasantries.
Trump made his signature raised fist gesture – immortalized when he survived an assassination attempt in July – as he entered the cathedral.
Wearing an uncharacteristic yellow tie, he stopped to chat with Prince William, heir to the British throne, before taking his seat.
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