President-elect Donald Trump took time during his visit to France to meet and greet United States Marines stationed there, coinciding with his attendance at the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
In a video shared on X by Margo Martin, Trump’s deputy director of communications, he was seen shaking hands with Marines who were lined up to welcome him. The gesture drew praise online, with many noting that Trump was acting as “a real commander-in-chief” and continuing to prioritize American service members, even while abroad.
Trump’s trip to France centered on the reopening of the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral, which has undergone extensive restoration following the devastating 2019 fire. The event was attended by numerous global figures, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prince William, who were also seen exchanging greetings with Trump during the ceremony.
Earlier this year, Trump voiced his intentions to purge the military of leaders who have advocated for progressive measures when he gets back into office.
During a rally at the time, Trump expressed his plans to expel elements of progressivism from the armed forces, cautioning against the election of Vice President Kamala Harris, whom he blames for the military’s shift towards what he calls radical policies.
“Under ‘Comrade Kamala,’ our military has been abused for radical social experiments,” Trump articulated. “On day one, I will get Critical Race Theory and transgender insanity out of our U.S. Armed Forces. We’re taking it out. Our warriors should be focused on defeating America’s enemies, not figuring out their genders.”
He criticized the infiltration of “Marxist ideologies” into military practices: “Marxist ideologies have no place in combat. We want them to know their gender when they go in. You have no idea the disruption that that has caused and the fake news refuses to report it.”
