In December 2024, First Lady Jill Biden and President-elect Donald Trump surprised everyone by sharing a friendly moment at the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The two were seen chatting and smiling, and people all over the world wanted to know what they talked about. Jill Biden recently shared the story behind this viral moment, giving us a glimpse of their lighthearted exchange.
The Notre Dame Cathedral had been closed for over five years after a terrible fire in 2019. The fire destroyed much of its roof and its famous spire, leaving people around the world heartbroken. Thankfully, firefighters saved the main structure, including the bell towers and beautiful windows. In December, the cathedral finally reopened with a big ceremony led by French President Emmanuel Macron. The bells rang loudly, and Macron gave a heartfelt speech.
“I stand before you to express the gratitude of the French nation,” he said. “Tonight we can share joy and pride. Long live Notre-Dame de Paris, long live the Republic, and long live France.”
Leaders and essential guests from all over the world attended this emotional event, including Jill Biden and Donald Trump.
Now, what really did they talk about during that unexpected moment?
Stay up-to-date with the latest news!
Subscribe and start recieving our daily emails.
During the ceremony, French First Lady Brigitte Macron was sitting between Jill Biden and Donald Trump. When she got up for a moment, the two were left alone. That’s when they started talking, and their conversation quickly became the center of attention. Trump began by mentioning a recent meeting he had with President Joe Biden at the White House. “I had a good meeting with your husband in the Oval Office,” Trump said. This was after Trump won the 2024 election against Vice President Kamala Harris.
Jill replied with a smile, “Yes, because you’re both talkers.”
Their friendly tone surprised many, especially because Trump did not invite Joe Biden to the White House after losing to him in the 2020 election. When asked why she spoke with Trump, Jill told The Washington Post, “Joe and I respect our institutions, our traditions. What would be the point of nastiness?”
Trump later turned the moment into a joke on social media. He posted a photo of himself and Jill Biden and used it to promote his $199 perfume line with the tagline, “A fragrance your enemies can’t resist.” The post went viral, drawing both laughs and criticism.
Recently, Trump made headlines again when he was seen laughing with former President Barack Obama at Jimmy Carter’s funeral. People were curious about what they were talking about. To tease his followers, Trump shared a funny video online. The video, made with AI, showed him and Obama joking about Vice President Kamala Harris’ failed presidential campaign and even making fun of Hillary Clinton, who was also there.
Even though Jill Biden and Donald Trump have different views, their friendly conversation showed that respect can bring people together. It made the special reopening of Notre Dame feel more personal and real. As President Macron said at the ceremony, “Tonight we can share joy and pride.” This moment of unity really showed what that means.
Featured image via Screengrab
