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Donald Trump hasn’t been inaugurated yet, but he already dominates the world stage. He is in Paris today for the re-opening of Notre Dame Cathedral, an international event attended by numerous heads of state. He is there at the specific invitation of French President Macron.

This short video shows Trump’s arrival, where he is greeted by Macron. Note that the French are treating Trump in a manner that normally would be reserved for a sitting president:

Much has been made of Trump’s arguably domineering handshake, but, be that as it may, everything I have seen about the event suggests that Trump is the least nervous person in attendance. Right now, he is the active force, and everyone else is figuring out to respond.

The New York Post’s account is a little triumphalist, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong:

President-elect Trump dominated French President Emmanuel Macron during a tense photo-op handshake as the leaders met in Paris ahead of the Notre Dame cathedral’s reopening Saturday — where global heads of state and dignitaries tripped over themselves to pay their respects to “The Don.”
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“Instead of a weak frail president who shuffles around, we have a president that’s engaged and demands respect. You can look at the body posture, you can look at the handshake and tell Trump and [President] Biden are very different men,” Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Tex.) told The Post. “The whole world can see just based on body posture that America is back.”
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Inside the 861-year-old cathedral for the reopening ceremony, Trump enjoyed front-and-center seating between Macron and his wife, Brigitte, who he later quipped looked “so beautiful.”

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and King Philippe of Belgium flashed wide grins as they shook hands with the once-and-future president, as did Britain’s Prince William, who met with Trump afterward for one-on-one talks at the British ambassador’s residence in Paris.
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Trump’s prime real estate was a far cry from the back-corner snub President Biden endured during a photo op at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference last month in Peru.
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“The president held his head high, his words clear and commanding, not mumbled or uncertain,” Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) told The Post.

“He showed the world that America is not only its leader but also its steadfast ally and friend…No more falling asleep at the wheel like the weakness of the past administration.”

Zelensky — who appeared visibly uncomfortable in a photo op inside the Elysee next to a stone-faced Trump — later called the trilateral confab, “good and productive.”

“We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a just way. We spoke about our people, the situation on the ground and a just peace,” Zelensky wrote on X.

Donald Trump is having more positive impact on world affairs before he is inaugurated than Joe Biden had in four years in the White House.