Twitter was abuzz Sunday as about a million people came together in Paris for what government officials called a “unity rally” against a terrorism rampage that claimed 17 lives this past week. People from around the world signaled their support.
Sixty world leaders attended the rally, according to the Guardian, and one of the most striking images to come out of the event was a photograph of a line of them walking arm in arm. French president, François Hollande, in the center, German chancellor Angela Merkel, and the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, to his left. To his right, Ibrahim Boubacar Këita, the president of Mali, the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, and David Cameron, the UK prime minister, were all pictured.
But the U.S. was absent from the global showing of solidarity.
Pundits, media types and citizenry alike lashed out at President Obama on Twitter, criticizing his decision not to attend the rally.
This is really embarrassing – WHERE IS PRESIDENT OBAMA? Why didn’t he go? pic.twitter.com/pp7wsmiLOM
— Greta Van Susteren (@greta) January 11, 2015
Sad that 50 world leaders could show solidarity in Paris but President Obama refused to participate. The cowardice continues.
— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) January 11, 2015
Don’t be shocked Obama is absent, after all, he released GITMO 5 in exchange for a deserter. The 5 are blood brothers w/ Hebdo terrorists
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) January 11, 2015
Still trying to wrap my brain around Obama sending three officials to the #MichaelBrown funeral, but can’t send ONE to the #Paris rally?
— JDM (@sleepdoctorjoe) January 11, 2015
Lack of high level US presence in Paris today seems pretty embarrassing.
— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) January 11, 2015
Heartbroken that in a gathering of world leaders united to show sympathy with Paris victims, mine is the one who is missing.
— Alana Newhouse (@alananewhouse) January 11, 2015
CNN’s Jake Tapper called it “disappointing” on air, according to Mediaite.
Ambassador to France Jane Hartley was the only one representing the United States at the rally, CNN reported.
Attorney General Eric Holder was in Paris this weekend, but did not attend the rally. He was attending a security summit on combating terrorism.
