Critics condemned President Trump’s decision to skip a ceremony honoring soldiers who died in World War I because it was raining.
The White House announced Saturday that Trump was skipping the ceremony at the Aisne-Marne American cemetery outside of Paris because of the weather, but other world leaders did attend, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The U.S. delegation was led by White House chief of staff John Kelly, a former Marine general, and Joint Chiefs chairman Joseph Dunford.
Trump cancelled attending a WW1 memorial at a U.S. cemetery in France because of some rain on Saturday, but Merkel, Macron and Trudeau managed to do their bit https://t.co/VB06gMKzJa pic.twitter.com/U15cwHiN8f
— Luke Baker (@BakerLuke) November 10, 2018
According to Reuters, the president canceled due to logistical and security concerns related to the rain and cloud cover, preventing Trump’s helicopter from landing and making a motorcade logistically difficult.
Still, the decision to skip the ceremony earned condemnation from several critics both in the U.S. and without.
Winston Churchill’s grandson, Nicholas Soames, heavily criticized Trump’s decision to not attend.
“They died with their face to the foe and that pathetic inadequate @realDonaldTrump couldn’t even defy the weather to pay his respects to The Fallen,” Soames, a British member of Parliament, tweeted on Saturday.
They died with their face to the foe and that pathetic inadequate @realDonaldTrump couldn’t even defy the weather to pay his respects to The Fallen #hesnotfittorepresenthisgreatcountry
— Nicholas Soames (@NSoames) November 10, 2018
A former Obama administration official also derided the White House’s decision.
“I helped plan all of President Obama’s trips for 8 years. There is always a rain option. Always,” said Ben Rhodes, who served as deputy national security adviser to former President Barack Obama.
I helped plan all of President Obama’s trips for 8 years. There is always a rain option. Always. https://t.co/exZNlONQOp
— Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) November 10, 2018
Former George W. Bush speechwriter and Trump critic David Frum also slammed the decision on Twitter.
“It’s incredible that a president would travel to France for this significant anniversary – and then remain in his hotel room watching TV rather than pay in person his respects to the Americans who gave their lives in France for the victory gained 100 years ago tomorrow,” he tweeted.
It’s incredible that a president would travel to France for this significant anniversary – and then remain in his hotel room watching TV rather than pay in person his respects to the Americans who gave their lives in France for the victory gained 100 years ago tomorrow
— David Frum (@davidfrum) November 10, 2018
