TRUMP CANCELS VISIT TO US MILITARY CEMETERY OUTSIDE PARIS
President Donald Trump flew 3,800 miles to this French capital city for ceremonies to honour the military sacrifice of US soldiers in World War I. But it rained and early Saturday and the White House announced Trump and the first lady had scuttled plans, due to bad weather.
It was not completely clear why the Trumps were unable to attend.
But the sight of dignitaries arriving at other sites outside Paris, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, led some foreign policy analysts to speculate the U.S. commander in chief just wasn’t up for it.
“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, who served as a speechwriter to former president George W. Bush, wrote in tweets. Trump is actually staying at the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Paris. Trump was in France in body but appeared unenthusiastic in spirit.
Ben Rhodes, the deputy national security adviser under President Barack Obama, “there is always a rain option.” He wrote in a tweet, “Trump will use the U.S. military for a pre-election political stunt but sits in his hotel instead of honouring those who fought and died for America.”