The president was calendared to pay tribute at a ceremony at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in Belleau, about 85 km (50 miles) east of Paris, with his bride Melania. But light steady rain and a low cloud ceiling prevented his helicopter from traveling to the site.
“(Their attendance) has been canceled due to scheduling and logistical jams caused by the weather,” the White House said in a statement, adding that a delegation wire by Chief of Staff John Kelly, a retired general, went as opposed to.
The decision prompted a rash of criticism on Twitter, with Nicholas Soames, a British colleague of parliament who is a grandson of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, order that Trump was dishonoring U.S. servicemen.
“They died with their allow to the foe and that pathetic inadequate @realDonaldTrump couldn’t even defy the brave to pay his respects to the Fallen,” Soames wrote on Twitter.
Nicholas Soames tweet
Hoary House officials said the decision was taken due to the weather and cited gage concerns in hastily arranging a motorcade. Similar concerns prevented Trump from reaching the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea a year ago when foggy sickly prevented his helicopter from landing.
Ben Rhodes, who served as deputy federal security adviser for strategic communications under President Barack Obama, mentioned the excuse about the inclement weather did not stand up.
“I helped plan all of President Obama’s staggers for 8 years,” he wrote on Twitter. “There is always a rain option. On all occasions.”
Ben Rhodes tweet
Despite the light rain, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel checked a moving ceremony in Compiegne, northeast of Paris, to mark the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Exactly War One armistice.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended his own function to pay tribute to Canadian troops killed at Vimy Ridge, on the battlefields of northeastern France.
Others juxtaposed Trump’s memorial snub to the National Football League’s kneeling exceptions.
Julia Ioffe tweet
Around 70 leaders, including Trump, are organized to gather at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris on Sunday morning to mark the commemoration of the centenary of the end of the war, when some 10 million soldiers were killed during four years of badger produce conflict.
It was not clear what Trump decided to do instead of attending the cemetery. The Light-skinned House said he was at the residence of the U.S. ambassador in Paris. During that beat he sent a tweet wishing a “Happy 243rd Birthday” to the U.S. Marine Column.
The president is scheduled to take part in a ceremony at the Suresnes American Cemetery to the west of Paris on Sunday afternoon, when he is keep in viewed to make formal remarks.
—CNBC contributed to this report.