Trump’s Planned Trip to Military Cemetery in France Cancelled Due to Bad Weather
President Donald Trump was supposed to visit the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial in France today, but the trip was cancelled due to bad weather.
Trump and other world leaders are in Paris to mark the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day. Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel, and Justin Trudeau attended other memorials today.
The White House, however, announced in a statement earlier that Trump’s visit to the US cemetery was called off due to bad weather:
Via pooler @vmsalama on the cancellation of Trump’s visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery here in France due to bad weather (it’s raining here) pic.twitter.com/KdvfO2jEuU
— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) November 10, 2018
The president was supposed to go by helicopter (about a half-hour trip) but helicopters can’t fly in this kind of weather. https://t.co/yJY3RHUcun
— Jill Colvin (@colvinj) November 10, 2018
Possible explanation — Marine One was grounded by bad weather call, no Potus motorcade due to traffic concerns, but aides can go in regular vehicle traffic? https://t.co/lHUUupJjgV
— David Nakamura (@DavidNakamura) November 10, 2018
Weather canceled the trip. The presidential helicopter can’t fly in poor conditions. And Belleau Wood is about 55 miles from downtown Paris; driving there would have been logistically challenging for the large presidential motorcade. https://t.co/gNsDVzm3QG
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) November 10, 2018
And many people weren’t happy about the cancelled trip, including Nicholas Soames, grandson of Winston Churchill:
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
None of this is surprising. Doesn't make it any less dismaying. 53,000 US combat deaths. 63,000 dead of disease. 320,000 wounded. These troops fought victoriously alongside allies with whom the US still stands today. It's worth a few miles in a limo, a few words from under a tarp
— David Frum (@davidfrum) November 10, 2018
"Chief of Staff General John Kelly and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joe Dunford will visit the Aisne-Marne American cemetery instead after Trump cancelled…"
Weather was different for the generals, I guess.https://t.co/GPDkVIHse8
— Jeffrey Wright (@jfreewright) November 10, 2018
To win World War I, brave Americans fought through snow, mud, & sand with bombs dropping from above, landmines in the ground below, & bullets flying at their faces. The least of their worries was rain. It’s an embarrassment @realDonaldTrump can’t find his way to honor our fallen.
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) November 10, 2018
Trump is still scheduled to speak at the Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial on Sunday.
[image via screengrab]
