President Trump pushed back Tuesday against widespread criticism of his decision to cancel a trip to an American World War I cemetery in France due to rain.
When his helicopter couldn’t fly from Paris to the Belleau Wood battlefield due to near-zero visibility, Mr. Trump said on Twitter, “I suggested driving.”
“Secret Service said NO, too far from airport & big Paris shutdown,” he tweeted. The White House said earlier that an impromptu motorcade would have caused major traffic jams.
The president also pointed out that he delivered a speech the following day in a different American cemetery “in pouring rain” to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.
“Little reported-Fake News!” Mr. Trump said.
Among those who criticized Mr. Trump for missing the first cemetery visit was former Secretary of State John Kerry, who tweeted, “Those veterans the president didn’t bother to honor fought in the rain, in the mud, in the snow - & many died in trenches for the cause of freedom. Rain didn’t stop them & it shouldn’t have stopped an American president.”
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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