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A rumination on the 2018 incident revolving around ex-President Donald Trump’s decision not to visit the American war dead near Paris reveals some disturbing gray areas.
On November 10, 2018, it was widely expected that Donald Trump would take part in a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial, near Paris — a cemetery in which numerous American war dead are interred. The visit was set to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War I. However, the President’s plans were abruptly curtailed, sparking widespread criticism and raising unsettling questions about the motivations behind this decision.
The official explanation offered by the White House was that the presidential helicopter, Marine One, could not fly due to poor weather conditions, and thus Trump could not ensure a safe trip to the cemetery. Nonetheless, the officials did not describe any attempts at alternative transportation. The lack of further clarification, coupled with Trump’s known aversion to wet weather, left room for speculation and skepticism.
Moreover, critics pointed out that the inclement weather did not deter more than sixty other world leaders from attending in Paris. Among them was the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who traveled 118 miles – a journey twice as long as that from Paris to Belleau Wood Cemetery, under the same weather conditions without issue. Trump’s absence, as compared to the presence of other world leaders braving similar circumstances, stirred up suspicions about the real reason behind his cancellation.
Adding fuel to the critics’ arguments was a report by The Atlantic magazine which claimed that Trump didn’t want to disrupt his hairdo in the rain. According to Jeffrey Goldberg’s article in The Atlantic, the President was quoted saying, Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers,. This remark further fanned the flames of controversy and hinted at a disregard for the military’s service – a stark contrast to the respect and honor other leaders showed when they braved the rain to pay tribute to the fallen.
Trump’s non-attendance also raised questions about his approach to international diplomacy. At a time when solidarity and mutual respect are more important than ever, his absence could be viewed as a slight to European allies and the international community at large. The incident prompted a wider debate on the shifting dynamics of America’s role in global leadership and diplomacy.
Lastly, the criticism wasn’t limited to international circles. American veterans and military families were deeply offended by the decision. The message it sent – that it was more important for the president to keep his hair dry than to honor the nation’s fallen heroes – was profoundly disconcerting. It deepened reservations about Trump’s commitment to the military, given his previously reported disparaging remarks about veterans.
Despite the intense scrutiny and criticism, Trump vehemently denied the claims of The Atlantic, labeling them as false statements intended to tarnish his image. His denial, however, did little to silence the voices of dissent, and the questions around his decision continue to echo, adding to the murky aura around the incident.
In sum, Trump’s alleged failure to visit the American war dead near Paris sparked controversy and raised disturbing questions about his respect for the military and his approach to international diplomacy. While the incident happened more than three years ago, the larger issues it unearthed remain actively debated and troubling to many.