Mr. Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, sought on Thursday evening to capitalize on the Atlantic article, shortly issuing a press release c
Mr. Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, sought on Thursday evening to capitalize on the Atlantic article, shortly issuing a press release condemning the president and saying it demonstrated that Mr. Trump was not match for the workplace. Mr. Biden mentioned the article, if true, confirmed “one other marker of how deeply President Trump and I disagree concerning the function of the president of the USA.”
“I’ve lengthy mentioned that, as a nation, we’ve many obligations, however we solely have one actually sacred obligation — to organize and equip these we ship into hurt’s manner, and to look after them and their households, each whereas they’re deployed and after they return residence. That’s the inspiration of what Jill and I imagine,” mentioned Mr. Biden, whose late son, Beau Biden, served abroad. “If I’ve the distinction of serving as the following commander in chief, I’ll make sure that our American heroes know that I’ll have their again and honor their sacrifice — all the time.”
Mr. Trump’s journey to Paris in November 2018 got here at a tense second for him. Republicans had simply misplaced the Home in midterm elections when he flew to France to attend a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the top of World Conflict I.
Throughout the journey, he was angered when President Emmanuel Macron of France appeared to rebuke Mr. Trump by saying in a speech that “nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism by saying: ‘Our curiosity first. Who cares concerning the others?’”
But it surely was Mr. Trump’s failure to undergo with a deliberate go to to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery on the foot of the hill the place the Battle of Belleau Wooden was fought that drew probably the most consideration. Aides on the time cited the rain in canceling a helicopter flight, however the president’s absence went over badly in Europe and in the USA. Mr. Trump did pay respects to the conflict lifeless the following day on the Suresnes American Cemetery outdoors Paris.
On the time of the go to to France, advisers had been blunt in confiding that Mr. Trump was in a foul temper and was quizzing aides about whether or not he ought to substitute John F. Kelly, a retired four-star Marine normal and his White Home chief of employees on the time.
A number of White Home officers on the time mentioned the choice that Mr. Trump wouldn’t take Marine One to the Belleau Wooden cemetery was made by Zachary Fuentes, a deputy White Home chief of employees and shut aide to Mr. Kelly, with out consulting the president’s army aide. Others argued {that a} motorcade journey by highway would have taken too lengthy, at roughly two hours. Administration officers mentioned on the time that Mr. Fuentes had assured Mr. Trump it was positive to overlook the go to. Mr. Kelly traveled to the cemetery himself within the president’s place together with Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., then the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers.