President Joe Biden said he couldn’t come to Normandy and not stop at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery to pay his respects to the Marines who died in World War I – a pointed jab at his Republican rival Donald Trump, who skipped a stop there during his own France trip.
‘More Marines were lost here than any other battle until the middle of World War II. And the idea we can come to Normandy Beach, celebrate, show reverence for those we lost – I’m probably not speaking loudly,’ Biden said on Sunday, speaking in a quiet voice.
‘The idea that I’d come to Normandy and not make the short trip to here to make tribute,’ he added. ‘And it’s the same story think about it. America showed up. America showed up to stop the Germans. America showed up make sure that they did not prevail. America shows up whenever needed, just like our allies show for us.’
But Biden declined to talk about Trump, who refused to visit the cemetery about 90 minutes outside of Paris as president in 2018, claiming the weather wouldn’t allow him to make the stop.
It was later revealed, however, that Trump refused to make the visit because he feared his hair would become disheveled in the rain and because he did not believe it was important to honor the American war dead, calling them ‘suckers’ and ‘losers.’
The president didn’t need to mention his rival by name to make the contrast clear. The pictures of him there spoke for themselves and Biden doubled down on the images with his message about paying respects and holding onto alliances.
President Joe Biden attends a wreath laying ceremony at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery
Biden, who laid a wreath at the cemetery, making the sign of the cross and bowing his head in respect afterwards, wouldn’t take a hit at his rival in the 2024 election when given the chance to do so.
When asked about his previous criticism of Trump for not visiting the cemetery and what voters should take from his own visit, Biden responded: ‘Any other questions?’
He also made a slip of the tongue when talking about why America should support its allies in Europe, like it did during the world wars.
He pointed to the funding holdup for the Ukraine, which was delayed by Congressional Republicans who were trying to negotiate a deal on U.S. border security.
But the president said ‘Iraq’ instead of Ukraine when trying to make his point.
‘I mean the idea that we had to wait all those months just to get money for Iraq. … It’s not who we are. It’s not who America is,’ he said.
Biden met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris on Friday, where he apologized for Republicans delaying the $61 billion package of funding and promised that the U.S. would continue to stand with Ukraine in its time of need.
‘We’re still in … completely, thoroughly,’ Biden said during their meeting at a Paris hotel.
Both leaders were in the French capital after Thursday’s 80th anniversary of D-Day, which proved a chance to underline international alliances against totalitarianism.
Biden also said on Sunday he didn’t want to make his visit to the cemetery personal but noted he couldn’t help but think about his uncle, Second Lt. Ambrose J. Finnegan Jr., whom was shot down over Papua New Guinea, and his son Beau, who served in Iraq. Beau died in 2015 of brain cancer, which the president attributes to his son being stationed near burn pits.
President Joe Biden salutes and first lady Jill Biden has her hand on her heart as Taps plays at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in Belleau, France
Biden has previously, repeatedly criticized Trump for not visiting the cemetery
President Biden’s stop at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, where 2,289 Americans are dead, was his last event in France before heading back to the U.S.
The Aisne-Marne American Cemetery is located on a 42.5-acre plot 50 miles outside of Paris, in the Belleau Wood area. In June 1918, during World War I, U.S. Marines conducted a successful counter-offensive against oncoming German forces, keeping them out of Paris.
The cemetery contains the graves of 2,289 American war dead.
Even though the president declined to talk about Trump at the cemetery, he has repeatedly criticized his Republican rival for calling soldiers ‘losers and suckers.’
‘Losers and suckers! Who in the hell does he think he is?’ Biden has said.
During Trump’s visit to France in November 2018, he skipped a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery. At the time, the White House blamed the rainy, foggy weather, saying Marine One could not make the flight and there was not enough time to assemble the security necessary for a motorcade, which requires streets to be shut down along the route.
But later it was revealed Trump did not want to go.
The Atlantic, citing multiple sources, reported Trump said: ‘Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers.’ And he referred to the marines who lost their lives at Belleau Wood as ‘suckers’ for getting killed.
The former president has contested the account, saying the Secret Service refused to let him make the stop due to the bad weather.
Biden has railed against Trump repeatedly about the incident and contrasts it to the service of his late-son Beau Biden, who was in the Delaware National Guard.
The American flag flies at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery dedicated to the U.S. soldiers killed in the Belleau Wood battle during World War One
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes then-President Donald Trump to France on November 10, 2018
Biden spent five days in France, two of which at Normandy, where he paid tribute to the American veterans who fought on D-Day in World War II and he gave a speech at Pointe du Hoc, where Army Rangers scaled a 100-foot cliff under heavy German fire.
He and the first lady also joined French President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron for a formal state visit on Saturday that included an opulent state dinner at Elysee Palace, where he cemented French-American relations.
‘France was our first ally and that’s not insignificant,’ Biden said during his toast.
‘The fact of the matter is you were with us to help us secure our freedom and we were with you 170 years later to do the same. And ever since we’ve remained united, unyielding, as well as unwavering in our partnership.’
Singer Pharrell Williams, actors Salma Hayek and Léa Seydoux, tennis great John McEnroe, in town for the French Open, were all on the guest list, along with political heavyweights and titans of the fashion industry.
Earlier the two leaders discussed tackling China, as well as conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. And although there are tensions over trade, the two were keen to highlight areas of agreement.
They said the two countries will work to contain tensions around the Israeli war against the Hamas militant group.
‘We are redoubling efforts together to avoid a regional explosion, particularly in Lebanon,’ said Macron.
Biden will land in Wilmington, Del., on Sunday to spend the day in his home state.
Next week, he will turn around and return to Europe on Thursday, where he will attend a G7 meeting in Italy.