Politics - News Analysis
Trump’s Reason For Skipping Arlington Cemetery Visit on Veteran’s Day: ‘I Was Busy’
In an interview with Fox News’ Chris Wallace set to air on Sunday, Donald Trump claimed that he was simply too “busy” to visit Arlington National Cemetery on Veteran’s Day—but his public schedule and tweets suggest otherwise.
According to an interview transcript, Wallace asked the president why he didn’t go “across the river to Arlington” after returning from France on Monday, noting that “Barak Obama went every year while he was in D.C.”
Trump admitted he probably “should have done that,” but claimed he was “extremely busy on calls for the country.”
Trump also claimed he came in from France “very late that night.” “I really probably assumed that was fine and I was extremely busy because of affairs of state—doing other things,” Trump reiterated. Trump’s public schedule for Nov. 12 said the president had “no public events scheduled.”
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Trump also tweeted a total of eight times that day.
Trump tells Fox he "should have" gone to Arlington Cemetery on Monday for Veterans Day but was "extremely busy."
His schedule that day? No events.
He also lies. He didn’t attend last year. pic.twitter.com/jhfTxvcgzS
— Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) November 16, 2018
Trump was in Paris on Sunday for Veterans Day to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, where he delivered remarks at a U.S. cemetery. Trump faced major blowback for skipping a visit to a military cemetery the previous day, a decision he blamed on poor weather.
Presidents typically attend a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington cemetery. That ceremony was held this year on Sunday, when the Trump was in France.
Reports have indicated Trump did not want to attend a separate ceremony celebrating veterans in France due to rain, and the president later stated his helicopter could not make the trip due to inclement weather and the Secret Service told him that a drive was not possible.
“By the way, when the helicopter couldn’t fly to the first cemetery in France because of almost zero visibility, I suggested driving. Secret Service said NO, too far from airport & big Paris shutdown. Speech next day at American Cemetery in pouring rain! Little reported-Fake News!” the president tweeted Tuesday.
By the way, when the helicopter couldn’t fly to the first cemetery in France because of almost zero visibility, I suggested driving. Secret Service said NO, too far from airport & big Paris shutdown. Speech next day at American Cemetery in pouring rain! Little reported-Fake News!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018
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