Donald Trump attacked for skipping Armistice commemoration 'because it was raining'

It was intended to be a solemn occasion for the US president to pay tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of American soldiers in the First World War, the day before commemorations of the centenary of the Armistice that brought peace.

Instead, Donald Trump sparked rancorous criticism after cancelling a visit at the last minute to an American war cemetery near Paris because of rain.

Winston Churchill’s grandson led the chorus of derision after the White House called off attendance at the event for “scheduling and logistical difficulties caused by the weather”.

Nicolas Soames, the Conservative MP for Mid Sussex and a grandson of Churchill, said: “They died with their face to the foe and that pathetic inadequate Donald Trump couldn’t even defy the weather to pay his respects to The Fallen.”

Commentators pointed out that the Aisne Marne American cemetery, where nearly 2,300 US soldiers are buried on the site of the Battle of Belleau Wood, is only 50 miles from Paris. Ben Rhodes, a former senior advisor to Barack Obama, said: “There is always a rain option. Always.”

David Frum, a former speechwriter for President George W Bush, tweeted that Mr Trump had “shirked on grounds of weather the job of honouring those who fought and died in rain and mud 100 years ago.”

Mr Trump had already threatened to overshadow commemorations with a barbed criticisms of Emmanuel Macron, the French president. As the US president landed in Paris, he fired off a tweet, saying it was “very insulting” for his French counterpart to suggest that “a true European army” was needed to defend the continent from the consequences of US foreign policy.

“President Macron of France has just suggested that Europe build its own military in order to protect itself from the US, China and Russia. Very insulting, but perhaps Europe should first pay its fair share of Nato, which the US subsidises greatly!” Mr Trump tweeted.

Talks at the Elysée Palace appeared to get off to a tense start, with Mr Macron struggling to convince the US president that his proposal to bolster armed forced in Europe was, in fact, in line with Mr Trump’s demand.

The French president’s aides suggested that Mr Trump had misinterpreted Mr Macron’s remarks, saying he had never intended to call the United States a military threat.

Mr Macron stressed that he agreed with Mr Trump that Europe should share more of the costs of the Nato military alliance.

“We need more European capacities and more defence to take this part of the burden,” he said in English.

In an interview with French radio on Tuesday, Mr Macron had warned of well-armed and “re-emerging authoritarian powers” on Europe’s borders and cyber attacks. “We have to protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States of America,” he said.

While their words were positive at their joint appearance in front of journalists, their awkward body language sent a very different message. A sullen-looking Mr Trump barely made eye contact with Mr Macron, in stark contrast with the bonhomie of their previous meetings.

Later Mr Macron and Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, visited a replica of the train carriage in a forest clearing north of Paris where the First Sea Lord Admiral Rosslyn Wemyss and Marshal Ferdinand Fock of France signed the Armistice along with four representatives of a vanquished Germany. Mr Macron affectionately took her hand after they signed a guestbook, and she rested her head on his shoulder as they stood in front of a war memorial.

Mr Trump will be among more than 70 heads of state and government who will gather at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe today (on Sunday), although rain was forecast. The US president, who appeared enraptured when he was guest of honour at last year’s Bastille Day military parade, may be disappointed that Mr Macron has decided not to hold one today (on Sunday). Instead, the ceremony will be a sombre commemoration emphasising the many lives destroyed.

But Mr Trump will not attend a peace forum to begin this afternoon (Sunday), which Mr Macron hopes will encourage multilateralism.

Mr Trump flew to Europes under increasing pressure on several fronts in Washington and just days after mixed results in divisive midterm elections.

Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating whether there was collusion between Mr Trump's presidential campaign and Russia, has reportedly started writing his final report following an 18-month investigation.

Mr Trump was facing controversy over his appointment of Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general. Mr Whitaker, who will oversee the Mueller investigation, has previously been highly critical of the probe.

On Friday, the Wall Street Journal published further details of Mr Trump's personal involvement in hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal, with whom he denies having affairs.

According to the report, New York prosecutors have collected evidence that Mr Trump played a "central role" in the payments, which could leave him open to allegations of violating campaign finance laws.