On June 10th, President Joe Biden wrapped up his visit to France by visiting an American cemetery that was previously overlooked by former President Donald Trump during his time in office. Biden made sure to pay his respects at this important site.
On Wednesday, Biden made his way to Paris to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy during World War II. Along with this, he also had a chance to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and was granted a state visit hosted by President Emmanuel Macron of France on Saturday, extending his five-day trip.
Before their departure to the United States on Sunday, President Biden and first lady Jill Biden paid a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery located in northern France. The cemetery is home to over 2,200 American soldiers who lost their lives while fighting in World War I in the region.
According to Biden, it wouldn’t be right to pay tribute to the fallen Americans who sacrificed their lives at Normandy beach without also visiting Aisne-Marne American Cemetery.
He expressed, “It means a lot to Jill and me to be here and show our respect.”
According to him, both the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Normandy beach narrate the same American tale.
As he spoke, he emphasized the importance of America’s role in history. “Consider this,” he said, “America emerged to put a stop to the Germans. They stood firm to ensure the Germans would not triumph. And just like our allies support us, America is always there when we need it.”
In World War I, our American predecessors fought for our freedom over 100 years ago. It is our duty to pay tribute to their service and sacrifices by protecting our democracy, not only today but every day. President Biden shared this message on Twitter along with a video clip. The tweet can be found with the handle @POTUS and was shared on June 10, 2024.
As Biden seeks re-election, he has been emphasizing the critical state of democracy both domestically and internationally. During his recent trip, he underscored the significance of the upcoming November election and what it means for the future of democracy.
In his efforts to highlight the consequences of a potential re-election of Trump, he has stressed that the United States’ position with its allies would be jeopardized. Trump’s previous statements, in which he has cast doubts on America’s role in the European conflict and the significance of its partnerships and agreements – particularly in the defensive NATO alliance – have been a cause of concern for many.
During his trip, Biden paid a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, a site that was supposed to be visited by Trump during his trip to France in 2018 but was cancelled due to bad weather.
According to The Atlantic, Trump’s decision to cancel the visit was because he didn’t want his hair to be ruined by the rain.
According to reports, he allegedly said to his staff, “Why do I need to visit that cemetery? It’s packed with losers.”
Biden has been deeply upset by the comment, given that his son, Beau Biden, served in the Iraq War and passed away at the young age of 46 due to brain cancer. The president holds burn pits used during the war responsible for his son’s illness, making the comment all the more hurtful to him.
During a campaign rally in Pittsburgh, Biden became emotional as he referenced Trump’s reported comments back in April. The former Vice President brought up the incident once again during a campaign fundraiser in Greenwich, Conn. on June 3rd.
The statement has been reiterated multiple times, implying that it renders him unsuitable to govern the nation.
Earlier this month, Biden stated, “Whether or not I was running, this guy does not deserve to be president.”
When asked by reporters on Sunday about the message he wanted to convey to voters during his visit, Biden did not respond. However, when asked about what he hoped Americans would take away from his trip, he emphasized the significance of allies.
He emphasized the importance of maintaining strong alliances to prevent future conflicts. “The best way to avoid these kinds of battles in the future is to stay strong with our allies. Do not break. Do not break,” he stated.
“I may have visited this place before, but I was still taken aback by how much it reignited my appreciation for the importance of alliances. They are crucial in preventing wars, rather than instigating them.”
