Donald Trump had a rough time at the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, the war to end all wars — people believed. A topless protester threw herself in front of Trump’s motorcade, and he refused to attend the ceremony at the American cemetery along with the world’s leaders — because it was raining. Then, French President Emmanuel Macron went after nationalism during an Arc de Triomphe in Paris. At last, Trump spoke at Suresnes American Cemetery, where thousands of soldiers died of nerve gas poisoning, where he could shine above all others:
‘President Trump Attends the American Commemoration Ceremony at Suresnes American Cemetery’
President Trump Attends the American Commemoration Ceremony at Suresnes American Cemetery https://t.co/P6PgE1zXuE
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 11, 2018
Trump read a speech at the Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial, according to CNN News:
‘It is our duty to preserve the civilization they defended and secure the peace they so nobly gave their lives for one century ago. On this day in the year 1918, church bells rang out and celebrations ensued. But victory had come at a terrible cost. Countless would come home bearing the grisly scars of trench warfare. You cannot fight better than we fought together (French soldiers).’
The American Embattlement Monuments Commission described the cemetery and memorial:
‘Originally a World War I cemetery, the Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial just outside Paris now shelters the remains of U.S. dead of both wars. The 7.5-acre cemetery contains the remains of 1,541 Americans who died in World War I and 24 unknown dead of World War II. Bronze tablets on the walls of the chapel record the names of 974 World War I missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified.’
Twitter went bananas after Trump’s tweet. Here are some of our favorites below:
Featured image is a screenshot via YouTube.
