What's missing in this picture? American leaders. Even Palestinian and Israeli leaders in front line of Paris march. pic.twitter.com/6BtNk5s6Ml
— Shibley Telhami (@ShibleyTelhami) January 11, 2015
"I want the people of France to know that the United States stands with you." —President Obama
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 9, 2015
The Daily Mail reports: President Obama was missing in action today when world leaders linked arms to lead an anti-terrorism march of more than a million people in Paris.
While the president’s a busy man, his absence at the show of international solidarity was strange considering his schedule was wide open today.
Vice President Joe Biden often fills in for the president at events like this, but he was no where to be seen either, despite his similarly empty schedule.
In fact, the only recognizable Obama official in the city was Attorney General Eric Holder, who attended a terrorism summit with world leaders on Sunday – but skipped the rally.
CNN’s Jake Tapper said on air: “I’m a little disappointed personally, this is me speaking personally, not as a representative of CNN, as an American that there isn’t more of a display of unity here. Because this is one of the most incredible events I have ever attended and the positivity that these people of France are embracing. This is not a rally — even though there was an ugly racist element in this society, as there is in every society — this is not a rally that is embracing jingoism, or anger, or any sort of hatred. This is a rally that is expressing brotherhood and sisterhood and it is a beautiful thing to behold.”
