Trump: Secret Service Would Not Let Me Drive To French Cemetery

President Donald Trump defended his administration’s decision not to attend a scheduled World War I memorial service Saturday in France, saying the Secret Service would not allow him to attend because of weather considerations.

''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 Cemetary in pouring rain! Little reported-Fake News!'' — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018

Trump has been criticized for his decision and accused of not wanting to attend the ceremony in the pouring rain. The president pointed out that he attended another memorial service in the rain the next day. Trump’s explanation echoes a Sunday evening statement from White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders saying “because of near-zero visibility, Marine One was unable to fly, as had been planned. A car ride of two and a half hours, each way, would have required closures to substantial portions of the Paris roadways for the President’s motorcade, on short notice. President Trump did not want to cause that kind of unexpected disruption to the city and its people.” Sanders continued, “he was honored to be able to attend today’s event at the Suresnes American Cemetery and was deeply moved by the sacrifices of so many for the cause of freedom.”

https://www.dailycaller.com/2018/11/13/trump-cemetery-service-france/

>>3884223

Indeed you are correct sir!

France Finance Minister: Europe Must Become an ‘Empire’ to Compete with U.S., Vows to Defy Trump’s Iran Sanctions

France’s Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire has called for Europe to become an “empire” to compete with the United States after the country’s President Emmanuel Macron called for an EU army to defend against the NATO ally.

“It’s about Europe having to become a kind of empire, as China is. And how the U.S. is,” Mr Le Maire told Germany’s Handelsblatt. Adding that it would be a “peaceful empire,” the economics and finance minister touted the progressive government’s green credentials, saying that the European empire should “rel[y] on green growth. Neither China nor the U.S., who are leaving the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, are on this path.” Quizzed by the journalist on his reference to “empire,” Mr Le Maire said: “Do not get me wrong, I’m talking about a peaceful empire that’s a constitutional state. “I use the term to raise awareness that in the world of tomorrow, it will be about power. Power will make the difference: technological power, economic, financial, monetary, cultural power will be crucial. “Europe should no longer shy away from displaying its power and being an empire of peace,” the minister remarked.

Mr Le Maire also said that France would continue to trade with Iran in defiance of fresh U.S. sanctions imposed last week, saying that the European Union should “tell the U.S. clearly: we are a sovereign continent.” He added that the UK, France, and Germany were working on a special purpose vehicle (SPV) ‘clearing house’ that would allow European Union companies to bypass U.S. sanctions and “maintain legitimate and international trade” with the Islamic regime, with The Guardian noting last week that it could be hosted by either Germany or France.

“It is clear to everyone that today it takes courage to stand in the way of the government of Donald Trump. “We want an instrument for the independence and sovereignty of Europe. After setting up the special purpose vehicle, we need staff and finally a banking licence. Subsequently, we may be able to transform the SPV into an intergovernmental European institution.” “We want a way to exchange goods and services when financial flows between Iran and Europe are no longer possible. This is legal and under European rules. Payments remain in Europe,” Le Maire added.

The finance minister denied that the SPV would be in contravention of U.S. sanctions, claiming it would be “in accordance with European and international law.” “We dispute the legitimacy of extraterritorial U.S. sanctions. You can not violate any sanctions that do not apply to us.”

The Finance Minister’s adversarial position comes after French President Emmanuel Macron said last week that the EU needs its own army to “protect” itself from “China, Russia and even the United States of America.” Macron has joined the ranks of Eurocrats Guy Vehofstadt MEP and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in calling for deeper EU integration which could eventually lead to a United States of Europe.

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2018/11/13/france-finance-minister-europe-become-empire-compete-us-vows-defy-trumps-iran-sanctions/

Donald Trump Taunts Emmanuel Macron: ‘No Country More Nationalist than France’

President Donald Trump finally reacted on Tuesday to French President Emmanuel Macron’s speech condemning nationalism, noting his low approval ratings.

“The problem is that Emmanuel suffers from a very low Approval Rating in France, 26 percent, and an unemployment rate of almost 10 percent,” Trump wrote on Twitter. Despite Trump’s embrace of the word “nationalist” to describe his political thought, Macron warned the world that “patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism” during his speech marking the 100th year anniversary of the end of World War I.

Trump suggested that Macron was trying to distract from his unpopularity. “He was just trying to get onto another subject,” Trump wrote. “By the way, there is no country more Nationalist than France, very proud people-and rightfully so! MAKE FRANCE GREAT AGAIN!” The president also criticized a number of issues facing France and the United States, including wine tariffs and military spending.

The president noted that both countries made excellent wine, but said that France had higher tariffs than the United States. “The problem is that France makes it very hard for the U.S. to sell its wines into France, and charges big Tariffs, whereas the U.S. makes it easy for French wines, and charges very small Tariffs,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “Not fair, must change!” He also ridiculed Macron for suggesting that Europe would have to build an army to protect itself from China, Russia, and the United States. “How did that work out for France?” Trump wrote referring to World War I and World War II. “They were starting to learn German in Paris before the U.S. came along. Pay for NATO or not!”

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/11/13/donald-trump-taunts-emmanuel-macron-no-country-more-nationalist-than-france/

>>3884758

Does anyone understand what Sam Donaldson has to do with this, why is he part of this all of the sudden?