President Joe Biden took some heat Monday for failing to recognize the 78th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France.
The invasion, which began on June 6th, 1944, saw nearly 160,000 Allied troops (most were Americans, but a number of British, Canadian, and Australian troops were among them as well) advance along a 50-mile stretch of the French coastline. Because the beaches and the surrounding cliffs were so well fortified by Nazi occupiers, thousands were killed the first waves of the attack — but the Allies eventually took the beaches and then pushed further inland, marking a decisive victory and a turning point on the European front.
Typically, sitting presidents acknowledge the anniversary — and Vice President Kamala Harris did so on Monday, tweeting, “On the 78th anniversary of D-Day, we honor the brave soldiers who stormed the beaches of Normandy to defend freedom. We remember their sacrifice today and every day.”
On the 78th anniversary of D-Day, we honor the brave soldiers who stormed the beaches of Normandy to defend freedom. We remember their sacrifice today and every day.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) June 6, 2022
But as a number of people noticed, by close of business, President Biden had made no mention of the milestone.
Fox News’ Katie Pavlich drew attention to the omission by mid-afternoon, noting that at 3:30 pm ET, the president had not acknowledged the significance of the date.
It's nearly 3:30 pm in Washington D.C. and no statement from Biden about D-Day…
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) June 6, 2022
And as the hours ticked by …
“No White House statement yet on the 78th anniversary of D-Day. Biden was also criticized for failing to commemorate the anniversary in 2021,” Breitbart News’ Charlie Spiering tweeted.
@RNCResearch added, “It’s 5:05 p.m. and Biden has yet to acknowledge the 78th anniversary of D-Day. He didn’t acknowledge it last year either.”
“It’s 5:58 p.m. and there are still no posts yet today on any of Joe Biden‘s social media accounts or a statement from the White House about the 78th anniversary of D-Day. This would now be the second year in a row that America’s president snubbed the D-Day anniversary,” Greg Price offered an update.
“Fox Across America” host and comedian Jimmy Faila added, “STILL no acknowledgement from the WH on the anniversary of the invasion at Normandy. In Biden’s defense, his parents always referred to D-Day as his report card arrival.”
Fox News producer Sean Langille shared an article from last year, also noting that it was the second consecutive year that Biden had failed to issue a statement on the subject.
For the second year in a row, the White House does not issue a statement acknowledging D-Day, a pivotal battle that marked a turning point in WWII
– via @WardDPatrick & @BretBaier
Flashback: https://t.co/k8s3ryYZD8— Sean Langille (@SeanLangille) June 6, 2022
“His value for the role of the men who served on D-Day, and his memory of them is something the president has spoken to many times in the past,” then White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said a day later, by way of explaining the presidential omission. “It’s close to his heart. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is more we have to say on it.”
Just as she did for the 78th anniversary, Vice President Harris marked the 77th anniversary with a tweet: “On the 77th anniversary of #DDay, we honor the heroes who stormed the beaches of Normandy and liberated a continent. We will never forget their courage and sacrifice.”
On the 77th anniversary of #DDay, we honor the heroes who stormed the beaches of Normandy and liberated a continent. We will never forget their courage and sacrifice.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) June 6, 2021
Biden, on D-Day in 2021, opted to tweet instead about the 1921 Tulsa massacre. In 2022, his Twitter feed was filled with comments about infant formula, gun control, and one tweet claiming credit for turning the U.S. economy around after the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the time I took office about 16 months ago, the economy had stalled and COVID was out of control.
Today, thanks to the economic plan and the vaccination plan that my Administration put into action, America has achieved the most robust recovery in modern history.
— President Biden (@POTUS) June 6, 2022
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