Obama Skips Visit to Normandy, American Cemetery

Reports out of London indicate that President Barack Obama declined an inviation from French President Nicholas Sarkozy to visit Normandy's Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-mer on his way to Strasbourg for the NATO summit last week. The Daily Telegraph reports that White House officials travelled to France last month to discuss the visit with their counterparts on Sarkozy's staff. But one American official familiar with the negotiations said that President Obama never had any intention of making the stop over.

"It wasn't going to happen. We went through the motions to placate President Sarkozy but giving special treatment to France was not on our agenda. During this trip, we wanted to maintain a balance between the British, [the] German[s], and France."

The White House refused to comment on the Telegraph's report.

The rejection of Sarkozy's offer is the latest snub of the French president by President Obama. Sarkozy reportedly tried in vain to meet wih then President-elect Obama in Washington late last year. The Telegraph reports further that Sarkozy was "piqued" that Obama held a 50-minute press conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown upon arriving in London last week. The president held only a brief media availability with Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

But perhaps most damaging for the Administration domestically is President Obama's failure to visit the American Cemetery in Normandy. During the campaign, Obama was heavily criticized for cancelling a planned visit to the U.S. military hospital in Ramstein, Germany, for a meeting with wounded troops. Skipping a visit to the cemetery could spark similar criticism. Moreover, the White House would not comment on whether President Obama will attend the ceremonies for the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings in June, although a Sarkozy aide said Obama has agreed to the trip. So it remains unclear whether President Obama will get another chance to honor the 9,387 American soldiers buried there.

It is becoming clear, however, that there is tension between Obama and Sarkozy, despite French denials. Sarkozy has been critical of Obama's foreign policy ideas, especially with respect to Iran's nuclear programs. White House officials are not commenting, but they are also not going out of their way to quell the rumors. President Obama campaigned on a promise to reestablish relationships with American allies. So far, though, the relationship with France, and his personal relationship with Sarkozy, appears to be deteriorating with each new report.