It’s heavy weather in Paris for Trump

Norman Tucker

French President Macron is joined by an array of leaders to mark the end of the First World War

It came as world leaders converged on the French capital for a series of events marking the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.

Mr Trump arrived separately in his own vehicle and was subjected to a female protester running out towards the procession of cars.

The US president said he and other officials were "gathered at this hallowed resting place to pay tribute to fearless Americans" who died a century ago, as well as to the French troops with whom they fought.

Writing on Twitter, Mr Trump replied: "President Macron of France has just suggested that Europe build its own military in order to protect itself from the US, China and Russian Federation".

US President Donald Trump (L) and US Major General and ABMC (American Battle Monuments Commission) Secretary William M. Matz take part in a US ceremony at the American Cemetery of Suresnes, outside Paris, on November 11, 2018 as part of Veterans Day and commemorations marking the 100th anniversary of the November 11, 1918, armistice, ending World War I. Putin also flashed Trump a thumbs-up sign and patted Trump's arm.

It is their first meeting since the Helsinki summit, where the pair held closed-door talks and a joint press conference.

Trump took Macron's comments in stride, telling reporters after the ceremony that he felt Macron's words were "very handsome".

"Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism", Macron said, speaking in French.

He urged the leaders present to promise their peoples that the resurgent "old demons" would not be able to return, sowing "chaos and death". "History sometimes threatens to take its sinister course once again".

Follow Business Insider Australia on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Melbourne Cup 2018: Cliffsofmoher put down after fracturing shoulder during race
The Melbourne Cup is one of the few trophies in world racing which has eluded its owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Prince of Arran came third. "It's very sad", Joe O'Brien said. "So I can't believe it.

In part, his warnings seemed aimed at far-right parties that have gained ground across Europe in recent elections, including in France, where the National Front, now renamed the National Rally, has nudged ahead of Macron's En Marche movement in the polls ahead of European Parliament elections next May.

White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other White House personnel attended Saturday's ceremony.

Trump had been scheduled to visit a different American cemetery outside of Paris on Saturday, but rain grounded the helicopter Trump had planned to take, so he canceled the trip.

After the ceremony, which ended with Macron lighting anew the flame at the Arc de Triomphe´s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the leaders headed for lunch at the presidential palace.

President Trump explained that 1 million French soldiers and 116,000 American service members had sacrificed their lives by the end of World War I.

The US president was due to visit Belleau to pay respects to American soldiers killed during the First World War.

In a veiled dig at US President Donald Trump's America-first policies and skepticism toward multilateral cooperation, Merkel warned that "lack of communication and unwillingness to compromise" can have deadly consequences.

He visited an American cemetery outside Paris at precisely the moment that Macron, Merkel and other dignitaries were opening a peace forum where the French leader again sounded the alarm about crumbling worldwide harmony as he ruminated about the legacy of the morning's commemorations.

Trump, who ran on an "America First" platform, has jarred European allies with his actions.