I always wonder who advises the guy. Bush would not have admitted a mistake. But this sure was a significant one: Regretful White House Acknowledges Mistake on Paris March - Obama Rues Not Sending More-Senior Official

 

Thousands gather in Paris on Sunday for a march against terrorism, an event that was attended by many world leaders.

From The Wall Street Journal:

WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama regrets his decision not to send a top White House official to represent the U.S. at a march in Paris that drew dozens of world leaders in a show of solidarity against terrorism, press secretary Josh Earnest said.

The response to criticism that neither Mr. Obama nor Vice President Joe Biden attended the event Sunday was a rare public admission of a mistake by the White House.

“I think it’s fair to say that we should have sent someone with a higher profile,” Mr. Earnest said Monday. “I think the president himself would have liked to have the opportunity to be there.”

The highest-ranking U.S. official at the march was the American ambassador to France, Jane Hartley. Mr. Obama didn’t make that decision, Mr. Earnest said, adding that no one at the White House brought such a request to the president’s attention.

The White House cited security concerns with the president or vice president attending the outdoor event. Mr. Earnest noted that the march was planned in just 36 hours.

Still, the White House agreed with critics from both parties who have said the decision marked a missed opportunity.

The U.S. Secret Service wasn’t notified by the White House of a potential trip to Paris. Agency officials said protecting the president or vice president at the march would have been a challenge, but their logistic and security operations would have been able to develop an effective plan.