It was intended to be a solemn occasion for the US president to pay tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of American soldiers in the First World War, the day before commemorations of the centenary of the Armistice that brought peace.

Instead, Donald Trump sparked rancorous criticism after cancelling a visit at the last minute to an American war cemetery near Paris because of rain.

Winston Churchill’s grandson led the chorus of derision after the White House blamed “scheduling and logistical difficulties caused by the weather”.

Nicolas Soames, the Conservative MP for Mid Sussex and a grandson of Churchill, said: “They died with their face to the foe and that pathetic inadequate Donald Trump couldn’t even defy the weather to pay his respects to The Fallen.”

Commentators pointed out that the Aisne Marne American cemetery, where nearly 2,300 US soldiers are buried on the site of the Battle of Belleau Wood, is only 50 miles from Paris. Ben Rhodes, a former senior advisor to Barack Obama, said: “There is always a rain option. Always.”