SURESNES, France — President Trump spoke without an umbrella during a cold, rainy Veterans Day ceremony in France.

The ceremony at Suresnes American Cemetery near Paris was Trump's final scheduled stop before returning to the U.S.

"This is certainly the highlight of the trip," Trump said, after putting down his umbrella to speak.

The few reporters who chose to attend huddled under umbrellas, with ponchos over their computers. Many others chose to remain at a hotel press filing center.

At one point during his 10-minute speech, Trump made light of the driving rain in a cool 55 degrees Fahrenheit, telling one guest under an overhang, "You look so comfortable up there under shelter as we are getting drenched."



"You look so comfortable up there under shelter as we're getting drenched, you're very smart people" - Donald Trump thanks the Second World War veterans at the Suresnes American Cemetery #LestWeForget pic.twitter.com/zytIBPFXlb — Sky News (@SkyNews) November 11, 2018

Trump spoke after taking heavy criticism for canceling a visit Saturday to another military cemetery farther from Paris.

The Saturday event was canceled because rain made helicopter transport more hazardous and security more difficult along a long driving route.

Trump delivered a Veterans Day speech Sunday, focusing specifically on World War I history and the legacy of that war's American troops, more than 1,000 of whom are buried at Suresnes. Sunday marks the centennial of the war's end.

Trump puts down his umbrella in soaking rain at Suresnes cemetery#VeteransDay #ArmisticeDay100 pic.twitter.com/rNBkId5kyS — Steven Nelson (@stevennelson10) November 11, 2018

"It is our duty to preserve the civilization they defended and to protect the peace they so nobly gave their lives to secure one century ago," Trump said.