President Obama has come under criticism for what was perceived by many as a snub when he failed to attend a massive march in Paris following the Charlie Hebdo massacre and the murder of hostages taken at a Jewish delicatessen. Leaders from 40 countries, including British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov, marched, sometimes linking arms, joining with French President François Hollande and millions of French in the streets of Paris to demonstrate solidarity against terrorism.

Responding to pointed questions and commentary in both the liberal and conservative press, as well as international media, the White House first suggested that the Secret Service had not had sufficient notice to make the necessary arrangements to guarantee the safety of the president. The Washington Post, however, reported that the agency charged with protecting the president “was not asked or notified about a potential trip to Paris.” Critics pointed out that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas were able to set aside differences to participate in the “March of Unity” presenting an arguably higher risk for attack by terrorists than even the American president.

On Monday, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest acknowledged the missed opportunity admitting, “It’s fair to say we should have sent someone with a higher profile,” although he did not suggest what member of the administration should have been sent to Paris to march in the historic gathering. Secretary of State, John Kerry, was in India meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the president’s upcoming visit to that country. Vice-President Joe Biden did not attend, nor did Attorney General, Eric Holder, who was in Paris attending a meeting on the day of the march, but left after appearing on the American Sunday morning news programs.

Although the U.S. was represented by Ambassador Jane Hartley, critics noted that she was not a recognizable presence at what was was an unprecedented moment of symbolism in the international fight against militant extremism. The president had an open schedule on the day of the “March for Unity” and an unidentified White House official told the U.K. Daily Mail that the president was watching the National Football League playoffs for at least part of the day. Earnest added that President Obama did not make the decision about whether to attend the march, but did not identify who did.

Kerry, who said criticism of the president’s conspicuous absence at the march was “quibbling,” arrived in France on Friday to offer belated support a week after the Paris terror attacks. He struck an off note by introducing his friend James Taylor accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, singing his signature song, You’ve Got a Friend. The slightly off-key and tentative rendition of the 1971 hit, has the lyrics “… You just call out my name, and you know where ever I am I’ll come running… Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you have to do is call and I’ll be there,” the irony of which under the circumstances was not lost on international media and commentators.