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White House: U.S. Should Have Sent 'Higher Profile' Official to Paris March

Rebecca Bellecci January 12, 2015 10:36 AM EST

Israel\'s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L), Mali\'s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (2ndL), French President Francois Hollande (C), Germany\'s Chancellor Angela Merke (4thL), European Council President Donald Tusk (5thL) and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas attend a solidarity march (Marche Republicaine) in the streets of Paris January 11, 2015. | (Photo: Reuters/Philippe Wojazer)

The White House spoke out regarding criticism for not attending a Paris unity march over the weekend, with an Obama administration spokesperson admitting the U.S. should have sent s government official with a "higher profile" to represent the U.S.

The administration received criticism via social media after it failed to send a prominent official to march in Paris in unity following the Charlie Hebdo terror attack last week, even though several other countries sent their top leaders to march.

While the Obama administration sent U.S. Ambassador to France Jane Hartley, French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas all marched in Sunday's event.

"I think it's fair to say that we should have sent someone with a higher profile" to the unity march, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said during a press conference Monday.

"We agree that we should have sent someone with a higher profile in addition to the ambassador to France," Earnest added.

The administration received criticism from Republicans who said President Obama's failure to send a higher profile politician showed a lack of leadership.

"Unfortunately the United States president, the vice president and Secretary of State did not show up and support this solidarity meeting. That is unfortunate," Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas) said on the House floor on Monday.

"Freedom is under stack by these terrorists," Poe continued. "The United States should be more outspoken in our support of the French people."

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