Secretary of State John Kerry has announced he will fly to Paris later this week in a show of support for France. The Obama administration has come under fire after Obama declined to join 40 world leaders and 1.7 million people at a free speech rally in Paris Sunday. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest acknowledged the administration should have sent a top official.

Josh Earnest: “Some have asked whether or not the United States should have sent someone with a higher profile than the ambassador to France. And I think it’s fair to say that we should have sent someone with a higher profile to be there. That said, there is no doubt that the American people and this administration stand four-square behind our allies in France as they face down this threat.”

It is unclear why Attorney General Eric Holder, who was in Paris for meetings, did not attend the rally.