WASHINGTON, DC: Former President Donald Trump faced criticism when a controversial video emerged, revealing his remarks about deceased US soldiers, including the late Arizona Senator John McCain.
On Saturday, November 11, the 77-year-old GOP candidate took to his Truth Social to commemorate Veterans Day by hailing those who have served their nation and declaring that their sacrifice would "never be forgotten.”
“To our heroic Veterans, I am grateful for your service to our Country and honored to wish you a Happy Veterans Day!” the real estate mogul wrote
“The traditions of excellence and integrity demonstrated by our men and women in uniform never fade after leaving the Military—once a Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine, Coast Guardsman, or Guardian—always.”
“On this Veterans Day and always, May God Bless you and your family, our Nation’s Veterans, and our Military men and women, and May He Bless and uphold the United States of America. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” he continued.
What did Donald Trump say about fallen US Soldiers?
In an unexpected turn of events, Trump's commendations on Veterans Day were eclipsed by an offensive video that showed him branding wounded or killed US war heroes as “losers” and “suckers.”
“Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers,” Trump once said according to the video.
A 2020 Atlantic article, written by Jeffrey Goldberg, claimed that the former President made the derogatory remark while refusing to visit the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris in 2018 as it would ruin his hair, and did not understand the value of honoring the US war dead.
As per the video, he also called fallen US Marines “Suckers.”
"I don't get it. What was in it for them?" he inquired during a visit to Arlington National Cemetery in 2017, asking retired Marine Corps Gen John Kelly about the gravesite of his son, Lt Robert Kelly.
In the video, Trump made a derogatory remark about the late Arizona Senator John McCain, who passed away in August 2018 due to brain cancer.
According to the Atlantic report, he informed his senior staff, “We’re not going to support that loser’s funeral.”
During the leadership summit, Trump launched another critique against Kelly, stating, "He's not a war hero. He's a war hero because he was captured. I prefer people who weren't captured."
Internet reacts to Donald Trump’s remarks
The video featuring Trump's comments on US war heroes has generated significant attention on social media, with users strongly criticizing him for referring to the heroes as '"losers" and "suckers."
One user said, “Donald Trump has never cared about anybody but himself let alone Veterans. Thank God for social media we can never forget as he would want us to.”
Another user said, “He makes me sick to my stomach!! ????”
A user stated, “Damn! This might be one of the most eye-opening videos I’ve yet to see with Donald Jezebel Trump on the military."
One more user asserted, “This is how he respects those who died for our freedom.”
Another one stated, “This man isn’t human. He’s a demon.”
One more said, “Sadly MAGA won’t care about what Trump said about the veterans and military. MAGA is brainwashed. Trump is too old to be President. Trump is clearly senile.”