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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsLargest Veterans organization demands apology after Trump said traumatic brain injuries from Iranian
attack are 'not very serious'Washington (CNN)
The Veterans of Foreign Wars is demanding that President Donald Trump apologize for downplaying traumatic brain injuries sustained by US service members in Iraq after Iranian missile strikes on American troops earlier this month.
Earlier this week, Trump said he does not consider potential traumatic brain injuries to be as serious as physical combat wounds, minimizing the severity of the injuries, saying he heard that some troops "had headaches, and a couple of other things, but I would say, and I can report, it's not very serious."
"The VFW expects an apology from the President to our service men and women for his misguided remarks," William "Doc" Schmitz, VFW National Commander, said in a statement Friday, following the Pentagon's announcement that 34 US service members have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries in the January 8 Iranian attack.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/25/politics/trump-vfw-traumatic-brain-injuries/index.html
Mickju
(1,803 posts)sorcrow
(418 posts)gratuitous
(82,849 posts)Will service members and veterans withdraw their support, or can Trump count on them again in November?
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,122 posts)And even then... idk.
kacekwl
(7,017 posts)they won't care. They never do with this guy.
bullwinkle428
(20,629 posts)John McCain comments back in 2015.
bitterross
(4,066 posts)Trump never apologizes for anything. He also doesn't give a rat's ass about the troops beyond whether or not they vote for him or are available to become cannon canon fodder for him and his US oligarchy.
Andy823
(11,495 posts)there is no way he apologizes, his narcissistic personality would never allow fo that.
Things like this, his lying about those who were injured having only a "headache" is not going to go over well with veterans and the military and the general public. Sure his diehard base will continue to support him, but more and more people will start to see just how much of an ass he really is.
calimary
(81,297 posts)His Infernal lordship wont ever be able to do that.
wnylib
(21,476 posts)that he must be diminishing his supporters.
But if he knows that 2020 is rigged in his favor, then he doesn't care. No matter how many he alienates, he will still "win." And probably declare it the biggest win ever in American history.
DFW
(54,397 posts)If he pisses off big right-leaning organizations out of pure arrogance, his base will erode faster than he'll think possible. Ads for Democratic candidates featuring people like Sen. Tammy Duckworth will have ten times the impact they did before if they include factual statements about Trump brushing them off,
Leghorn21
(13,524 posts)Big, big news, according to me!!
Andy823
(11,495 posts)the more he opens his big mouth the more trouble he will get into. He is a terrible person, and things like this prove that.
nolabear
(41,984 posts)And right now I salute them!
When I saw the subject, I immediately thought of a few other - Democratic leaning groups, this was a surprise.
As to impact, it is hard to tell. Like many others, I had thought he was dead as soon as he made his idiotic comment on McCain not being a hero because he got caught. Not because he was attacking McCain, but he was implicitly attacking anyone who was a POW. It also would not take much of a leap to wonder if he blamed those injured for their injuries --- just as he blamed the POWs for getting caught. Add to that, that even as a jest, he compared ALL military sacrifices (even if not captured or hit) with his heroism avoiding STCs. That comment should have angered every vet, current soldier and their families that fear for them when they are gone.
That he lacks empathy has been well proven. That comment is not the least bit out of the pattern he has shown since 2015 -- and likely before that when we heard him less.
CaptYossarian
(6,448 posts)Trump doesn't know a lot about anything, but especially definitions of Patriot and Hero.
Cirque du So-What
(25,939 posts)Its good that the VFW demands an apology, but one is not forthcoming - and that in itself is newsworthy. Let Orange Foolius convince the American public through commission of one thoughtless act after another.
Andy823
(11,495 posts)No way will he apologize.
calimary
(81,297 posts)Cirque du So-What
(25,939 posts)but I too liked it, so I use it occasionally.
IggleDuer
(964 posts)... Unlike bone spurs.
braddy
(3,585 posts)Basic LA
(2,047 posts)I'm a member of both and would love to see it. It's way overdue.
braddy
(3,585 posts)reporting was so misleading, I think all of these cases were walking cases and we are being very cautious in diagnosing these men, but why such assurances for days that no one was hurt which led many to passionately claim that Iran meant not to kill our soldiers.
Iran was trying to kill when they attacked bases in the country of Iraq.
DENVERPOPS
(8,835 posts)A vast majority of them voted for Trump, just as they did for Cheney/Rumsfeld........
Of all the groups in America that should be outraged, after the last 20-30 years it should be the veterans and current troops. Especially after the past three years. When the Supreme Commander calls TBI people panty waists, those are fighting words.........
He has absolutely no respect for the military except as his private goon squad.......
Response to DENVERPOPS (Reply #31)
Post removed
greyl
(22,990 posts)spanone
(135,841 posts)wryter2000
(46,051 posts)Otherwise, hot air
Andy823
(11,495 posts)I am a vet and I didn't, or would I ever, vote for him. Yes I know a lot of vets, and active military did vote for him last time, but I am not so sure that all of them that did vote last time will do so again, not with crap like this coming out of his mouth.
I also think that many parents of those on active duty are not going to like this kind of talk from someone who got a phony Dr. to get him out of the draft with the so called "bone spurs" excuse!
I really hope people wake up to the fact he is no fit to be in the White House.
calimary
(81,297 posts)UTUSN
(70,700 posts)Boomerproud
(7,954 posts)Rinse and repeat.
keithbvadu2
(36,816 posts)Visit to Arlington Cemetery reminded Donald Trump Jr. of all his family's 'sacrifices,' he writes
https://www.stripes.com/news/us/visit-to-arlington-cemetery-reminded-donald-trump-jr-of-all-his-family-s-sacrifices-he-writes-1.606501
fwvinson
(488 posts)Future dictators are suppose to have the military on their side. Don't believe that is how you do it.
left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)NBachers
(17,116 posts)grumpyduck
(6,240 posts)At the polls.
What a PoS.
SunSeeker
(51,559 posts)yaesu
(8,020 posts)Number9Dream
(1,562 posts)I live in the Lehigh Valley, PA, and I'll bet the Allentown Morning Call and WFMZ TV will not report that a Veteran's organization demanded an apology from draft-dodger Don.
Andy823
(11,495 posts)the CNN article is all I have found, so you could be right. I just hope the Vets who did vote for him in 2016 start thinking twice before they vote for him again.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(108,009 posts)Trump's too insecure to admit when he's screwed up.
NCLefty
(3,678 posts)Or President Obama, even after stating he knew birtherism wasn't true at a press conference...
OR...