Trump: Americans Who Died in War Are 'Losers' and 'Suckers'

[George II]

The president has repeatedly disparaged the intelligence of service members, and asked that wounded veterans be kept out of military parades, multiple sources tell The Atlantic.

When President Donald Trump canceled a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris in 2018, he blamed rain for the last-minute decision, saying that “the helicopter couldn’t fly” and that the Secret Service wouldn’t drive him there. Neither claim was true.

Trump rejected the idea of the visit because he feared his hair would become disheveled in the rain, and because he did not believe it important to honor American war dead, according to four people with firsthand knowledge of the discussion that day. In a conversation with senior staff members on the morning of the scheduled visit, Trump said, “Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers.” In a separate conversation on the same trip, Trump referred to the more than 1,800 marines who lost their lives at Belleau Wood as “suckers” for getting killed.

Belleau Wood is a consequential battle in American history, and the ground on which it was fought is venerated by the Marine Corps. America and its allies stopped the German advance toward Paris there in the spring of 1918. But Trump, on that same trip, asked aides, “Who were the good guys in this war?” He also said that he didn’t understand why the United States would intervene on the side of the Allies.

Trump’s understanding of concepts such as patriotism, service, and sacrifice have interested me since he expressed contempt for the war record of the late Senator John McCain, who spent more than five years as a prisoner of the North Vietnamese. “He’s not a war hero,” Trump said in 2015 while running for the Republican nomination for president. “I like people who weren’t captured.”

Trump has been, for the duration of his presidency, fixated on staging military parades, but only of a certain sort. In a 2018 White House planning meeting for such an event, Trump asked his staff not to include wounded veterans, on grounds that spectators would feel uncomfortable in the presence of amputees. “Nobody wants to see that,” he said.

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/09/trump-americans-who-died-at-war-are-losers-and-suckers/615997/

[liberalmuse]

1. Wow, he really did say that.

I thought this was a loose paraphrase, but he actually used those words. Just wow. My heart hurts. So many people sacrificed and died for our country only to have this jackass take the helm, lift his leg and take a piss on everything decent, good and noble.

[George II]

2. Even worse, I just added the last sentences of the article:

Trump has been, for the duration of his presidency, fixated on staging military parades, but only of a certain sort. In a 2018 White House planning meeting for such an event, Trump asked his staff not to include wounded veterans, on grounds that spectators would feel uncomfortable in the presence of amputees. “Nobody wants to see that,” he said.

[liberalmuse]

6. Oh my god.

I need a shower any time they quote Trump. He's vile.

[Laelth]

3. Excellent article. k&r n/t

-Laelth

[ProudMNDemocrat]

4. I have seen Disabled Veterans in parades...

An people cheer and applaud in appreciation of the sacrifice to life and limb. Just look at Sen. Tammy Duckworth.

[Chainfire]

5. All serving troops and all veterans should hear that.

If I had been in his presence when he said that, I would have broken his damn jaw in honor of my Great Uncle who is buried in a French Cemetery.

[Blue Owl]

7. Donald Trump's head should be rolling down the National Mall right now

[world wide wally]

8. There y'go, all you GI's who love the phoniest asshole on the street.

Just fucking vote for him and then whine and complain for the rest of your days. After all, you can't vote for a Democrat.