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Trump to Award the Medal of Honor; September 3, 2020
Hat tip, kairos12
POLITICS
Trump: Americans Who Died in War Are Losers and Suckers
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.
JEFFREY GOLDBERG
5:32 PM ET
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 couldnt fly and that the Secret Service wouldnt 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? Its filled with losers. In a separate conversation on the same trip, Trump referred to the more than 1,800 marines [sic; they mean "Marines." It's always capitalized.] who lost their lives at Belleau Wood as suckers for getting killed.
{snip}
On Memorial Day 2017, Trump visited Arlington National Cemetery, a short drive from the White House. He was accompanied on this visit by John Kelly, who was then the secretary of homeland security, and who would, a short time later, be named the White House chief of staff. The two men were set to visit Section 60, the 14-acre area of the cemetery that is the burial ground for those killed in Americas most recent wars. Kellys son Robert is buried in Section 60. A first lieutenant in the Marine Corps, Robert Kelly was killed in 2010 in Afghanistan. He was 29. Trump was meant, on this visit, to join John Kelly in paying respects at his sons grave, and to comfort the families of other fallen service members. But according to sources with knowledge of this visit, Trump, while standing by Robert Kellys grave, turned directly to his father and said, I dont get it. What was in it for them? Kelly (who declined to comment for this story) initially believed, people close to him said, that Trump was making a ham-handed reference to the selflessness of Americas all-volunteer force. But later he came to realize that Trump simply does not understand non-transactional life choices.
He cant fathom the idea of doing something for someone other than himself, one of Kellys friends, a retired four-star general, told me. He just thinks that anyone who does anything when theres no direct personal gain to be had is a sucker. Theres no money in serving the nation. Kellys friend went on to say, Trump cant imagine anyone elses pain. Thats why he would say this to the father of a fallen [M]arine on Memorial Day in the cemetery where hes buried.
{snip}
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.
Trump: Americans Who Died in War Are Losers and Suckers
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.
JEFFREY GOLDBERG
5:32 PM ET
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 couldnt fly and that the Secret Service wouldnt 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? Its filled with losers. In a separate conversation on the same trip, Trump referred to the more than 1,800 marines [sic; they mean "Marines." It's always capitalized.] who lost their lives at Belleau Wood as suckers for getting killed.
{snip}
On Memorial Day 2017, Trump visited Arlington National Cemetery, a short drive from the White House. He was accompanied on this visit by John Kelly, who was then the secretary of homeland security, and who would, a short time later, be named the White House chief of staff. The two men were set to visit Section 60, the 14-acre area of the cemetery that is the burial ground for those killed in Americas most recent wars. Kellys son Robert is buried in Section 60. A first lieutenant in the Marine Corps, Robert Kelly was killed in 2010 in Afghanistan. He was 29. Trump was meant, on this visit, to join John Kelly in paying respects at his sons grave, and to comfort the families of other fallen service members. But according to sources with knowledge of this visit, Trump, while standing by Robert Kellys grave, turned directly to his father and said, I dont get it. What was in it for them? Kelly (who declined to comment for this story) initially believed, people close to him said, that Trump was making a ham-handed reference to the selflessness of Americas all-volunteer force. But later he came to realize that Trump simply does not understand non-transactional life choices.
He cant fathom the idea of doing something for someone other than himself, one of Kellys friends, a retired four-star general, told me. He just thinks that anyone who does anything when theres no direct personal gain to be had is a sucker. Theres no money in serving the nation. Kellys friend went on to say, Trump cant imagine anyone elses pain. Thats why he would say this to the father of a fallen [M]arine on Memorial Day in the cemetery where hes buried.
{snip}
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.
This story is also in LBN.
Thu Sep 3, 2020: [link:Trump: Americans Who Died in War Are 'Losers' and 'Suckers'|Trump: Americans Who Died in War Are 'Losers' and 'Suckers']
STATEMENTS & RELEASES
President Donald J. Trump to Award the Medal of Honor
VETERANS
Issued on: September 3, 2020
On September 11, 2020, President Donald J. Trump will award the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Major Thomas P. Payne, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry.
{snip}
President Donald J. Trump to Award the Medal of Honor
VETERANS
Issued on: September 3, 2020
On September 11, 2020, President Donald J. Trump will award the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Major Thomas P. Payne, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry.
{snip}
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Trump to Award the Medal of Honor; September 3, 2020 (Original Post)
mahatmakanejeeves
Sep 2020
OP
Trump is going to have this stuck so far up his backside that his tears will make orangeade.
mahatmakanejeeves
Sep 2020
#3
IggleDuer
(964 posts)1. Can we allow a "Donald J. Trump Medal of Honor?" ...
... Just so we dont taint the real MOH.
czarjak
(11,269 posts)2. D-E-P-L-O-R-A-B-L-E
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,425 posts)3. Trump is going to have this stuck so far up his backside that his tears will make orangeade.
JoeMyGod Retweeted
Well, not quite speechless.
@realDonaldTrump
is going to have this stuck so far up his backside that his tears will make orangeade. And hell deserve it.
Link to tweet
dreamland
(964 posts)4. Another award that will lose it's value
Because he gives it out do freely.