Political Tribune

2024, Analysis, Donald Trump, Military, Opinion

Trump Uses Memorial Of Fallen Soldiers As A Photo-Op With Standard Trumpian Thumbs Up And Cheshire Smile

This guy loves photo-ops.

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597 points

Former President Donald Trump has once again found himself at the center of controversy following remarks at a recent pro-Israel event where he compared the prestigious Medal of Honor, awarded to military personnel, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Trump stated that the civilian award was “much better” than the Medal of Honor because many military recipients are “in very bad shape” or dead due to combat injuries, while Presidential Medal recipients are “healthy, beautiful” individuals like Republican donor Miriam Adelson. These comments have sparked significant criticism, especially among veterans’ groups and political figures.

Trump’s remarks have raised concern and anger among those who see his comments as diminishing the sacrifices made by Medal of Honor recipients. The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest military award, reserved for acts of extraordinary valor on the battlefield. In contrast, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, while prestigious, is awarded for civilian contributions and has no specific criteria for physical or personal sacrifice. Trump awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Adelson in 2018 during his presidency.

Veterans and Democrats Rebuke Trump’s Comments
Veterans groups, particularly the Veterans of Foreign Wars, have been vocal in condemning Trump’s statements. Al Lipphardt, the VFW’s commander in chief, characterized Trump’s remarks as “asinine” and said they diminish the significance of the Medal of Honor. The group emphasized that the comments also undermine the sacrifices made by those who have risked their lives for the country. Lipphardt’s statement expressed concern over how someone aspiring to become the nation’s commander in chief could speak so dismissively about military service members and their sacrifices.

The controversy echoes previous criticisms that have followed Trump throughout his political career. In 2020, The Atlantic published a report claiming that Trump had privately referred to dead service members as “suckers” and “losers” during a visit to a U.S. military cemetery in France. These claims were later confirmed by Trump’s former chief of staff, John Kelly, who verified that Trump indeed made those derogatory remarks in private. Veterans groups like VoteVets, which support Democratic candidates with military backgrounds, have consistently criticized Trump for his disrespect toward military service. Following Trump’s recent comments, VoteVets issued a statement accusing him of not just disrespecting veterans but actually resenting their sacrifice because it highlights his own inadequacies.

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Political Fallout: Trump vs. Harris
The political implications of Trump’s comments have not been overlooked, particularly in the context of the 2024 presidential race. Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running for president, issued a sharp rebuke of Trump’s words, stating that they were part of a pattern of disrespect toward military personnel. Harris’s campaign spokesperson emphasized that Trump has previously attacked Gold Star families, mocked prisoners of war, and referred to fallen soldiers as “losers.” The Harris campaign made it clear that they would use Trump’s latest remarks as a reminder to voters of why he should not be trusted as the nation’s commander in chief again.

Trump’s campaign, however, deflected attention from his comments and sought to redirect criticism toward Harris’s role in the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Trump’s senior adviser, Brian Hughes, issued a statement criticizing Harris for being involved in what he described as a “disastrous retreat” from Afghanistan, further highlighting the political stakes of the exchange.

Patterns of Disparagement Toward Military
Trump’s denigration of military service is not a new theme in his rhetoric. One of the most infamous examples occurred during his first presidential campaign when he criticized the late Senator John McCain, a Vietnam War hero and prisoner of war, stating that McCain was not a hero because he was captured. “I like people who weren’t captured,” Trump said at the time. His pattern of belittling military figures continued throughout his presidency, including during his awarding of the Presidential Medal of Freedom to political allies like Rush Limbaugh and Devin Nunes.

The backlash from Trump’s recent comments raises broader concerns about how veterans and military personnel view his role as a leader. Despite his claims of supporting the military, incidents like these serve to undermine his credibility among a key voter demographic—veterans and active-duty service members. For many, Trump’s ongoing remarks show a fundamental lack of understanding and appreciation for the sacrifices made by those in uniform, and this latest controversy only adds to that perception.

Video footage of Gold Star families expressing their appreciation for former President Trump’s dedication to U.S. soldiers highlights that his relationship with the military community is deeply nuanced. While some military families continue to stand by Trump, praising his commitment to veterans, the topic of his presidency remains a highly polarizing issue. Just as with other political matters in the U.S., opinions about Trump sharply divide families and communities, with passionate supporters on one side and critics on the other.

Featured Image via Political Tribune Gallery 

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Shay Maz

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Shay Maz has been a political writer for many years. This is a pseudonym for writing; if you need to contact her - you may do so here: https://x.com/SheilaGouldman

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