Joseph Zambon
Last Monday, Trump and his entourage displayed yet another shocking act of contempt for the U.S. military, this time at one of the nation’s most sacred sites. The incident at Arlington National Cemetery involved violations of federal law and a verbal and physical assault on a female cemetery representative. It ignited widespread condemnation from veterans’ groups, political leaders, and the public.
Donald Trump’s contempt for the U.S. military and veterans is well-documented and spans decades. His actions and words repeatedly show disrespect towards those who serve, from his grandfather avoiding military service in Germany to his derogatory comments about veterans and war heroes.
Trump’s Disrespect for the Military: Key Incidents
Below is an incomplete list of precursors and incidents in Trump’s life that show his low regard for active-duty military and military veterans.
- 1800s: Trump’s grandfather leaves Germany to avoid military service.
- 1940-50s: Fred Trump, Donald’s father, never serves in the military.
- 1963: At the New York Military Academy, Trump attempts to push a fellow cadet out of a second-story window.
- 1968: A podiatrist writes Trump a draft deferment for “bone spurs” as a favor to Trump’s father, keeping him out of the Vietnam War – one of five deferments Trump receives.
- 1972: Trump runs into a classmate from the New York Military Academy who went served in Korea. When the classmate describes his service, Trump makes barfing noises.
- 2015: Trump disparages Vietnam War hero John McCain, saying, “He is a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured, okay?”
- 2016: Trump belittles the Gold Star parents of a slain soldier who criticized him during the Democratic National Convention.
- 2017: While visiting the grave of 1st Lt. Robert Kelly, the son of his Director of Homeland Security, General Kelly, Trump says, “I don’t get it. What was in it for them?”
- 2018: Trump refuses to visit France’s U.S. Aisne-Marne American Cemetery holding the graves of Marines killed in World War I, because “it’s raining…why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers.”
- 2018: After Senator John McCain’s dies, Trump tells his staff, “We are not going to support that loser’s funeral.” Trump is furious when flags are lowered to half-staff.
- 2019: Trump expresses displeasure when a war-wounded amputee sings at a Memorial Day ceremony. General Mark Milley says Trump instructs him not to bring wounded veterans to public events, again, saying, “Why do you bring people like that here? No one wants to see that, the wounded”.
- 2023: Trump suggests that Army Gen. Mark Milley should be executed for treason.
- 2024: Trump awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to billionaire donor Miriam Adelson. He says she fared “much better” than receiving the Medal of Honor, as those recipients are often severely injured or dead.
- 2024: Trump smiles and gives a thumbs up over graves at Arlington National Cemetery. His staff violates federal law by taking unauthorized photographs and verbally assaulting and shoving a female cemetery official.
Summary
Trump’s long history of disparaging the military and those who serve our country reveals a deep-seated disregard for the values and sacrifices of the U.S. Armed Forces. His comments and actions offend veterans and military families and draw widespread condemnation from leaders across the political spectrum and the American public.