Category: Discrimination: Veterans

Trump Jokes About Being Shot at Rally with Gold Star Family

During a recent town hall event in Oaks, Pennsylvania, former President Donald Trump made an inappropriate joke regarding being shot while addressing a Gold Star family who lost their son in Afghanistan. The family, Mary and Charles Strange, had come forward to share their grief over the loss of their son, Michael, who was killed in action in 2011. The moment became particularly uncomfortable when Trump humorously remarked about the difficulty of getting up to meet them because he “got shot.” This comment was seen as a lack of sensitivity towards their tragic loss.

The event, moderated by South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, included a request from Charles Strange for a Congressional investigation into his son’s death, which he described as part of a larger tragedy involving 30 servicemen. Trump responded by promising to set up a commission within his first week in office, indicating a willingness to address the concerns raised by the Strange family.

Trump’s town hall was marked by chaotic moments, including interruptions due to medical emergencies in the audience. After these disturbances, Trump shifted the focus from serious discussions to an impromptu musical performance, showcasing his tendency to prioritize entertainment over substantive political discourse.

The audience’s reactions during the event varied, with some cheering and participating in the unexpected musical segment. This behavior reflects Trump’s ongoing appeal among his supporter base, despite the controversial nature of his comments and actions.

Overall, Trump’s latest town hall illustrates his controversial approach to sensitive topics, particularly regarding military families and fallen soldiers. His history of disrespecting Gold Star families continues to raise concerns about his empathy and suitability for leadership.

(h/t: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13960467/amp/Trump-makes-bizarre-joke-talking-couple-son-died-war.html)

Trump Jokes About Being Shot at Rally with Gold Star Family

During a campaign rally in Oaks, Pennsylvania, former President Donald Trump made an inappropriate joke about being shot after being introduced to a Gold Star family who lost their son, Michael, in the war in Afghanistan. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem acknowledged the family’s loss before inviting them on stage, prompting Trump to quip that it was ‘a little harder to get up since I got shot.’

Noem reminded Trump of the family’s loss with the comment, ‘Sir, they lost their son Michael.’ Trump then engaged the Gold Star parents, Mary and Charles Strange, who requested a congressional hearing into the circumstances of their son’s death.

Charles Strange explained that his son was killed on August 6, 2011, alongside 29 other service members, marking one of the largest losses in the Iraq and Afghan wars. He expressed frustration over the lack of answers regarding the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

In response, Trump promised to set up a commission to investigate their concerns within the first week of his new administration, stating that many families are in similar situations and seek clarity about their loved ones’ fates. His comments included a pledge to prioritize other campaign promises as well.

This incident highlights Trump’s controversial style of humor and his approach to addressing sensitive issues related to military families and veterans.

(h/t: https://www.mediaite.com/tv/trump-jokes-about-being-shot-after-he-is-told-couples-son-died-in-war-sir-they-lost-their-son-michael/)

Trump’s Dismissal of U.S. Soldiers’ Brain Injuries as ‘Headaches’ Sparks Outrage

Former President Trump has once again downplayed the serious brain injuries sustained by over 100 U.S. troops from an Iranian missile attack in Iraq, dismissing them as mere “headaches” during a campaign event in Waunakee, Wisconsin. This comment reflects a troubling pattern of minimizing the suffering of service members, which has drawn widespread condemnation.

The Harris campaign swiftly criticized Trump’s remarks, labeling him as “unfit to be Commander-in-Chief” due to his insensitive comments about the injuries, which are a result of a 2020 attack that he previously dismissed as inconsequential. His statements appear to echo a similar sentiment from that time when he falsely claimed there were no injuries.

At the event, Trump questioned the meaning of “injured,” suggesting that the loud noise from the attack was the only issue, stating, “What does injured mean? You mean because they had a headache? Because the bombs never hit the fort?” Such rhetoric shows a blatant disregard for the real trauma experienced by these soldiers.

Moreover, Trump’s insistence that he was the toughest on Iran and his claims that the missiles did not hit their targets only serve to further trivialize the experiences of those who served. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz highlighted this issue during a recent debate, pointing out that Trump’s previous comments also dismissed the severity of the injuries.

Critics, including national security spokesperson Morgan Finkelstein from the Harris campaign, have underscored the gravity of Trump’s comments, stating that insulting injured service members during a time of increased military engagement in the Middle East is particularly egregious. Such remarks raise serious concerns about his capability to lead and protect the men and women in uniform.

(h/t: https://www.axios.com/2024/10/02/trump-us-soldiers-injuries-iran-strike-iraq-base-2020)

Trump Minimizes U.S. Troops’ Brain Injuries from Iran Attack as ‘Headaches’

 

Former President Trump recently downplayed the serious brain injuries sustained by over 100 U.S. troops during an Iranian missile attack on a base in Iraq, referring to them as merely ‘headaches.’ These comments were made during a campaign event in Waunakee, Wisconsin, where Trump responded to questions about whether he should have taken a tougher stance on Iran following the incident.

The Harris campaign quickly condemned Trump’s remarks, stating that they deem him ‘unfit to be Commander-in-Chief.’ This criticism highlights ongoing concerns regarding Trump’s previous dismissals of military injuries, particularly those chronicled after the January 2020 attack.

In his remarks, Trump questioned the meaning of ‘injured,’ asserting that no bombs hit the fortified area and implying that the troops’ experiences were exaggerated. He suggested that the sounds of the explosions caused discomfort, which he accepted as a form of injury.

These comments echo Trump’s previous statements from January 2020, when he similarly minimized the impact of the Iranian attack, which resulted in traumatic brain injuries among service members. Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota also referenced Trump’s earlier comments during a recent vice presidential debate, highlighting a pattern of trivializing military injuries.

National security spokesperson Morgan Finkelstein from the Harris campaign emphasized that as U.S. forces are engaged in the Middle East, Trump’s remarks are not only insulting but also raise serious questions about his leadership capabilities regarding military matters.

 

Trump says he will “not even consider” renaming bases named for Confederate leaders

President Trump tweeted Wednesday that he will “not even consider” renaming the 10 U.S. military bases that are named after Confederate leaders.

Why it matters: A spokesperson for Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said on Monday he’s open to a “bipartisan discussion” about renaming the military bases and facilities that are named after Confederate leaders, including Fort Bragg and Fort Benning.

  • The debate comes as the Navy and Marines have moved to ban the display of Confederate-era symbols.
  • A number of states and cities around the country have also taken steps to remove Confederate-era symbols amid racial unrest over the police killing of George Floyd.

What he’s saying: “It has been suggested that we should rename as many as 10 of our Legendary Military Bases, such as Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Fort Hood in Texas, Fort Benning in Georgia, etc. These Monumental and very Powerful Bases have become part of a Great American Heritage, and a history of Winning, Victory, and Freedom,” Trump tweeted.

  • “The United States of America trained and deployed our HEROES on these Hallowed Grounds, and won two World Wars. Therefore, my Administration will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations.
  • “Our history as the Greatest Nation in the World will not be tampered with. Respect our Military!”

The bottom line: White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said at a press briefing Wednesday that Trump would not sign any potential legislation — including the National Defense Authorization Act — that includes language to change the names of U.S. forts.

[Axios]

Trump Calls Mattis Yet Another of His Terrible Hires

Last evening, President Trump’s first Defense secretary, James Mattis, wrote a scathing op-ed describing his former boss as a threat to the Constitution and lacking the maturity to govern. In response to these charges, possibly the most devastating indictment any Cabinet official has ever made of a president who appointed them to office, Trump characteristically advanced a series of countercharges:

Let us examine the argument in its constituent elements. First, Trump claims to have fired Mattis. In fact, Mattis resigned his position. At the time of his retirement, Trump praised him and said he was “retiring with distinction”:

Second, Trump described Mattis as “the world’s most overrated general.” This is a very different assessment than the generous one Trump made upon Mattis’s retirement. It also raises questions as to why Trump hired Mattis in the first place. Since his career as a general entirely preceded his tenure as secretary of Defense, it would seem to be a major error by Trump that he selected the world’s most overrated general for such an important position.

This would, however, fit the pattern of Trump selecting incompetent staff for key positions, according to Trump himself.

Third, Trump undercut what is (in Trump’s branding-obsessed mind) Mattis’s most valuable attribute (the nickname “Mad Dog”) by claiming that Trump himself came up with it. In fact, the nickname can be found in innumerable news accounts going back at least 20 years.

Finally, and most curiously, Trump claims Mattis “seldom ‘brought home the bacon.’” It is not clear what bacon he was supposed to have brought home but failed, unless perhaps Trump is accusing Mattis of failing to spend enough money at Trump-owned properties, as other officials have done.

To summarize the debate between the two men: Mattis claims Trump lacks the maturity and respect for the Constitution necessary to serve as president. Trump responds that he made an enormous error in selecting his first Defense secretary, who in addition to lacking qualifications for the job, has inappropriately claimed credit for a nickname Trump devised. Notably, Trump is not contesting either of Mattis’s claims about his unfitness for office, and seems instead to be confirming them.

[New York Magazine]

Trump says he agrees with Navy Capt. Crozier’s firing

President Donald Trump defended the firing of Navy Capt. Brett Crozier during a coronavirus task force press conference Saturday afternoon, calling Crozier’s letter asking for help for the sailors of the USS Theodore Roosevelt “not appropriate.” 

Trump said he did not make the decision to fire Crozier, but he disagreed with Crozier’s actions and suggested the captain was at fault for the coronavirus infections on board the aircraft carrier for docking the ship in Vietnam.

“Perhaps you don’t do that in the middle of a pandemic,” Trump said, adding the letter was “not appropriate” and “he shouldn’t be talking that way in a letter.” 

Crozier had circulated a four-page letter later obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle asking for “decisive action” as the coronavirus ravaged his crew. 

“We are not at war, and therefore cannot allow a single Sailor to perish as a result of this pandemic unnecessarily,” Crozier wrote. 

Four days after he pleaded for help, Crozier was fired by the Navy. 

Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said Crozier had “exercised extremely poor judgment” in distributing the letter. 

The Navy said Saturday 44% of the crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt had been tested for the coronavirus, and 155 service members had tested positive. About 1,548 service members had been moved onshore. None had been hospitalized. 

[USA Today]

Navy captain fired by Trump administration for trying to save his crew

The Navy captain fired by the Trump administration for issuing a stark warning about the risk to his crew from the coronavirus outbreak has been given a standing ovation as he left his post.

Captain Brett Crozier, was relieved of his command of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt on Thursday after his superiors lost confidence in his ability to lead.

As Capt Crozier left on Thursday night he was given a standing ovation and cheered on by members of the 5,000-strong crew, who chanted “Captain Crozier, Captain Crozier” as he departed.

Earlier in the week, Capt Crozier sent a letter to the Navy, obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle, asking for the crew to be isolated completely in order to try and stop the spread of a coronavirus outbreak onboard the ship.

“Removing the majority of personnel from a deployed US nuclear aircraft carrier and isolating them for two weeks may seem like an extraordinary measure…This is a necessary risk,” he wrote.

“Keeping over 4,000 young men and women on board the TR is an unnecessary risk and breaks faith with those Sailors entrusted to our care.”

During his press conference on Thursday evening, acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said the decision to sack Capt Crozier was his alone and explained that the captain’s actions forced his hand.

“I have no doubt in my mind that Captain Crozier did what he thought was in the best interest of the safety and well-being of his crew,” he said. “Unfortunately, it did the opposite. It unnecessarily raised the alarm of the families of our sailors and Marines with no plans to address those concerns.”

Mr Modly added his admiration for the captain: “I expect no congratulations for it. Captain Crozier is an incredible man.”

Earlier in the day, at his daily press conference, President Donald Trump was asked by a reporter if he thought the decision was the correct one, replying: “No, I don’t think that at all.”

The decision to relieve the captain of his duties was criticised by the Democratic frontrunner for the presidential nomination, Joe Biden, who released a statement on Thursday evening saying that Capt Crozier should not have been fired.

“Donald Trump’s Acting Navy Secretary shot the messenger – a commanding officer who was faithful to both his national security mission and his duty to care for his sailors, and who rightly focused attention on a broader concern about how to maintain military readiness during this pandemic,” said Mr Biden.

“The Navy sent a chilling message to the rest of the fleet about speaking truth to power. The poor judgment here belongs to the Trump Administration, not a courageous officer trying to protect his sailors.”

According to a tracking project hosted by Johns Hopkins University, upwards of 245,601 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the US. The death toll has reached at least 6,058.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended a two-week ban on gatherings of more than 50 people as part of the battle to contain the spread of the contagion.

[The Independent]

Trump suggests military should consider additional discipline for Vindman

President Trump on Tuesday suggested the military should consider additional disciplinary action against Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who provided damaging testimony against Trump in the impeachment inquiry and was reassigned from his White House job last week.

“We sent him on his way to a much different location, and the military can handle him any way they want,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “Gen. Milley has him now. I congratulate Gen. Milley. He can have him.”

Gen. Mark Milley is the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Asked specifically if the Pentagon should pursue further action against Vindman, Trump said it would be “up to the military.”

“But if you look at what happened, they’re going to certainly, I would imagine, take a look at that,” he said.

The president’s comments on Tuesday signaled he was open to additional punishment for officials who testified against him in the impeachment inquiry. Some of his allies have sought to cast the ouster of witnesses like Vindman as justifiable reassignments rather than retribution.

Trump added that there were more departures to come, but it was unclear if he was referring specifically to impeachment witnesses.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Friday signaled there would be no punishment for Vindman, saying the Pentagon protects service members from retribution. 

“We protect all of our persons, service members, from retribution or anything like that. We’ve already addressed that in policy and other means,” Esper told reporters at the Pentagon during a press conference with his Colombian counterpart.

Vindman had been working temporarily at the White House as a member of the national security council when he was dismissed. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland was fired later the same day.

Both officials were among those who testified about Trump’s conduct toward Ukraine during House impeachment inquiry hearings last year. The House ultimately impeached Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, alleging he withheld security aid from Ukraine to pressure the country to investigate his political rivals.

The Senate acquitted Trump last week in a party-line vote.

Vindman proved to be one of Democrats’ most memorable witnesses. A Purple Heart recipient, Vindman testified that he believed Trump’s conduct on a July 25 call with the Ukrainian president was inappropriate and that he reported it to his superior.

Trump has mocked Vindman for wearing his military uniform during the hearing and complained about the contents of his testimony.

On Tuesday, the president accused Vindman of leaking and going outside the chain of command

[The Hill]

Trump justifies firing Alexander Vindman for being “insubordinate”

President Trump tweeted on Saturday morning to explain why he fired national security official Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who had testified before the House Intelligence Committee that the president’s July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was “improper.”

“I don’t know [Vindman], never spoke to him or met him (I don’t believe!) but, he was very insubordinate, reported contents of my ‘perfect’ calls incorrectly…….and was given a horrendous report by his superior, the man he reported to, who publicly stated that Vindman had problems with judgement, adhering to the chain of command and leaking information. In other words, ‘OUT.'”

Context: Vindman was fired on Friday just before U.S. ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland was dismissed. The firings took place two days after Trump was acquitted by the Senate.

  • Trump “expressed deep anger … over the attempt to remove him from office because of his actions toward Ukraine,” the Washington Post writes.

[Axios]

Reality

If any other person in America retaliated against witnesses like Donald Trump is doing, they would be in jail. But today we have a monarch.

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