MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

Military vets declare war on Trump after he calls American soldiers killed in battle and John McCain ‘losers’

Donald Trump said for late Senator John McCain in 2015: 'He’s not a war hero,' adding, 'I like people who weren’t captured'

“Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers...” US President Donald Trump said in 2018 before he canceled a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris. As per reports, he blamed the rain for the last-minute decision and said “the helicopter couldn’t fly”. However, none of it was true.

As per a bombshell report by The Atlantic, Trump did not think it was important to honor the American war dead, according to four sources. Moreover, on the same trip, he also allegedly called more than 1,800 marines who lost their lives at Belleau Wood as “suckers” for getting killed.

Well, that's not the first time such a comment from Trump has floated on the Internet. Expressing his contempt for late Senator John McCain, who spent more than five years as a prisoner of the North Vietnamese, Trump said in 2015: “He’s not a war hero,” adding, “I like people who weren’t captured.” At that time, he was running for the Republican nomination for president, but he continued the criticism through his years at the White House.

As per the same report, Trump's reaction to McCain's death in August 2018 was, “We’re not going to support that loser’s funeral.” Moreover, he also said, “What the f**k are we doing that for? Guy was a f**king loser.” The quotes were given on the condition of anonymity and a White House spokesperson denied these claims saying: “This report is false. President Trump holds the military in the highest regard. He’s demonstrated his commitment to them at every turn: delivering on his promise to give our troops a much-needed pay raise, increasing military spending, signing critical veterans reforms, and supporting military spouses. This has no basis in fact.”

The report details how Trump continued to shun military credits and the news left many bewildered on social media. Now many are wondering if any military veterans would at all vote for him. On Twitter user wrote: "BREAKING: When John McCain died Trump told aides: “We’re not going to support that loser’s funeral.” When aides lowered the flags at the White House, Trump said: “What the f*ck are we doing that for? Guy was a f*cking loser.” If you vote for this moron, you are the Loser!"

"Just wow. Everything from @JeffreyGoldberg's piece is astonishing. YET, ARE ANY OF US SURPRISED?? From Belleau Wood to John Kelly's fallen son, to calling John McCain a "f**king loser" to shunning war Amputees. Trump doesn't deserve to be CiC. By Jan 20th, he'll know why," one tweet read and another said, "If you‘re shocked that Trump called American soldiers who died in war “losers” and “suckers,” just remember what he said about John McCain. “He’s not a war hero. He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren’t captured."

One Twitter user said, "My dad died at 46 from exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. Trump says he’s a loser. My grandpa went down in the South Pacific in WWII. Trump just called him a sucker. I’m a disabled vet, but not an amputee so trump says I can be in a parade. The choice is clear. #BidenHarris2020."

Joe Biden retweeted Golberg's tweet and said, "Here’s my promise to you: If I have the honor of serving as the next commander in chief, I will ensure that our American heroes know that I will have their back and honor their sacrifice. Always."

The president's niece Mary Trump also responded to the news and said, "Anybody who is surprised by Donald's comments is once again letting him off the hook when he has time after time demonstrated himself to be nothing but an anti-American, anti-military traitor to this country." Sharing the MSNBC screenshot, one tweet read: "Mary Trump responded to Jeff Goldberg’s Atlantic piece of news today." 

Soon, military veterans took to Twitter and expressed their disdain. "My brigade combat team in 2010 had a Captain who was a double amputee who stayed in the Army, stayed in the infantry, deployed with us to Afghanistan and led patrols on his prosthetic legs, but I defer to the judgment of the commander in chief," one said. Another posted, "Our military has been repeatedly BETRAYED by Trump. Now he is panicking, using any excuse to show up in military communities. Like today, in Wilmington, NC. But service members know better. Donald Trump, you are going to lose. #TrumpYouLose #TraitorTrump."

"My brother isn't a loser or a sucker!! He fought in Vietnam and Iraq. To me he is a hero!! @realDonaldTrump where the hell were you?!!!" another tweet read. 

Another social media user stated in reference to Goldberg's article: "This article has been published for several hours. Complete silence from the four star generals and admirals. No words of support for the commander in chief.  Or any other words for wounded and families of fallen who have read this." 

Sharing a picture of Barack Obama, one stated: "Donald Trump, in a White House meeting, asked that a military parade exclude wounded veterans, because "nobody wants to see" amputees. I’m just gonna leave this here. Leadership. Humanity." Another said, "Dear @realDonaldTrump: Your dad pulled favors to get you out of military service. But it doesn’t take having served to understand that American servicemembers who died in war are heroes, not losers & suckers. That’s also why we have a national holiday called Memorial Day. Get it?"