Trump had congratulated Obama after Bin Laden raid in 2011 but a year later asked people to stop giving him credit
While Democrats did not think twice before excluding President Trump from their congratulations on the successful raid that killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Trump had congratulated former President Barack Obama in May 2011 after he announced that US forces had killed Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
In his statement, the real estate mogul emphasized the need to put country beyond party lines as the nation celebrated the victory.
Trump congratulated Obama although the latter had notoriously mocked him just hours before the raid at the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, reports Breitbart.
"And I know just the guy to do it -– Donald Trump is here tonight!" he said on the occasion. "Now, I know that he’s taken some flak lately, but no one is happier, no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than the Donald. And that’s because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter –- like, did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?"
At the time, Obama received applause from both sides of the political aisle, with several Republicans putting patriotism before politics.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney stated, “The administration clearly deserves credit for the success of the operation.” While New York’s former mayor Rudolph W Giuliani said, “I admire the courage of the president.”
Republicans had praised Obama despite knowing full well that the successful raid would help Democrats a lot politically.
However, Trump grew critical of Obama and walked back on his praise in 2012.
This time, however, former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and former HUD Secretary Julián Castro were among several Democrats who extended their congratulations to the US forces, but pointedly excluded the commander-in-chief from their statements.