Ashli Babbitt funeral: When will Air Force veteran be buried? Internet asks if Trump will attend, pay expenses
Ashli Babbitt's death has taken America by storm. The 35-year-old is one of five people who died amid an armed insurrection at the US Capitol. Babbitt was shot as she and dozens of other rioters tried to enter the Speaker's Lobby. Clips show her yelling “Go! Go!” as two men hoist her to a smashed glass panel on the door while another man yells, “He’s got a gun!”
Born Ashli McEntee, she grew up in an apolitical home with four younger brothers. Their father worked in commercial flooring and their mother in a school program. After high school, she enlisted in the Air Force and worked as an enlisted security forces controller. Her primary role was to guard gates at Air Force bases and she was soon deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq.
According to ABC News, Babbitt served a total of 12 years in the Air Force, Air Force Reserves and Air National Guard as a security forces controller and had the enlisted rank of senior airman. Security force controllers are responsible for providing security at Air Force bases, according to military records. After her death, thousands of social media users can't stop wondering when will her funeral be held and if she would get a military funeral.
Will Donald Trump attend the funeral?
Many wondered if Donald Trump was going to pay for the funeral expenses or at least offer some support to the family.
“I wonder if Trump gonna pay for Ashli Babbit’s funeral or offer her family any assistance since he antagonized her to her death?!?” one tweet read and another said “So is Donald Trump going to pay for Ashli Babbit’s Funeral Expenses. I mean she did come all the way from California to support her leader.”
Many wondered if Trump would at least attend her funeral. One tweet read, “She had a husband but didn’t love him enough to avoid getting killed in a preventable situation. She really loved Trump that much. I really hope Trump goes to her funeral at least #AshliBabbit,” and another said, “Ashli Babbit deserved it. She broke into the Capitol. Obey the laws dude. Oh and Trump still doesn’t know who she is and never will. He won’t be at her funeral. Trump already forgot about her.”
I wonder if Trump gonna pay for Ashli Babbit’s funeral or offer her family any assistance since he antagonized her to her death?!? pic.twitter.com/G7hKHRXlQu
— Anita Faker (@MovesLikeRoy) January 8, 2021
So is Donald Trump going to pay for Ashli Babbit’s Funeral Expenses. I mean she did come all the way from California to support her leader. 🤔🤷🏽♀️🥴😂😂😂😂
— Ms. Elle Michelle Washington (@ElleMichelle365) January 8, 2021
She had a husband but didn’t love him enough to avoid getting killed in a preventable situation. She really loved Trump that much. 🤪 I really hope Trump goes to her funeral at least 😭 #AshliBabbit
— Unknown (@lifeiscrazy931) January 7, 2021
Ashli Babbit deserved it. She broke into the Capitol. Obey the laws dude. Oh and Trump still doesn’t know who she is and never will. He won’t be at her funeral. Trump already forgot about her. #AshliBabbit #ashlibabbitTerrorist #TreasonAgainstAmerica #CapitolBuilding #LOSER
— The Duchess of Nothing (@Duchess_Nothing) January 7, 2021
Will she get a military funeral?
Before any information about her funeral even comes in, the internet is divided over whether she really deserves a funeral with military honors. It soon sparked a debate over whether she should be dubbed a ‘traitor’ or ‘hero’ and some asked her other supporters to start a charity in her name.
“Can Ashli Babbit be switched to dishonorably discharged? She doesn't deserve a funeral with military honors,” one tweet read. Another Twitter user posted, “Ashli Babbitt is NOT a hero and she BETTER NOT receive a military funeral and her family shouldn’t receive any benefits. She’s a treasonous traitor! #AshliBabbit #treason #Traitor.”
A third wrote, “#AshliBabbit doesn't deserve a military funeral. What an absolute embarrassment to those who actually stand by their oath to fight for our constitution. She was a #terrorist, emboldened by a racist, bigoted demagogue. She and others like her are an embarrassment to this country.” However, a fourth one asked others, “Someone please start a charity in honor and memorial of Ashli Babbit to cover her funeral costs.”
Can Ashli Babbit be switched to dishonorably discharged? She doesn't deserve a funeral with military honors.
— Jonnycat (@jonnycat222) January 7, 2021
Ashli Babbitt is NOT a hero and she BETTER NOT receive a military funeral and her family shouldn’t receive any benefits. She’s a treasonous traitor! #AshliBabbit #treason #Traitor
— Melanin Monroe (@PettyLaBelle79) January 7, 2021
#AshliBabbit doesn't deserve a military funeral. What an absolute embarrassment to those who actually stand by their oath to fight for our constitution. She was a #terrorist, emboldened by a racist, bigotted demagogue. She, and others like her are an embarrassment to this country
— kacy Gomez (@MamaKay_G) January 7, 2021
Someone please start a charity in honor and memorial of Ashli Babbit to cover her funeral costs.
— Samuel Chouman (@SamuelChouman) January 9, 2021
Will the funeral be telecasted live?
The argument didn't end there. A few other Twitter users wondered if her funeral will be telecasted live.
“The terrorist #AshliBabbit should be stripped of any rewards and titles she received while serving her country. She took an oath to always serve and protect and she did no such thing. She also shouldn’t get a military-style send-off at her funeral,” one user wrote. Another said, “Ashli Babbit was an unarmed protester murdered by US cops for expressing her political opinions. Quite appalling that the media are siding with her killers. Will the BBC be broadcasting her funeral live?”
The terrorist #AshliBabbit should be stripped of any rewards and titles she received while serving her country. She took a oath to always serve and protect and she did no such thing. She also shouldn’t get a military style send off at her funeral.
— mother of kozmo (@kozmo_mom) January 8, 2021
Ashli Babbit was an unarmed protester murdered by US cops for expressing her political opinions. Quite appalling that the media are siding with her killers. Will the BBC be broadcasting her funeral live?
— K920 (@minniedogg) January 7, 2021
As soon as there is any official word from her family or friends about the funeral, we will update this space.