Donald Trump says Americans who died in war are 'losers' and 'suckers', report claims
Donald Trump says Americans who died in war are 'losers' and 'suckers', report claims
Donald Trump elicited the ire of Americans after he said those who soldiers who died in war are 'losers'.
3 min read
Trump insulted the army [Getty]
A new report alleges that US President Donald Trump in 2018 called members of the US military that died in action, including those dead at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in France, "losers" and "suckers".
The allegations were reported by The Atlantic, who spoke to a senior Defense Department official who said they had first-hand knowledge of the events.
According to the unnamed official, Donald Trump in 2018 had cancelled a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in Paris and blamed it on the rain, saying that the "helicopter couldn’t fly".
The official White House line for the cancellation at the time was that the trip was cancelled due to bad weather.
The official said this was not true, and that Trump had rejected the visit because he feared how his hair would look in the rain.
In a conversation with senior staff members on the morning of the visit, the source alleges, Trump said: "Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers."
In another conversation on the trip, Trump allegedly described some 1,800 marines who lost their lives at Belleau Wood as "suckers" for getting killed.
The battle in Belleau Wood in 1918 fought by the Marine Corps stopped Germany advancing into Paris. Trump asked his aides: "Who were the good guys in this war?"
Both Trump and the White House vehemently denied the claims.
"This report is patently false," said White House strategic communications director Alyssa Farah.
"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. These nameless anecdotes have no basis in fact and are offensive fiction."
Addressing reporters later, Trump said: "To think that I would make statements negative to our military and fallen heroes when nobody has done what I’ve done."
Trump then went on Twitter and wrote about John McCain’s funeral – he was both military official and politician.
"The lowering of our Nations American Flags, and the first class funeral he [McCain] was given by our country, had to be approved by me, as President, & I did so without hesitation or complaint.
"Quite the contrary, I felt it was well deserved. I even sent Air Force One to bring his body, in casket, from Arizona to Washington. It was my honor to do so."
He added: "Also, I never called John a loser and swear on whatever, or whoever, I was asked to swear on, that I never called our great fallen soldiers anything other than HEROES.
"This is more made up Fake News given by disgusting & jealous failures in a disgraceful attempt to influence the 2020 Election!"
The allegations were reported by The Atlantic, who spoke to a senior Defense Department official who said they had first-hand knowledge of the events.
According to the unnamed official, Donald Trump in 2018 had cancelled a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in Paris and blamed it on the rain, saying that the "helicopter couldn’t fly".
The official White House line for the cancellation at the time was that the trip was cancelled due to bad weather.
The official said this was not true, and that Trump had rejected the visit because he feared how his hair would look in the rain.
In a conversation with senior staff members on the morning of the visit, the source alleges, Trump said: "Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers."
In another conversation on the trip, Trump allegedly described some 1,800 marines who lost their lives at Belleau Wood as "suckers" for getting killed.
The battle in Belleau Wood in 1918 fought by the Marine Corps stopped Germany advancing into Paris. Trump asked his aides: "Who were the good guys in this war?"
Both Trump and the White House vehemently denied the claims.
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"This report is patently false," said White House strategic communications director Alyssa Farah.
"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. These nameless anecdotes have no basis in fact and are offensive fiction."
Addressing reporters later, Trump said: "To think that I would make statements negative to our military and fallen heroes when nobody has done what I’ve done."
Trump then went on Twitter and wrote about John McCain’s funeral – he was both military official and politician.
"The lowering of our Nations American Flags, and the first class funeral he [McCain] was given by our country, had to be approved by me, as President, & I did so without hesitation or complaint.
"Quite the contrary, I felt it was well deserved. I even sent Air Force One to bring his body, in casket, from Arizona to Washington. It was my honor to do so."
He added: "Also, I never called John a loser and swear on whatever, or whoever, I was asked to swear on, that I never called our great fallen soldiers anything other than HEROES.
"This is more made up Fake News given by disgusting & jealous failures in a disgraceful attempt to influence the 2020 Election!"
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