Today is Veterans Day. As a veteran, the last few years have been hard to watch with someone in the Oval Office who has a long track record of insulting and defrauding those of us who have served in uniform. I want people to talk about that today... (thread)
#VeteransDay
#VeteransDay
In 2015, at the start of his campaign, Trump mocked the late Sen. John McCain for being a prisoner of war: "He's a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren't captured." nbcnews.com/politics/2016-…
In 2016, Trump skipped a GOP primary debate to host a stated fundraiser for veterans. His campaign took the more than $2.82m raised and improperly spent most of it. This week, a judge ordered Trump to pay $2m to charities he was supposedly supporting: npr.org/2019/11/07/777…
That summer, Trump shocked Americans across the political spectrum by insulting the family of U.S. Army Captain Humayun Khan, who died in Iraq in 2004 while attempting to save other soldiers. Trump mocked his parents. nytimes.com/2016/07/31/us/…
That same month, Trump insulted retired four-star Marine Corps General John Allen: “You know who he is? He’s a failed general. He was the general fighting ISIS. I would say he hasn't done so well, right?” politico.com/story/2016/07/…
In July 2017, without consulting military leadership, Trump announced a ban on trans people in the military. Medical experts, military generals, and budget analysts have all said there are zero credible reasons for the ban. nytimes.com/2017/07/26/us/…
In Oct. 2017, Trump insulted the widow of U.S. Army Sergeant La David T. Johnson while calling to offer condolences and forgot the soldier's name. He was widely criticized for his bizarre behavior. nytimes.com/2017/10/18/us/…
Last year, @ProPublica reported that Trump had essentially given control of the Dept. of Veterans Affairs to three civilians, all business executives who are attempting to privatize it. This has been met with widespread resistance from veterans advocates. propublica.org/article/ike-pe…
In Nov. 2018, Trump skipped a planned visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial near Paris. The reason? It was raining. Nearly 2,300 U.S. troops killed in battle are buried there. washingtonpost.com/world/2018/11/…
That same week, Trump falsely claimed that retired U.S. Navy Admiral William McRaven supported Hillary Clinton and insulted his oversight of the successful mission to kill Osama Bin Laden. rollingstone.com/politics/polit…
In January of this year, Trump took to Twitter to mock the service of retired U.S. Army General Stanley McChrystal. cnn.com/2019/01/01/pol…
In August, after Congressman Seth Moulton dropped out of the presidential race, Trump tweeted at him: "You remain a frickin' coward" -- Moulton was awarded a Bronze Star w/ Valor for his heroism in Iraq. businessinsider.com/trumps-taunt-s…
In Sept, it was reported that Trump is diverting funds from schools and daycares on military bases--which are always cash strapped--to pay for his proposed wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. cnbc.com/2019/09/04/pen…
Last month, Trump called former Sec. of Defense Jim Mattis "the world's most overrated general". Mattis served in combat w/ distinction and has long been considered one of the most respected general officers of the modern era. businessinsider.com/trumps-insults…
Not long after that, Trump implied that William B. Taylor, Jr. is "human scum" for testifying that he engaged improperly with Ukraine. Taylor, a West Point graduate, served two tours in Vietnam and is a widely respected diplomat. nytimes.com/2019/10/22/us/…
He implied the same about U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, who served in combat in Iraq and was awarded the Purple Heart. Oddly, there also appeared to be a coordinated smear campaign claiming Vindman is a spy, with no evidence. abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump…
Trump never served a single day in uniform. He received five draft deferments during Vietnam, the last being for bone spurs that magically healed after the war's conclusion. And yet, he has always felt the need to insult the service of people who bravely stepped forward.
As a military veteran, I have never expected politicians to serve in the military in order to lead in elected office. Some of our best elected officials didn't serve in uniform. But I don't think it's a stretch to demand that they respect those who have served. He does not.
Donald Trump does not care about our military. He does not care about veterans. He does not care about our families. And he is a coward. On today of all days, the last Veterans Day before the 2020 presidential election, this needs to be recognized by all. /thread
#VeteransDay
#VeteransDay
