Two former sr Trump admin officials confirm .@JeffreyGoldberg reporting that President Trump disparaged veterans and did not want to drive to honor American war dead at Aisne-Marne Cemetery outside Paris.
According to one former senior Trump administration official: "When the President spoke about the Vietnam War, he said, 'It was a stupid war. Anyone who went was a sucker'."
This former official heard the President say about American veterans: "What's in it for them? They don't make any money." Source: "It was a character flaw of the President. He could not understand why someone would die for their country, not worth it."
I read the source a few quotes from The Atlantic article. This former Trump admin official said, "The President would say things like that. He doesn't know why people join the military. He would muse, 'Why do they do it'?"
Re: trip to mark 100th anniversary of WW I
Source: "The President was not in a good mood. Macron had said something that made him mad about American reliability and the need perhaps for a European army. He questioned why he had to go to two cemeteries. 'Why do I have to do two'?"
President Trump's staff explained he could cancel (his visit to the cemetery), but he was warned, 'They (the press) are going to kill you for this'." The President was mad as a hornet when they did.
When asked IF the President could have driven to the Aisne-Marne Cemetery, this former official said confidently:
"The President drives a lot. The other world leaders drove to the cemeteries. He just didn't want to go."
Regarding Trump's July 4th military parade, during a planning session at the White House after seeing the Bastille Day parade in 2017, the President said regarding the inclusion of "wounded guys" "that's not a good look" "Americans don't like that," source confirms.
Regarding McCain, "The President just hated John McCain. He always asked, 'Why do you see him as a hero?" Two sources confirmed the President did not want flags lowered but others in the White House ordered them at half mast. There was a stand off and then the President relented.

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More from @JenGriffinFNC

3 Jun
It is notable that Gen Mark Milley stepped out of the photograph in front of St John's with the President to speak with the National Guard troops on the side. I am told by a well placed source that was intentional.
Esper, standing without his Chairman of the Joint Chiefs at the press conference at the Pentagon, said Gen Milley was wearing battle fatigues because they were heading to an ops center at the FBI when asked to come to the White House to brief the President.
Esper released statement last night about how military must remain apolitical after retired military leaders, (Gen Tony Thomas, Gen Martin Dempsey, Adm Mike Mullen, Maj Gen Dana Pittard) criticized term "battle space" and for allowing military to be used for political photo ops.
Read 5 tweets
2 Jun
Gen Milley NOT “in charge” of military response to protests as suggested by President in phone call to Governors: Senior administration officials tells me.
A senior administration official tells me: “General Milley’s role has not changed. He is the senior military adviser to the President. He is not issuing orders to the Governors or overseeing National Guard troops in Washington DC.”
I am told Milley’s statutory role has not changed. He remains Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, not a field commander. Right now Army Secretary (civilian) Ryan McCarthy is in charge of DC National Guard. As of now no active duty troops have been ordered into DC by the President.
Read 6 tweets
25 Mar
My Q to DoD Acquisition Chief: "Joint Chiefs on Feb 1 warned a pandemic was coming, what did you do to begin stockpiling masks, [PPE,] and ventilators at that time, can you take us back to when you started and why there isn't a greater stockpile in the U.S. military right now?"
Ellen Lord: "There is actually a very significant stockpile in the U.S. military... There are I believe 200 ventilators.
Griffin: "I believe it was 2,000 ventilators that you had, did you start buying more ventilators? 2,000 is not going to solve the current crisis?"
Ellen Lord: "I understand. We are working on procuring more ventilators right now."
My Q: But 6-weeks later, Feb. 1st was when the EXORD [execute order] went out, it's hard to understand why this is just beginning right now?
Read 4 tweets
23 Mar
"The United States deeply regrets that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and former Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah have informed Secretary Pompeo that they have been unable to agree on an inclusive government that can meet the challenges of governance, peace, and security...."
Pompeo: "The United States is disappointed in them and what their conduct means for Afghanistan and our shared interests. Their failure has harmed U.S.-Afghan relations and, sadly, dishonors those Afghan, Americans, and Coalition partners who have sacrificed their lives...."
Pompeo statement: "Because this leadership failure poses a direct threat to U.S. national interests, effective immediately, the U.S. government will initiate a review of the scope of our cooperation with Afghanistan."
Read 6 tweets
19 Mar
Lt. Gen. Ronald Place, head of Pentagon's Defense Health Agency:
"I think it does give us reason to pause about the complacency that we as people particularly we as Americans have....We're not very good about washing our hands....We have bad habits."
LTG Place: "We're very used to our water being safe. We're very used to our food being safe. We're very used to walking around in all kinds of different areas and not worry about it."
LTG Place: "In fact, as Americans, we're not very good about washing our hands. We're not very good about covering our mouths with or sleeve or a tissue and throwing the tissue away. We have bad habits."
Read 5 tweets
19 Mar
The Head of the National Guard Gen Joseph Lengyel does NOT want Guard mobilized on Federal level, wants to leave under State Governors or will lose ability to be nimble and help in future with local law enforcement, if needed.
Gen Lengyel: for National Guard, COVID19 is like having 54 Hurricanes at once, some CAT5. Of 54 States/territories, 27 State Governors have activated parts of state National Guard. 2,050 Guard members mobilized so far, will double by this weekend. "This could quickly blossom."
Q: Could President order National Guard mobilized at federal level?
Gen Lengyel: "The President could mobilize the National Guard but would NOT make sense in this case, better to remain under command and control of states."
Read 8 tweets

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