Regardless of presenting himself as a champion of the U.S. army, and incomes a majority of votes from veterans in all three of his campaigns for the White Home in keeping with polls, President Donald Trump has sometimes made controversial remarks about veterans, members of the army or America’s involvement in abroad conflicts. A few of these statements have been made on digicam or in entrance of reporters, however others come from nameless sources. Trump himself by no means served within the army, receiving an exemption through the Vietnam Battle after being identified with bone spurs in his heels.
Probably the most incendiary report about Trump’s operating commentary on the army was a September 3, 2020, investigation in The Atlantic by Jeffrey Goldberg, together with stunning second-hand reviews about Trump’s conduct from former advisors, together with retired common and former White Home Chief of Employees John Kelly. Trump forcefully denied the veracity of Goldberg’s reporting. “It’s a disgraceful scenario by {a magazine} that is a horrible journal,” mentioned Trump to reporters. The Atlantic stood by its reporting. “I would not publish something that I did not really feel was sourced to the best diploma doable,” mentioned Goldberg in an interview with NPR.
On trans People serving within the US army
“Past the hormonal and surgical medical interventions concerned, adoption of a gender id inconsistent with a person’s intercourse conflicts with a soldier’s dedication to an honorable, truthful and disciplined way of life, even in a single’s private life. A person’s assertion that he’s a girl, and his requirement that others honor this falsehood, will not be according to the humility and selflessness required of a service member.” January 27, 2025.
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On US army officers
“I do not need to let you know what I needed to undergo with these folks. Among the dumbest folks I’ve ever met in my life.” October 16, 2023.
“I would not go to battle with you folks. You are a bunch of dopes and infants.” July 20, 2017.
“You fucking generals. Why cannot you be extra like Hitler’s generals?” 2017. Trump denies having made this comment.
On the burial of US Military personal Vanessa Guillén
“It would not price 60,000 bucks to bury a fucking Mexican!” December 4, 2020. Trump has denied having made the comment.
On the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who was a prisoner of battle in Vietnam for 5 and a half years
“Obamacare is a disaster, no one talks about it. You recognize, with out John McCain, we might have had it completed. However John McCain, for some cause, could not get his arm up.” July 16, 2024.
“I used to be by no means a giant fan of John McCain, disagreed with him on many issues together with ridiculous limitless wars and the shortage of success he had in coping with the VA and our nice Vets, however the decreasing of our Nations American Flags, and the primary class funeral he was given by our Nation, needed to be accepted by me, as President, and I did so with out hesitation or criticism. Fairly the opposite, I felt it was well-deserved. I even despatched Air Pressure One to convey his physique, in casket, from Arizona to Washington. It was my honor to take action. Additionally, I by no means referred to as John a loser and swear on no matter, or whoever, I used to be requested to swear on, that I by no means referred to as our nice fallen troopers something apart from HEROES.” September 4, 2020.
“We’re not going to assist that loser’s funeral.” August, 2018. Trump has denied having made this comment.
“He is a battle hero as a result of he was captured. I like those that weren’t captured, okay? I hate to let you know.” July 18, 2015.
On decreasing flags to half-mast after McCain’s demise
“What the fuck are we doing that for? Man was a fucking loser.” August 2018. Trump has denied making this comment.
On recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor
“It is the equal of the Congressional Medal of Honor. However the civilian model, it is truly a lot better as a result of everybody that will get the Congressional Medal of Honor, they’re troopers. They’re both in very dangerous form as a result of they have been hit so many occasions by bullets or they’re lifeless.” August fifteenth, 2024.
On not serving within the Vietnam Battle
“However, , through the Vietnam Battle, I obtained very fortunate. I had a really excessive lottery quantity.” November 9, 1995.
On concocting a pretend harm to keep away from service in Vietnam
“You assume I am silly? I wasn’t going to Vietnam.” 2016.
On how his sexual promiscuity makes him braver than any soldier who served in Vietnam
“Getting the Congressional Medal of Honor, actually … it is Vietnam. It is vitally harmful. So I am very, very cautious.” Might 7, 1998.
On troops wounded in an Iranian retaliatory strike on a US airbase in Iraq
“I heard that they’d complications and a few different issues. However I’d say, and I can report, it’s not very severe.” January 8, 2020.
On fallen troopers at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery
“Why ought to I am going to that cemetery? It is crammed with losers.” November 11, 2018. Trump denies having made this comment.
On the 1,800 US Marines who died at Belleau Wooden in France throughout World Battle I
“Suckers.” November 11, 2018. Trump denies having made this comment.
On US troopers in World Battle I
“Who have been the great guys on this battle?” November 11, 2018. Trump denies having requested this query.
“I do not get it. What was in it for them?” November 11, 2018. Trump denies having made this comment.
On disabled veterans
“Why do you convey folks like that right here? Nobody needs to see that, the wounded.” September 30, 2019.
“Look, I do not need any wounded guys within the parade. This does not look good for me.” Summer time 2017.
