Trump: Americans Who Died in War Are ‘Losers’ and ‘Suckers’

[caddieman]

When President Donald Trump canceled a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris in 2018, he blamed rain for the last-minute decision, saying that “the helicopter couldn’t fly” and that the Secret Service wouldn’t drive him there. Neither claim was true.

Trump rejected the idea of the visit because he feared his hair would become disheveled in the rain, and because he did not believe it important to honor American war dead, according to four people with firsthand knowledge of the discussion that day. In a conversation with senior staff members on the morning of the scheduled visit, Trump said, “Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers.” In a separate conversation on the same trip, Trump referred to the more than 1,800 marines who lost their lives at Belleau Wood as “suckers” for getting killed.

 

Belleau Wood is a consequential battle in American history, and the ground on which it was fought is venerated by the Marine Corps. America and its allies stopped the German advance toward Paris there in the spring of 1918. But Trump, on that same trip, asked aides, “Who were the good guys in this war?” He also said that he didn’t understand why the United States would intervene on the side of the Allies.

 

 

Trump’s understanding of concepts such as patriotism, service, and sacrifice has interested me since he expressed contempt for the war record of the late Senator John McCain, who spent more than five years as a prisoner of the North Vietnamese. “He’s not a war hero,” Trump said in 2015 while running for the Republican nomination for president. “I like people who weren’t captured.”

Read: John McCain’s death brought out the worst in the Trump administration

There was no precedent in American politics for the expression of this sort of contempt, but the performatively patriotic Trump did no damage to his candidacy by attacking McCain in this manner. Nor did he set his campaign back by attacking the parents of Humayun Khan, an Army captain who was killed in Iraq in 2004.

Trump remained fixated on McCain, one of the few prominent Republicans to continue criticizing him after he won the nomination. When McCain died, in August 2018, Trump told his senior staff, according to three sources with direct knowledge of this event, “We’re not going to support that loser’s funeral,” and he became furious, according to witnesses, when he saw flags lowered to half-staff. “What the **** are we doing that for? Guy was a ******* loser,” the president told aides. Trump was not invited to McCain’s funeral. (These sources, and others quoted in this article, spoke on condition of anonymity. The White House did not return earlier calls for comment, but Alyssa Farah, a White House spokesperson, emailed me this statement shortly after this story was posted: “This report is false. 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. This has no basis in fact.”)

Eliot A. Cohen: America’s generals must stand up to Trump

Trump’s understanding of heroism has not evolved since he became president. According to sources with knowledge of the president’s views, he seems to genuinely not understand why Americans treat former prisoners of war with respect. Nor does he understand why pilots who are shot down in combat are honored by the military. On at least two occasions since becoming president, according to three sources with direct knowledge of his views, Trump referred to former President George H. W. Bush as a “loser” for being shot down by the Japanese as a Navy pilot in World War II. (Bush escaped capture, but eight other men shot down during the same mission were caught, tortured, and executed by Japanese soldiers.)

When lashing out at critics, Trump often reaches for illogical and corrosive insults, and members of the Bush family have publicly opposed him. But his cynicism about service and heroism extends even to the World War I dead buried outside Paris—people who were killed more than a quarter century before he was born. Trump finds the notion of military service difficult to understand, and the idea of volunteering to serve especially incomprehensible. (The president did not serve in the military; he received a medical deferment from the draft during the Vietnam War because of the alleged presence of bone spurs in his feet. In the 1990s, Trump said his efforts to avoid contracting sexually transmitted diseases constituted his “personal Vietnam.”)

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/09/trump-americans-who-died-at-war-are-losers-and-suckers/615997/

[caddieman]

This just saddens me to the core. Vote for him if you want. Many Americans know who he is.........I hope.

[nstoolman1]

Hmmm, no names of the four people with "first hand knowledge"? 

[caddieman]

1 hour ago, nstoolman1 said:

Hmmm, no names of the four people with "first hand knowledge"? 

Can you really blame them. Anybody that has come out against Trump that puts their name on it gets Eviscerated by the radical right. And  constantly gets lied about. But I get it. Like I said I don’t blame them, but I agree you say something put you’re name on it. It sucks you get that blowback but it comes with the territory I’m afraid. 

[nstoolman1]

They just have to back it up with audio or print. 

[8th ID]

This is a BS story from a never Trump magazine and has already been said to be BS by several reporters and even Gen Kelley who were there. The most ridiculous thing about the article is him not wanting his hair to get messed up. Isn't it ironic that the very next day he stood out in the rain at the Serre Cemetery for over an hour at a ceremony honoring the fallen heroes. He could not go to the Aisne-Marne Cemetery because the helicopter could not fly due to the weather and the Secret Service said it was not safe to motorcade that distance. Of course these "unnamed sources" are "correct" in what they are reporting according the our socialist media. I am getting real sick and tired of these communist trolls. Get your head out of the sand @caddieman. You are a lot smarter than that then to believe this hogwash.

[MyLadiesDaddy]

Anyone who still listens and believes the LAME STREAM MEDIA 

is not only a fool but come November they too will be LOOSERS.

[caddieman]

20 minutes ago, 8th ID said:

This is a BS story from a never Trump magazine and has already been said to be BS by several reporters and even Gen Kelley who were there. The most ridiculous thing about the article is him not wanting his hair to get messed up. Isn't it ironic that the very next day he stood out in the rain at the Serre Cemetery for over an hour at a ceremony honoring the fallen heroes. He could not go to the Aisne-Marne Cemetery because the helicopter could not fly due to the weather and the Secret Service said it was not safe to motorcade that distance. Of course these "unnamed sources" are "correct" in what they are reporting according the our socialist media. I am getting real sick and tired of these communist trolls. Get your head out of the sand @caddieman. You are a lot smarter than that then to believe this hogwash.

I don’t know. It fits right in his narrative. He called John McCain a loser. Trump gets no benefit of the doubt with me. 

[Johnny Dinar]

I have to say it wouldn't surprise me if he said something this ridiculous, but whoever said he said it, needs to standup or this needs to be thrown out. If it is someone, like Trump said a past employee, then they have nothing to lose... If it is someone currently employed in the administration, they might get fired, but some lobbyist will hire them so they need to man up..

[caddieman]

34 minutes ago, 8th ID said:

This is a BS story from a never Trump magazine and has already been said to be BS by several reporters and even Gen Kelley who were there. The most ridiculous thing about the article is him not wanting his hair to get messed up. Isn't it ironic that the very next day he stood out in the rain at the Serre Cemetery for over an hour at a ceremony honoring the fallen heroes. He could not go to the Aisne-Marne Cemetery because the helicopter could not fly due to the weather and the Secret Service said it was not safe to motorcade that distance. Of course these "unnamed sources" are "correct" in what they are reporting according the our socialist media. I am getting real sick and tired of these communist trolls. Get your head out of the sand @caddieman. You are a lot smarter than that then to believe this hogwash.

you got me wondering so looked this up. https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/the-atlantic/
 

The Atlantic news is rated High in factual reporting. 

[coorslite21]

Yep....just indicates how desperate the left is feeling....they know they are in trouble.....by election time the media will be breaking that un-named sources are reporting Trump and Putin are *** lovers....

Really Caddie....you're better than bringing this trash in here....

CL

[8th ID]

1 hour ago, caddieman said:

you got me wondering so looked this up. https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/the-atlantic/
 

The Atlantic news is rated High in factual reporting. 

Yes, High factual reporting with a left leaning bias. All that is listed below is from your website. This even screams socialist/communist all over it! Just look at the owners of it "Emerson Collective". If that doesn't hit one as having a socialist/communist overtone then one is living under a mushroom. They believe that if they say that there is an anonymous source then people might not listen, but if they have 4 anonymous people that say it then it adds credibility. This is all BS!!! and you know it! Quit hiding behind the anonymous sources. Put your big boy pants on and come out and say, I heard him say this.

 

 

 

LEFT-CENTER BIAS

These media sources have a slight to moderate liberal bias.  They often publish factual information that utilizes loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by using appeal to emotion or stereotypes) to favor liberal causes.  These sources are generally trustworthy for information, but may require further investigation. See all Left-Center sources.

 

Overall, we rate The Atlantic Left-Center Biased due to editorial positions and High for factual reporting based on excellent sourcing of information.

 

Funded by / Ownership

On July 28, 2017, Emerson Collective became the majority owner of The Atlantic, purchasing the majority stake from Atlantic Media‘s David G. Bradley. The outlet’s owned by Emerson Collective include The Atlantic magazine and its digital properties along with its standout events line and Atlantic Media Strategies. The Washington Post reports Emerson Collective plans to move to full ownership of The Atlantic in “three to five years” after their 2017 investment. The Atlantic is funded through a subscription and advertising model.

 

Analysis / Bias

Both The Atlantic Magazine and web publication produce quality journalism that utilizes moderately loaded wording that typically favors the left: This Is the Moment of Truth for Republicans. All news stories on The Atlantic are properly sourced to factual information and usually present a reasonable balance on issues. Editorially, The Atlantic takes a Left-Center position on most issues and has  long  endorsed Democratic candidates.

 

Emerson Collective is a social change organization focused on education, immigration reform, the environment, media and journalism, and health. Founded by Laurene Powell Jobs,[2] the LLC uses philanthropy, impact investing, advocacy, and community engagement as tools to spur change in the United States and abroad.

[caddieman]

5 minutes ago, 8th ID said:

Put your big boy pants on and come out and say, I heard him say this.

I agree 100% on that but unfortunately they decided not to. Would have more impact if they put their name in there. But the radical right would have attacked them by all means they could think of. Not fun I would imagine.

 

And just saying but even that they are left bias if they are highly factual in their reporting their is a good chance the story’s They put out Is more than likely true.

[coorslite21]

16 hours ago, caddieman said:

I agree 100% on that but unfortunately they decided not to. Would have more impact if they put their name in there. But the radical right would have attacked them by all means they could think of. Not fun I would imagine.

 

And just saying but even that they are left bias if they are highly factual in their reporting their is a good chance the story’s They put out Is more than likely true.

 

Others who were present there at the time, including John Bolton.....no big fan of Trump....say this never happened....

 

Your statement....."they are highly factual in their reporting their is a good chance the story’s They put out Is more than likely true."....

 

is comical.....they just make it up to fit the narrative they are trying to create.....

 

You might want to pull you head out of the sand.....😮

CL 

[Shelley]

I call hoax on this story , for all we know Pelosi can be the unidentified source

just to get the heat off of SALONGATE 

Things sure get down right dirty so close to election time 

[MyLadiesDaddy]

Let's put an end to this BULL SHIITE right here. 

You have to be some kind of sick person to even entertain the idea that Trump would say this. So let's examine what Trump has done before 

 

 

 

[MyLadiesDaddy]

[MyLadiesDaddy]

 

[caddieman]

4 hours ago, coorslite21 said:

 

Others who were present there at the time, including John Bolton.....no big fan of Trump....say this never happened....

 

Your statement....."they are highly factual in their reporting their is a good chance the story’s They put out Is more than likely true."....

 

is comical.....they just make it up to fit the narrative they are trying to create.....

 

You might want to pull you head out of the sand.....😮

CL 

not what he said. Said he did not hear it while he was around the President. But he was not around him 24/7

[Shelley]

Fake news 

[coorslite21]

36 minutes ago, caddieman said:

not what he said. Said he did not hear it while he was around the President. But he was not around him 24/7

 

So you are going with the anonymous sources....good deal......would have expected nothing less......

 

I heard that if Biden is elected he will be whisked away by Aliens right after it is exposed that he is the KKK as well as the son of Adolf Hitler...and my sources are really good....higher up insiders of the DNC and CNN...

 

See how you sound....and what you are choosing to fall for....

 

Now......you still interested in that swamp land I have for sale in Arizonia?

 

CL

 

 

[8th ID]

1 hour ago, coorslite21 said:

 

I heard that if Biden is elected he will be whisked away by Aliens right after it is exposed that he is the KKK as well as the son of Adolf Hitler...and my sources are really good....higher up insiders of the DNC and CNN...

 

That’s interesting CL, I have a source that said the same thing. One would think that makes two different sources, so it must be true and we need to get that printed.

 

see @caddieman, that is how your socialist media spins things. That is what you would rather believe in, some made up fairytale.

[Pitcher]

Those are probably all correct but you forgot one.  Biden was reportedly the father of Michael.

 

 

[mikedeason]

23 hours ago, caddieman said:

I agree 100% on that but unfortunately they decided not to. Would have more impact if they put their name in there. But the radical right would have attacked them by all means they could think of. Not fun I would imagine.

 

And just saying but even that they are left bias if they are highly factual in their reporting their is a good chance the story’s They put out Is more than likely true.

 

The Radical RIGHT would have attacked them with everything?  You must be confused between left and right.

 

It's the Radical LEFT that's attacking Congress members and their spouses publicly, sometimes physically (see Rand Paul).

[Pitcher]

Some of the Dems favorite political tactics are the following 

 

1. Attack the opposition with things he cannot defend.  For example.  Hey Trump, we heard from an an anonymous source that you beat your wife every Thursday.  Of course Trump denies it and the next day there are stories in all the papers and websites that read, Trump denies beating his wife on Thursdays.  If he doesn’t answer the question it looks like he is hiding something.  

 

2.  Keep telling the same lies over and over.  The more it is stated the more some will actually believe it is true.  Like the Russian Collusion Story, Quid PronQuo, and Kavanaugh raping women 35 years ago.  Any lie can plant a seed of doubt.  That’s the goal

 

3.  If caught at something that is against the law Deflect, Deny, and Attack the opposition.