Donald Trump has recently stirred the pot with military veterans, leading to a variety of reactions from this critical community. Some experts describe his ties with veterans as “complex.”
Earlier this month, Trump faced backlash from a leader in the Veterans of Foreign Wars after he remarked that the Presidential Medal of Freedom was “better” than the Medal of Honor. He also drew ire from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America for reportedly filming a promotional video at Arlington National Cemetery, a site dedicated to honoring the nation’s fallen.
At a campaign event in New Jersey, Trump compared the two awards, suggesting the Presidential Medal was superior because “everyone that gets the Congressional Medal of Honor, they’re soldiers…They’re either in very bad shape or they’re dead.”
Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty
This comment prompted a sharp response from the Veterans of Foreign Wars commander, Al Lipphardt, who criticized it as diminishing the significance of the Medal of Honor.
At a rally in Michigan, Trump reiterated that he’d prefer the Presidential Medal since those awarded the Medal of Honor are often posthumous or have suffered immensely. He acknowledged the sacrifices made by veterans and emphasized his respect for them.
However, Trump’s attendance at a wreath-laying ceremony for soldiers killed in the Kabul airport attack sparked more controversy. His team’s filming in a designated area for veterans upset members of the veteran community, with critics calling his actions inappropriate for such sacred ground.
Charlotte Clymer, a veteran, expressed concern in a blog post, claiming Trump fails to show proper respect towards the military. Conversely, five family members of the fallen soldiers defended Trump, stating he and his team acted with dignity during the ceremony.
Trump’s controversial relationship with veterans stretches back years. During a 2018 visit to France, he allegedly dismissed visiting a cemetery filled with American war dead, calling it “filled with losers,” according to The Atlantic—an assertion his team strongly refuted.
His comments about Senator John McCain, where he dismissed McCain’s status as a “war hero,” also continue to haunt him. McCain spent years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, enduring significant torture.
Experts stress that Trump’s relationship with the veteran community is fraught with tension. His draft exemptions and past remarks have left many veterans feeling distanced from him. However, there are indications that he maintains substantial support from a key segment of this population, despite his controversial statements.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, the impact of Trump’s comments and actions on his veteran support base remains a focal point of discussion.