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Strauss's avatar

Are you surprised that Trump referred to the 1800+ US Marines and others who died at Belleau Wood as "suckers" and "losers"?

Asked by Strauss (23624points) September 3rd, 2020

In an article in The Atlantic, journalist Jeffrey Goldberg cites four anonymous sources who said that Trump made shockingly disrespectful comments about not wanting to visit an American cemetery for WWI war dead because he didn’t want to mess up his hair, demeaned those interred there as “losers” and “suckers,” complained about having to lower flags out of respect after Sen. John McCain’s death, and slammed McCain shortly after his passing as a “fucking loser.”

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36 Answers

lastexit's avatar

Not surprised at all. When he was running for President he said he thought John McCain was not a war hero. He said soldiers who were captured were losers not heroes.

filmfann's avatar

Am I surprised? No.

Am I ashamed of his being our President? Bingo!

filmfann's avatar

Another comment he made was in regards to wounded soldiers in a military parade.
He said he didn’t want any amputees there, because “nobody wants to see that!”

Pandora's avatar

Nope, not one bit. I’m sure when he avoided the draft 5 times he thought back then that only losers get drafted. And when he was given by a vet his purple heart, Trump said; “I always wanted one of these, but this was easier.” No one ever wants a Purple heart. My husband is a Vet and he never wanted a Purple Heart. In all my years of knowing Military People that is the one medal that no one wants to get. Nor do you want a love one to get it. It told me right then and there that he doesn’t see soldiers as valuable lives. And I still remember when he said McCain was no war hero because he was captured. I guess he thought McCain should’ve killed himself and that other captives should kill themselves rather than try to live.

Yellowdog's avatar

No, nothing the Atlantic says about Trump is surprising.

basstrom188's avatar

Nothing Trump says surprises me anymore especially after he recommended people should drink bleach.

LostInParadise's avatar

The military does not think highly of Trump . He got a majority of their vote in 2016.

It is a little surprising that Trump talks about law and order and supporting the police, but does not seem to care much for the military. I guess it is part of his isolationist view.

jca2's avatar

@Yellowdog: Trump said McCain is “not a hero.” You can’t blame the Atlantic or anonymous sources on that one, because it’s a fact.

Tropical_Willie's avatar

I believe it, he doesn’t think we need a military because his best friend Putin will take care of him; everybody else is on their own !

He disrespects military after Doctor “Bone Spurs” got him a draft deferment during Vietnam era.

RocketGuy's avatar

At least he’s honest about it. Telling it like it is!

canidmajor's avatar

@Yellowdog: I am honestly curious, here. What news source would you believe if they reported this?

Pandora's avatar

@RocketGuy, First of all, cowards who probably paid a doctor to claim phony bone spurs to avoid the draft don’t get to call any of our military guys losers. Second, he is supposed to be their commander and chief, if he thought them losers he never should’ve ran for President, and thirdly, it takes absolutely no courage what so ever to be an ass hat. None. I can be an ass all day long if I wanted too but there is no point in it. You can argue that certain military people may be losers just like in regular society. But to claim someone is a loser because they were captured or killed or joined the military is not about being honest. Its the talk of cowards who never joined and never been in a life or death situation and who like to scream from the bleachers about what you should do as they remain unharmed at a safe distance with no skin in the game. Only cowards do that.

Strauss's avatar

@Yellowdog No, nothing the Atlantic says about Trump is surprising.

The question was not about the journalist or the publication. These incidents and many similar incidents involving the military, veterans, Gold Star families have been independently verified and corroborated by other media.

Dutchess_III's avatar

Not surprised at all.

janbb's avatar

It has been confirmed by Fox News, the AP and the Washington Post that he said it. Whatever your political beliefs are, it’s past time to see that this is a despicable man.

Yellowdog's avatar

Uh, no.

No four anonymous sources.
Not even one.

Tropical_Willie's avatar

@Yellowdog HE SUX and I know I can’t Spell !

Biden wins are you going to whatever country Trump runs to; because several states have their eyes on him as soon as he is no longer President.

belisarius's avatar

It’s tricky because it is a double-bind. If a person comes out against Trump publicly they “aren’t credible” because they are “disgruntled” and then they and their family are subject to a host of personal attacks. If a person comes out against Trump anonymously they “aren’t credible” either.

Do I think disparaging members of the military is consistent with Trump’s behaviour? Absolutely. We have seen plenty of examples.

Trump seems to like the idea of the military as a tool of force, but I haven’t seen anything to indicate that he understands why members of the military volunteer and serve.

Saying it isn’t true because it comes from the Atlantic is Ad Hominem.

Yellowdog's avatar

I wasn’t advertising hominy or even ham hocks, that would be spamming. but The Atlantic is an anti-Trump publication, and has always been ahead of the curve as far as being ‘progressive’ (if progress means progress in a leftward direction).

canidmajor's avatar

@Yellowdog Let me ask you again, what news source or publication would you believe if they reported such a thing? Breitbart? The Federalist? What?

jca2's avatar

@Yellowdog: I posted a video above (link) where Trump said McCain was a loser. A soldier who spent 5 years of his life being imprisoned and tortured for his country is a loser. Watch the video and think about that.

Tropical_Willie's avatar

@Yellowdog Ad Hominem—- directed against a person rather than the position they are maintaining. It is a logic fallacy you use all the time when you don’t have a leg to stand on. Deflect deflect !

You sure fit that definition.

You maybe full of hominy.and ham hocks though depending on which restaurant you go to !

janbb's avatar

@Yellowdog Here’s my corroborating evidence that 4 sources backed up The Atlantic: This is just one piece, there are many more.

On the other side, however, there are many pieces of supporting evidence. The Associated Press, New York Times, Fox News (!) and Washington Post quickly confirmed Goldberg’s reporting. The Post added several related details, in addition to Trump describing fallen soldiers as “losers.” “In one account, the president told senior advisers that he didn’t understand why the U.S. government placed such value on finding soldiers missing in action because they had performed poorly and gotten caught and deserved what they got, according to a person familiar with the discussion.”: From The New York Intelligencer 9/4.

You might want to dismiss The Atlantic even though it is a well-respected journal for more than one hundred years but you might not be able to dismiss 4 sources so readily one of which is Fox.

LostInParadise's avatar

Here is a link showing that not only did Fox news report the story, but that Trump was so angered that he wants their reporter to be fired.

janbb's avatar

Some of us are called “irrational” for disapproving of Trump but I’m beginning to feel that those who still support him, whatever their policies are, are the irrational ones.

chyna's avatar

So @yellowdog, what do you say about Fox News reporting this?

Tropical_Willie's avatar

I think someone is holding out for Breitbart to report it too !

RocketGuy's avatar

@Pandora – oops, I meant Trump was honest about how he feels. He’s not even hiding it, the way he hides his other horrid proclivities.

I too am continually offended by what he says about our military folks.

Yellowdog's avatar

Considering that Fox News and others have thoroughly covered it, speaking to the entire entourage, end absolutely no one backs the story, and all have denied it (even John Bolton), how can you expect me to believe anything that irrational, even for a Trump hater?

canidmajor's avatar

OK, @Yellowdog, let me rephrase slightly. What news source do you trust enough that you would believe them if they reported something unflattering about him?

Tropical_Willie's avatar

@Yellowdog lets try again what is your fave ! Fox said he is a liar.

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