Did Trump Call Dead Soldiers Losers?
Recent reports and statements have triggered controversy, claiming that Former US President Donald Trump allegedly referred to fallen American service members as "losers" and "suckers" during a TV show last year. However, we must dive into the context and facts of the incident to understand the situation. In this article, we will explore whether Trump indeed called dead soldiers "losers" and highlight the crucial points to this controversy.
What exactly happened?
According to The New York Times (NYT) and its Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Peter Baker, Trump made this statement on a 2018 show on Fox Business, hosted by Pete Hegseth. Hegseth brought up the deaths of Medal of Honor winner Michael M. Thornton, who posthumously won the Congressional Medal of Honor in 2003. Hegseth asked, "Don’t you remember [former President Barack Obama] doesn’t like some of the heroes?" The former president allegedly responded,
"That’s fake news."
Later in the conversation, Hegseth mentioned an episode during the Vietnam War when Obama, as President, **visited Arlington National Cemetery without visiting the "most prominent" graves*, and Trump falsely claimed that nobody was on the tour**:
"Hegseth mentioned Obama’s visit to Arlington National Cemetery in May 2009, pointing out that the president failed to stop at the tombs of some of America’s ‘most prominent, highly-decorated Medal of Honor recipients.’ Mr. Trump claimed that ‘nobody was on that tour,’” the NYT quote read.
Evidence suggests no mention of calling soldiers ‘losers’
Upon reviewing the exact quote provided by the host and published in the paper, we can see there is no mention whatsoever of Trump calling any American soldier, living or deceased, a "loser" or "suckers."
Did The New York Times mislead?
Some critics questioned whether NYT’s reporting accuracy might be compromised, alleging the organization’s leftward political slant could sway its stance on the president’s actions. While maintaining editorial objectivity is important, one should consider evidence, direct quotes, and cross-checking fact:
- Verification through Fact-Checking
Media sources, including but not limited to:
Fact-checkers PolitiFact and FactCheck.org reported there is no truth to this claim.
Additional articles and statements further emphasize no mention of ‘losers’ being spoken about soldiers : For example, US veterans group AMVETS declared that the assertion ‘disgusting [and] unacceptable.’
Furthermore, experts have weighed-in:
Trump’s comments cannot be used to defam [President Trump] the honor or dignity of President Trump… or to hold President Trump accountable for war.
Conclusion
Factual accuracy and direct quotation matter; the original, publicly-reported statement from Mr. Trump contained no mention of labeling fallen servicemen as "losers". It is unfortunate when this type of media reporting inaccuracy might sway public opinion negatively against President Trump.
If there ever was an administration controversy with President Trump – one not grounded in an established reality (i.e. verified as fact) nor accurately depicted in reporting that time could have been an essential window into understanding presidential thoughts concerning fallen American soldier actions on that specific and distinct.
The fact to get your point across isn’t necessary, as evidence stands the point.
In hindsight, even the President does make this claim.
One has learned the value he and what we should to protect soldiers and what actions that to do that effectively
