world

Report: Trump disparaged U.S. war dead as 'losers,' 'suckers'

69 Comments
By JAMES LAPORTA

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

69 Comments

Comments have been disabled You can no longer respond to this thread.

“This report is patently false," said White House strategic communications director Alyssa Farah. "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. These nameless anecdotes have no basis in fact and are offensive fiction.”

Exactly, exactly.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said Thursday, “If the revelations in today’s Atlantic article are true, then they are yet another marker of how deeply President Trump and I disagree about the role of the President of the United States.”

“Duty, honor, country — those are the values that drive our service members,” he said in a statement Thursday night, adding that if he is elected president, "I will ensure that our American heroes know that I will have their back and honor their sacrifice — always.” Biden's son Beau served in Iraq in 2008-09.

The Iraq war that Biden voted for and cost the lives of and maimed thousands of U.S. servicemen.

Trump 2020

-28 ( +16 / -44 )

Trump is a traitor and is unworthy to be a commander-in-chief. In 2016 he badmouthed a Gold Star widow because the dead soldier was ethnically Arab and was Islamic in religion. His hatred and bigotry and badmouthing of PTSD soldiers in the past is well documented and he has zero cred in anything.

24 ( +39 / -15 )

Donald has continually disparaged prisoners of war, even the dead, McCain was persona none grater because he was captured. Donald actually said he is not a hero because he was captured? So I actually do believe the reported statements, it follows Donald's previous statements. Donald has no love for those who protect America, they are losers the minute they sign up in his eyes. Now if they disembowelled a journalist he would give a pardon and shack their hand.

17 ( +31 / -14 )

"President Trump holds the military in the highest regard.

There is literally video of him talking trash about decorated vets.

He’s demonstrated his commitment to them at every turn

Except when he had that bad case of bone spurs of course.

The Iraq war that Biden voted for and cost the lives of and maimed thousands of U.S. servicemen.

Started by a Republican President.

Also the American death toll in Iraq was about 4,500, or about 1/20th the death toll from Trump's bungled pandemic response.

26 ( +36 / -10 )

LMAO, I called this two years ago. All the Trump cultists whined that Trump was just a weakling baby who might die of a frightful cold if he had to stand under an umbrella for five minutes.

Not that this will bother Trump's cultists.

18 ( +30 / -12 )

Old but still true news.

14 ( +23 / -9 )

CrickyToday  11:09 am JST

Donald has continually disparaged prisoners of war, even the dead, McCain was persona none grater because he was captured. Donald actually said he is not a hero because he was captured? So I actually do believe the reported statements, it follows Donald's previous statements. Donald has no love for those who protect America, they are losers the minute they sign up in his eyes. Now if they disembowelled a journalist he would give a pardon and shack their hand.

On the 100th anniversary of the end of WW1 Trump wouldn't take part of the ceremony, he didn't go to a cemetary because he didn't want get his crap filled head wet or get his bad toupee blown.

Unpatriotic disrespectful ninny. And he wouldn't lower the WH flag at half mast when Sen. John McCain died eeither. Trump is a disgrace.

19 ( +29 / -10 )

Funny, when the Trump-fanatics here read this about their savior, they immediately cry foul.

But when it's about Biden, they jump on the bandwagon and scream it's the truth.

Personally speaking, it's rather easy to believe Trump said this stuff, as his tweets and press conferences have shown, and prove, he is not a man of honor, nor integrity!

20 ( +32 / -12 )

Trump is too lazy to be a committed warmonger. Money, power and adulation are enough to float his boat, as long as the least effort is required of him. In his mental bunker it is Trump against the world, a place peopled by "suckers" and "losers" except for those who are smarter and stronger. For the latter who have gotten the better of him he has a restricted vocabulary of vicious or vulgar epithets.

14 ( +22 / -8 )

desperation is setting in if we are actually expected to believe this nonsense story, without evidence.

-25 ( +12 / -37 )

Trump responded by saying he didn't want to visit the cemetery because it was “filled with losers,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss it publicly.

The White House blamed the canceled visit on poor weather at the time.

In another conversation on the trip, The Atlantic said, Trump referred to the 1,800 Marines who died in the World War I battle of Belleau Wood as “suckers” for getting killed.

While Trump isn't immune to verbal blunders, I doubt he said anything like what was reported.

The official decided to remain anonymous either because he/she just made it up, or the comment was overheard by a French person who either missed part of what Trump said or misinterpreted the whole thing when translating it from English to French and back again. Or both. Likewise for The Atlantic quote.

-17 ( +9 / -26 )

He wouldn’t go to meet the coffins of the dead either after getting called out by the father of a dead SEAL.

The man is a coward in addition to being a narcissistic sociopath.

20 ( +30 / -10 )

The official decided to remain anonymous either because he/she just made it up, or the comment was overheard by a French person who either missed part of what Trump said or misinterpreted the whole thing when translating it from English to French and back again. Or both. Likewise for The Atlantic quote.

It was confirmed by four different people with knowledge of the event.

Try again.

16 ( +27 / -11 )

who are these four people?

things like this get the tag when Trump says them.

-17 ( +10 / -27 )

I think people with an IQ over 100 would at least question the news / source as opposed to believing it 100%. But maybe that’s wishful thinking.

-18 ( +9 / -27 )

was John Kelly asked by the press before publication of this article if this is in fact what happened? or is he also writing a book and saving it?

The Defense official also confirmed to The AP reporting in The Atlantic that Trump on Memorial Day 2017 had gone with his chief of staff, John Kelly, to visit the Arlington Cemetery gravesite of Kelly's son, Robert, who was killed in 2010 in Afghanistan, and said to Kelly: “I don't get it. What was in it for them?"

-7 ( +10 / -17 )

So no names then?

Journalists from reputable organisations, such as The Atlantic, often keep their sources anonymous. This ensures that they can continue to get information from those sources in the future. I hope this has been informative.

Of course, there are other “sources” who said Biden is another Weinstein, and the secret service has had to protect women and teens from him.

There are no such allegations from reputable news sources.

12 ( +21 / -9 )

And this is a surprise?

He's disparaged a legitimate military hero - John McCain. He insulted a Gold Star family. He's ridiculed Generals who gave 40 years of service to their country - in a war zone - Mattis, Kelly, and McMaster...plus others...

These men and women of honor and integrity infuriate him - because they are everything he is not - and highlight what he is...

A draft-dodging coward who didn't have the guts to serve his country...

21 ( +29 / -8 )

not in the least, and you know this. 4 people would have 4 names. Otherwise this is nonsense from 2-3 years ago, brought up again, without evidence.

Journalists from reputable organisations, such as The Atlantic, often keep their sources anonymous. This ensures that they can continue to get information from those sources in the future. I hope this has been informative.

-13 ( +10 / -23 )

not in the least, and you know this.

I'm sorry you didn't find an explanation of journalistic practice informative.

4 people would have 4 names.

That is true. However, The Atlantic, probably on the request of those people, have chosen not to make them public knowledge.

Otherwise this is nonsense from 2-3 years ago, brought up again, without evidence.

It has been corroborated by four separate sources.

8 ( +17 / -9 )

Trump is nothing but a coward who hides out in bunkers at the first sign of trouble, unlike these honourable heroes who gave their lives for their country.

Disparaging those who were captured and imprisoned for years in the service of their nation as "losers" says enough about this obese coward. Ditto all his low-education supporters.

13 ( +20 / -7 )

Trump is known for his over-the-top rethoric, but this is clearly fake news. 

This isn't clear at all. It's quite credible to anyone remotely familiar with the President's character, which at this point should be most people. This is how I was able to make this call when it happened two years ago, while Trump fanatics insisted that he bailed on the historic 100 year memorial of the WWI fallen because he was just a frail old man who could be killed by a stiff breeze. These same people also think he has the health and energy of a teenager, incidentally.

13 ( +20 / -7 )

What an unnecessary contemptuous remark from the nation's leader whose soldiers were ordered to fight and get killed. He must be senile to have been talking insensitive and nonsensical things most of the time in the past years, misleading the Americans and the world at large.

6 ( +13 / -7 )

Trump is a traitor and is unworthy to be a commander-in-chief.

Biden made deals with White Separatists during the 70’s seems like liberals have a short memory on that one.

In 2016 he badmouthed a Gold Star widow

Liberals badmouthed Angel moms.

because the dead soldier was ethnically Arab and was Islamic in religion.

If that were true then Trump would have banned the largest Muslim country in the world, Indone

His hatred and bigotry and badmouthing of PTSD soldiers in the past is well documented and he has zero cred in anything.

-19 ( +7 / -26 )

bearandrodentToday  11:33 am JST

I think people with an IQ over 100 would at least question the news / source as opposed to believing it 100%. But maybe that’s wishful thinking.

People with IQs over 100 can piece together all the other insulting things Trump has said towards those in the Military and conclude that this story, while not surprising, is credible as it follows his pattern over the last almost 4 years. People with IQs lower than 100 or Russian trolls support Trump.

18 ( +23 / -5 )

SneezyToday  11:49 am JST

I had to stop there. Everyone in the cafe turned around to see what I was laughing at the top of my lungs about. Thanks for making my day.

---------------------------------------

I'm sorry to hear that you have a similar condition to the Joker as portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, which causes you to laugh at inappropriate times. It must be very difficult to live with. You have my sympathy.

I appreciate that in principle, my friend. When you're providing such ingenious comedic material, what else is a man to do?

-11 ( +5 / -16 )

“This report is patently false," but thank you for more fake news where the mods delete comments from their own story and say 'off topic" and the comment is directly from the article.

-7 ( +8 / -15 )

Hard to say if it’s true or not. Trump as a draft dodger disrespected war heroes by saying he liked solders who didn’t get captured when he threw his potty at McCain.

He does have form here.

I’d bet on yes.

10 ( +15 / -5 )

The guy who wrote has multiple sources and another journalist confirms the story independently.

In other words, real news.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

So we've got someone who directly witnessed him saying something that is totally consistent with other things he's said in public on similar topics and also totally consistent with his character. And corroborated by another source with direct knowledge of it.

Must be fake news. Because that is what we call things that are embarrassing to Trump, especially the stuff that is true.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

This has been bubbling away under the surface for some time.

His draft dodging, his disparaging of veterans, his refusal to attend the cemetery in Paris, his comments about McCain. So, in one sense, it's nothing new.

But it will enrage hardcore supporters. Some of them will be in denial and others will come round to agreeing with him.

I've said it before, if he was to suggest segregation - there would be supporters giving reasons why that might be a good idea.

Sensible voters who may not have been convinced by his contempt for Americans, will be convinced now.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

You were in the room with the people who are telling us what they heard?

You weren’t either and yet you seem to agree with the junk....I understand.

I thought you were here in Japan.

They have internet thankfully as well.

-20 ( +3 / -23 )

His hatred and bigotry and badmouthing of PTSD soldiers in the past is well documented and he has zero cred in anything.

That was also debunked. The msm have to try and do better

I saw Trump disparage soldiers in combat on video. Nothing to do with the MSM. I don’t know if Fox edited the video to show him praising and honouring captured soldiers, but that isn’t what I saw.

“I like people who weren’t captured”

The logical inference is that he doesn’t like soldiers who were captured.

As I said, he has form here. You can’t argue that this alleged trash talk is out of character.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

Oh yeah, sure. maybe thats why the AP article posted here left that out. Its too ridiculous and causes evem more credibility issues with the rest of the Atlantic article.

If this were a pro Trump story it would be: "The Atlantic, without evidence,....blah blah blah"

because he feared his hair would become disheveled in the rain

-13 ( +3 / -16 )

I appreciate that in principle, my friend. When you're providing such ingenious comedic material, what else is a man to do?

Depends on your aim, I suppose. If; for example, I were trying to cast doubt on the reliability of a news outlet, I’d point to a consistent trend of errors or deliberate falsification of information. That’s because I deal in facts, though.

What I probably wouldn’t do is hastily type out “I laughed in a cafe and that is my argument”. It’s not just played-out sophomoric weak sauce, but it undermines the point one is trying to make. This would be especially embarrassing if I had previously accused someone else of not listening to facts, which is another reason I wouldn’t do it.

But I understand that you were just keeping us up to date on your condition. It sounds tough, and I wish you the best of luck.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Oh yeah, sure. maybe thats why the AP article posted here left that out. Its too ridiculous and causes evem more credibility issues with the rest of the Atlantic article.

It’s not ridiculous. That’s how I could guess that this was the reason two years ago. Because it’s entirely consistent with Trump’s character.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

When Trump, the stable genius who knows all the best words, said “I like people who weren’t captured” he is clearly talking about more than one person ( John McCain) .

He could have said “I honour all those who were captured apart from John McCain because he said nasty things about me”. While that would have sounded petty and childish, it would have backed up the preposterous and illogical defence of this trash comment coming from Trump supporters

6 ( +9 / -3 )

No animal - nobody - what animal would say such a thing?"

Um... idiot Trump would, and did.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

At the end of the day, though, I don't even know why the Trump cultists here are even trying to deny this.

You know it doesn't make a difference. If it was on camera, if he confirmed it himself, it wouldn't change how you feel about Trump. You'd change your mind about the troops and say that, yes, they are losers, because Trump said so.

You know, and we know, that there is nothing Trump could do that would make you stop loving him. He knows it too. He even said he could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and not lose support. If he shot you, you'd thank him.

So why are you even trying?

7 ( +9 / -2 )

While Trump directed these vile comments to our military heroes - he was actually aiming them at his blinded supporters...

The Great Orange Charlatan bamboozled them into thinking a guy that cheated on his wife with a porn star while she sat at home caring for their 10 month old child was somehow a paragon of Christianity....

That a guy that squandered his father's wealth and went bankrupt six times was somehow a great businessman...

That a guy that has his clothing line made in Chinese sweatshop factories and hires illegal immigrant labor at his properties was somehow a protector of American jobs....

And that a guy that can't remember where his father was born, thinks Colorado is on our southern border, and that some of our drugs contain Alien DNA is somehow a "stable genius"...

Losers and suckers? You decide...

10 ( +12 / -2 )

Not surprising at all, trump also disparaged John McCain with almost similar words.

trump supporters might bury their head in sand, but we have a Commander in Chief who has more loyalty to the enemy than his own forces!!!

President bonespurs has never known courage and never will!!!

7 ( +9 / -2 )

This wasn’t a rag like US WEEKLY ot the Equiorer. iT was in the Atlantic; a respected magazine and written by Jeffry Goldberg; a solid journalist.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

I hope it's not true. But let's be honest, nobody would be surprised if it were.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Just look at what Donald said about McCain:

"He was a war hero because he was captured," Trump said at the 2015 Family Leadership Summit in Ames, Iowa."I like people who weren't captured," the current Republican front-runner told political consultant Frank Luntz, who hosted the event." He lost and let us down," Trump said. "I've never liked him as much after that." "I don't like losers," the real-estate mogul, who has gone through corporate bankruptcy four times, added.

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/07/18/424169549/trump-lashes-out-at-mccain-i-like-people-who-werent-captured

Just look at Donald's Twitter:

I was never a big fan of John McCain, disagreed with him on many things including ridiculous endless wars and the lack of success he had in dealing with the VA and our great Vets, but the lowering of our Nations American Flags, and the first class funeral he was given by our...Country, had to be approved by me, as President, & I did so without hesitation or complaint. Quite the contrary, I felt it was well deserved. I even sent Air Force One to bring his body, in casket, from Arizona to Washington. It was my honor to do so. Also, I never called..John a loser and swear on whatever, or whoever, I was asked to swear on, that I never called our great fallen soldiers anything other than HEROES. This is more made up Fake News given by disgusting & jealous failures in a disgraceful attempt to influence the 2020 Election!

Again Donald lied about calling McCain a loser. Why should anyone give Donald the benefit of the doubt in calling soldiers KIA losers?

8 ( +10 / -2 )

The things he never said after just saying it..

6 ( +8 / -2 )

With all the BS Trump has said, and tweeted, over the past few years, it's relatively easy to believe that he did say what is reported here.

People who support him, continually give him the benefit of the doubt, and refuse to accept that he can say or do any wrong.

His supporters are pushing for a 2nd term, they use the line "Keep America Great" as if he "made it great again" over the past 3 years.

And yet, how can America be better today than in 2016?

5 ( +7 / -2 )

I don't get it. What was in it for them?

Utterly devoid of empathy.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Did Gen. Bonespurs really call U.S. soldiers who died in action during war 'suckers' and 'losers'?

Probably, but that's exactly the kind of thing you'd hear a draft dodger say.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

As if everyone, let alone Trump, knows about the details of the battle of Belleau Woods to make such an informed generalization about the marines who lost their lives there. Try again.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

When reports of Russians paying the Taliban bonuses for killing American soldiers came out, it wasn't surprising that Russia denied it and Trump shrugged it off.

As did many Trump supporting 'American journalists' (LOL SMH) being paid by the Kremlin to post on social media sites messages disparaging any opposition to Trump and to the democratic principles found in the Constitution. Not surprising some of those 'American journalists' claim to be patriotic. To Russia?

Trump’s popularity slips in latest Military Times poll — and more troops say they’ll vote for Biden

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2020/08/31/as-trumps-popularity-slips-in-latest-military-times-poll-more-troops-say-theyll-vote-for-biden/

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Regardless truth or not I guess he probably said it.

Trump referred to the 1,800 Marines who died in the World War I battle of Belleau Wood as "suckers" for getting killed.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Well with this kind of talk, looks like Trump is going to win the election again. The Dems will stop at nothing to smear and corrupt, but the public cannot be duped anymore. Shame on the corrupt and self serving media.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

It should be remembered that McCain and George HW Bush were prominent Republicans, the party Trump is supposed to be representing. Their conference last week was the Trump family show. One of the speakers was his son's girlfriend. Does the Republican Party exist any more outside Trump himself?

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Once again the global right backing Trump can find zero in the way of support for their Trump and instead attack something they call 'the media'. But many have self-identified as chickenhawks, people with zero understanding of what it means to have put on a uniform. And some, even some 'Americans', are in the pay of states trying to further undermine the US.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The Trump supporters can petulantly claim this article is bogus but not one of them can deny that he disrespected and disparaged John McCain, a war veteran for having been shot down. Yet Trump never even served. That tells you everything you need to know about Trump and tells us a lot of Trump supporters who supposedly hold the military higher than others yet refuse to acknowledge the awful manner in which he treated a veteran . Based on these facts, it's not hard to believe that he further disrespected war veterans.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Maybe he said it, maybe he didn't. No proof.

But I agree with others here pointing out the contempt he's shown for our soldiers who have made sacrifices for this country.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

No, just rioters and looters and if you were previously a vet and engage in legal activities then by all means should you be apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Prior military service doesn’t get anyone to write to engage a bad criminal activity.

You have just lambasted liberals for not caring about veterans.

Your support for illegal strong arm tactics against protesters and support for Trumps comments about dead soldiers highlight the dishonesty in your argument.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Once again, Trump shows contempt for his own base, many of whom are veterans. He wouldn’t dare call them “Suckers” to their face, though.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Well with this kind of talk, looks like Trump is going to win the election again. The Dems will stop at nothing to smear and corrupt, but the public cannot be duped anymore. Shame on the corrupt and self serving media.

Really? I thought I read that it was a Republican that reported this in the first place. So how can it be the Democrats fault?

4 ( +7 / -3 )

“Trump is unpatriotic”

”Trump supporters are patriotic”

can we make up our minds pls

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Washington Post has independently confirmed that this is true.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Washington Post has independently confirmed that this is true.

Trump backers might not believe it's true even if Breitbart, infowars, Hannity, RT/Sputnik, Limbaugh, 8chan, and the numerous other far right fringe/kook outlets showed videos of him saying those things. Cult of personality, after all.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites