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Despite Donald Trump's frequent invocation of "The Troops" when defending the bigoted things he says & does, he has disregarded military members' safety & well-being time & time again.
So let's talk about all the ways Trump has "respected" the troops while in office. (THREAD) https://twitter.com/jaketapper/status/1276704808825761793
So let's talk about all the ways Trump has "respected" the troops while in office. (THREAD) https://twitter.com/jaketapper/status/1276704808825761793
1/ In May, Trump tried to end National Guard deployments 1 day before the deployed service members would have received the federal benefits they had earned.
It was only under immense public pressure that Trump changed course & extended their deployments. https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewsolender/2020/05/19/trumps-plan-would-end-national-guard-deployments-one-day-before-benefits-kick-in/#7b221fa9518b
It was only under immense public pressure that Trump changed course & extended their deployments. https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewsolender/2020/05/19/trumps-plan-would-end-national-guard-deployments-one-day-before-benefits-kick-in/#7b221fa9518b
2/ Despite severe PPE shortages at VA hospitals, in April the Trump admin seized 5 million masks ordered by the VA.
After pleas from VA Officials to return the masks, the White House sent them 500,000—10% of what they had ordered. https://www.salon.com/2020/04/27/trump-administration-hijacked-5-million-masks-from-veterans-hospitals-chief-physician-says/
After pleas from VA Officials to return the masks, the White House sent them 500,000—10% of what they had ordered. https://www.salon.com/2020/04/27/trump-administration-hijacked-5-million-masks-from-veterans-hospitals-chief-physician-says/
3/ After USS Theodore Capt. Brett Crozier sent a letter pleading for help as coronavirus spread on ship, Trump publicly lashed out at Capt. Crozier, who was subsequently fired. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/05/us/politics/coronavirus-aircraft-carrier-roosevelt-crozier.html
4/ After Iran bombed military bases in Iraq in retaliation for Soleimani, 109 US troops suffered traumatic brain injuries.
Trump dismissed the injuries—which can have lifelong consequences—as simple "headaches". https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/22/politics/trump-us-service-members-traumatic-brain-injuries/index.html
Trump dismissed the injuries—which can have lifelong consequences—as simple "headaches". https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/22/politics/trump-us-service-members-traumatic-brain-injuries/index.html
5/ After top Pentagon officials & US Generals told Trump that allies were critical to national security & pushed back against his idea to rent out US troops as mercenaries to the highest bidder, Trump yelled that they were "a bunch of dopes & babies". https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/youre-a-bunch-of-dopes-and-babies-inside-trumps-stunning-tirade-against-generals/2020/01/16/d6dbb8a6-387e-11ea-bb7b-265f4554af6d_story.html
6/ Trump intervened in criminal proceedings against 3 military members charged (or, in 1 case, convicted) of literal war crimes. He did this over the objections of top brass and despite the fact that fellow service members had testified against all 3 men. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/11/19/trump-issued-pardons-soldiers-war-crimes-cases-what-now.html
7/ After Lt. Col. Vindman testified before Congress, Trump mocked Vindman for wearing his uniform (and the medals he had earned for his service) to the hearing.
Trump also suggested Vindman had dual loyalties & couldn't be trusted.
Trump also suggested Vindman had dual loyalties & couldn't be trusted.
8/ Trump went on to oust both Lt. Col. Vindman & his brother from their positions at the WH.
Trump publicly suggested the military punish Vindman & opposes his promotion within the military. Because of Trumps attacks, Vindman required security protection. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/army-providing-security-assistance-vindman-key-witness-impeachment/story?id=67137282
Trump publicly suggested the military punish Vindman & opposes his promotion within the military. Because of Trumps attacks, Vindman required security protection. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/army-providing-security-assistance-vindman-key-witness-impeachment/story?id=67137282
9/ In December, the White House quietly worked to deny comprehensive health coverage to Vietnam War veterans who had been exposed to Agent Orange.
Their opposition delayed benefits for an estimated 83,000 veterans. https://www.modbee.com/news/local/article237996174.html
Their opposition delayed benefits for an estimated 83,000 veterans. https://www.modbee.com/news/local/article237996174.html
10/ Trump has deported hundreds of veterans who were promised citizenship for their service to our country.
Deported veterans have been forced to rely on the help of NGOs in Mexico—benefits that they *should* be receiving from the US government. https://www.npr.org/local/309/2019/06/21/733371297/deported-u-s-veterans-feel-abandoned-by-the-country-they-defended
Deported veterans have been forced to rely on the help of NGOs in Mexico—benefits that they *should* be receiving from the US government. https://www.npr.org/local/309/2019/06/21/733371297/deported-u-s-veterans-feel-abandoned-by-the-country-they-defended
11/ Trump ordered US troops to abandon Kurdish allies in Syria, allowing Turkish forces to take over the bases & crucial intelligence to fall into Russian hands.
Deployed troops said they were "heartbroken" to have been forced to abandon their allies. https://www.insider.com/trump-betrayal-of-kurds-gave-intelligence-to-russia-2019-11
Deployed troops said they were "heartbroken" to have been forced to abandon their allies. https://www.insider.com/trump-betrayal-of-kurds-gave-intelligence-to-russia-2019-11
12/ As a result of Trump's decision to abandon Kurdish allies, Russia has since taken control of the main U.S. military facility in northern Syria.
Russia now owns the airstrip that U.S. troops built. https://twitter.com/brett_mcgurk/status/1195368417777242112?lang=en
Russia now owns the airstrip that U.S. troops built. https://twitter.com/brett_mcgurk/status/1195368417777242112?lang=en
13/ Since Trump became president, Air Force air cargo crew stopovers in Scotland have tripled. While the White House denies any involvement, crews were inexplicably sent to stay at Trump's Turnberry golf resort, despite not being close to the airport. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/09/house-investigation-air-force-crew-trump-turnberry-resort-scotland.html
14/ In September 2019, Trump pulled funds meant for military schools, daycares and housing projects to pay for his border wall. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/04/pentagon-pulls-funds-for-military-schools-to-pay-for-trumps-border-wall.html
15/ In 2018 it was revealed that Trump gave 3 Mar-a-Lago members free reign over decisions at Veterans Affairs, despite the 3 men having zero experience in either government or military affairs. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/08/three-of-trumps-mar-a-lago-buddies-are-secretly-running-the-va
16/ Trump ordered aides to seize private property for his border wall, going as far as promising pardons to any aide charged with illegally seizing property.
One of the properties at risk is a cemetery that holds veterans of WWI, WWII, and the Korean War. https://twitter.com/therickwilson/status/1164286874103537665?lang=en
One of the properties at risk is a cemetery that holds veterans of WWI, WWII, and the Korean War. https://twitter.com/therickwilson/status/1164286874103537665?lang=en
17/ Immigration policy rolled out by the Trump admin in 2019 eliminated the guarantee of citizenship for children born overseas to some U.S. service members. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2019/08/29/new-immigration-policy-withholds-automatic-citizenship-for-some-children-of-troops-overseas/
18/ Trump ordered the Navy to strip medals from Navy prosecutors who worked on the case against war criminal Eddie Gallagher.
He then demanded that the war criminal be allowed to keep his medals, including his Navy SEAL Trident pin. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/31/us/politics/trump-navy-seal-war-crimes.html
He then demanded that the war criminal be allowed to keep his medals, including his Navy SEAL Trident pin. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/31/us/politics/trump-navy-seal-war-crimes.html
19/ Last July, the Trump admin denied a U.S. Marine entry into the U.S. for his scheduled citizenship interview. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/immigration/story/2019-07-15/cbp-denies-marine-corps-veteran-entry-for-citizenship-interview
20/ Last Summer, Trump ordered active duty troops to paint the border fence for a better "aesthetic appearance". https://www.cbsnews.com/news/military-to-spend-a-month-painting-border-barriers-to-improve-aesthetic-appearance/
21/ During an interview at Normandy cemetery on D-Day, at an event meant to commemorate fallen US soldiers, Donald Trump instead chose to attack Vietnam veteran Robert Mueller. https://qz.com/1637160/trump-slams-veteran-mueller-in-d-day-interview-at-normandy-cemetery/
22/ Donald Trump made his second wife, Marla Maples, sign a prenup that would have cut off all child support if Tiffany joined the military. https://www.newsweek.com/tiffany-trump-child-support-payments-would-have-been-stopped-donald-if-she-joined-military-prenup-1442203
23/ During Trump's visit to Japan, the White House ordered destroyer USS John McCain out of sight. The ship's name was subsequently covered. https://www.wsj.com/articles/white-house-wanted-uss-john-mccain-out-of-sight-during-trump-japan-visit-11559173470
24/ The Trump admin purged more than 200,000 US veterans pending healthcare applications, leaving them without the benefits they earned. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/07/16/report-va-abandoned-more-200000-incomplete-vets-health-care-applications.html
25/ In April 2019, the Trump admin deported the spouse of a fallen Army soldier killed in Afghanistan, leaving their 12-year-old daughter (who is a US citizen) parentless in the United States.
It took massive public outrage to get them to reverse course. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/04/ice-reportedly-deported-spouse-of-army-solider-killed-in-afghanistan-leaving-their-daughter-parentless.html
It took massive public outrage to get them to reverse course. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/04/ice-reportedly-deported-spouse-of-army-solider-killed-in-afghanistan-leaving-their-daughter-parentless.html
26/ In March 2019, Trump attacked deceased war hero John McCain (along with his wife & daughter @MeghanMcCain) for not personally thanking him for McCain's funeral (which he wasn't even responsible for anyway). https://deadline.com/2019/03/donald-trump-john-mccain-funeral-no-thank-you-rally-speech-1202579380/
27/ Y'all, I'm not even halfway through my list, it's so long. But it's getting late, so I'm going to have to pick this up again tomorrow.
But, in conclusion for day one: Donald Trump has spent every moment as Commander-in-Chief betraying the troops he is sworn to lead.
But, in conclusion for day one: Donald Trump has spent every moment as Commander-in-Chief betraying the troops he is sworn to lead.
28/ I'm about to start adding to my thread of All the Ways Donald Trump Has "Respected" the Troops, but in the meantime, as I'm prepping tweets, check out @VoteVets's newest ad.
That last line is
https://twitter.com/votevets/status/1277295496105807873
That last line is
https://twitter.com/votevets/status/1277295496105807873
Lots to add to this thread today. My god.