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As the media continues to scrutinize President Trump's past comments about America's war dead, let's take a look at what has been confirmed and what hasn't.
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Obviously, the conversation got a jump-start with @JeffreyGoldberg's article here on Thursday night. But there's more to it than that. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/09/trump-americans-who-died-at-war-are-losers-and-suckers/615997/
In this story I published with @missy_ryan last night, a Marine veteran recounted to me his conversation with Kelly at Arlington National Cemetery within the last year. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/trump-atlantic-military-reaction/2020/09/04/b0fe0690-eec0-11ea-a21a-0fbbe90cfd8c_story.html?hpid=hp_convention-tt-1_generals-805pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory-ans
The vet, who I've known for years, told me that Kelly shared a similar story with him about Kelly's 2017 graveside conversation with Trump.
In both versions, Trump roughly said, “I don’t get it. What was in it for them?”
In both versions, Trump roughly said, “I don’t get it. What was in it for them?”
The Post also published a story yesterday by @ @DavidNakamura, @jdawsey1 and @rachaelmbade. It confirms a few other aspects of The Atlantic story. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-biden-military-atlantic/2020/09/04/c12c0fe6-eebe-11ea-99a1-71343d03bc29_story.html
Among them, former admin officials said Trump disparaged the military at times, angering Kelly and former SECDEF Mattis.
More noteworthy, one official told The Post that Trump occasionally said that people who served in Vietnam should have been smarter to avoid it.
“He would tire of all the great commendations that people who had fought and served got," the official said.
“He would tire of all the great commendations that people who had fought and served got," the official said.
Separately, the @AP reported here that it has independently confirmed "many" of the reported comments from Trump that were in The Atlantic. https://apnews.com/8f31d7343274c14e02432a7d57c7f309
Significantly, there is also @JenGriffinFNC's work. She has worked the Pentagon beat for years, and posted this thread yesterday. https://twitter.com/JenGriffinFNC/status/1301975321495973889?s=19
Griffin did not report that Trump did not want to go to the cemetery in France because he didn't want to get his hair wet (The Atlantic did). She reported that he didn't want to drive there (something that reportedly came up when helicopter flights were nixed).
That seems important to highlight again. There is a universe to explore where Trump said *some* of these things, or things that were *similar,* but not precisely what sources said.
Trump also has not *always* stepped in it in these situations.
David Horton, whose son was killed in Afghanistan, recounted to me yesterday that Trump greeting him warmly at Arlington in 2017. There are other examples. He has often met with veterans and military families.
David Horton, whose son was killed in Afghanistan, recounted to me yesterday that Trump greeting him warmly at Arlington in 2017. There are other examples. He has often met with veterans and military families.
Reaction from current and former administration officials over the last two days has included some attempting to refute the Atlantic's report in its entirety. Hogan Gidley went this route. https://twitter.com/JHoganGidley/status/1301681054902779905?s=19
. @EsperDoD, meanwhile, has been more cautious. He's highlighting Trump's work for vets and service members, highlighting a pay raise and bigger defense budgets.
But he hasn't addressed the reported comments specifically.
But he hasn't addressed the reported comments specifically.
Some Trump critics are moving out as though 100 percent of The Atlantic story is verified by numerous organizations.
This reported Trump quote about the war dead in France is still especially thorny: "“Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers."
This reported Trump quote about the war dead in France is still especially thorny: "“Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers."
By contrast, the Trump-friendly @Breitbart highlighted @JenGriffinFNC's work Friday night ... Sort of.
Breitbart focused on her *not* confirming the most "salacious" piece of the story (what Trump allegedly said about American war dead in France). She was specific and straightforward on air about that.
Trump's response last night was to post the Breitbart story and say that the allegations are "all refuted." Some, in fact, are confirmed.
As of last night, Trump also called for Jennifer's firing after she did her job, and well. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1302083885384249344?s=19
As of last night, Trump also called for Jennifer's firing after she did her job, and well. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1302083885384249344?s=19
All of this puts John Kelly on a hot seat to talk about something he is loathe to discuss: How his son, Robert, was killed in combat on a bomb-sown battlefield in 2010, and the ripple effect it has created.
Whether he will address any of this is not yet clear.
Whether he will address any of this is not yet clear.
