Donald Trump’s behavior at a dignified troop transfer this week was “just pathetic,” a Democrat and Army veteran has said.
Pat Ryan, a New York congressman whose awards for his two combat tours in Iraq as a military intelligence officer include a pair of Bronze Star Medals, criticized Trump’s posture during the ceremony for the four troops who died over the past week in his war against Iran.
The soldiers killed were Army 1st Lt Tyler James Feehan, 25, Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 28, Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, and Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30. A total of 18 U.S. service members have died since late February, when Trump began the war that he said would only last a few weeks.
“You see there’s a photo with every leader with their head down, bowed, and he’s just staring off into the abyss. It’s just pathetic,” Ryan, 44, told MeidasTouch.
“What do you expect from a five-time draft dodger who has no clue what this is? The American people see this,” Ryan added.
Trump, 80, received five military deferments in the 1960s while the Vietnam War was raging. Four were academic-related, and one was for bone spurs.
“This is a guy that has never served a single day in uniform but is willing to send other people’s kids to fight in his wars while his own sons are profiting off all these defense companies’ stocks that they own,” Ryan continued.
Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump are on the board of a drone-making company that has inked a deal to sell to the Pentagon.
“It’s absolutely disgusting. It’s absolutely un-American and every Republican needs to vote ‘yes’ on this war powers resolution or else their name is on this,” Ryan continued, before the measure passed the House with the support of just four Republicans.
“I think increasingly, the blood of our fallen is certainly on [Pete] Hegseth’s hands and Trump’s hands, and every Republican who continues this war and doesn’t stop it today. They’re accountable for that.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Beast.
At a campaign-style speech in Georgia after the dignified transfer, Trump bragged about giving Feehan’s grieving family a ride to the event on Air Force One.
“One of the families happened to be traveling to Georgia. Beautiful family, beautiful wife and husband, and brother-in-law,” Trump told supporters. “And I said, ‘I’m going to Georgia too. Where are you going?’ She says, ‘Well, after this, sir… we’re going to Georgia.’ I said, ‘So, if you want, I’ll give you a ride on Air Force One.’ And they said, ‘Wow!’"
He continued: “So today, they’re on Air Force One—and it’s quite nice, I must say—and they said, ‘Wow, this is something.’"
