Donald Trump has over the past few weeks found himself embroiled in a number of controversies involving military veterans, a community that, according to one expert, he has developed a “complex relationship” with.
Earlier this month Trump was criticized by a prominent figure within Veterans of Foreign Wars, a group that provides support to former service personnel, after he suggested the Presidential Medal of Freedom is “better” than the Medal of Honor. Trump was also accused of “politicking” on the “sacred ground” of Arlington National Cemetery by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) after reportedly filming a video in an area reserved for America’s recent war dead.
However, speaking to Newsweek, political scientist Thomas Gift, director of the Centre on U.S. Politics at University College London claimed past military related controversies involving Trump had “barely budged his support among the veteran community” adding that a “disproportionate number of January 6th rioters” had a military background.
Speaking at a campaign event in New Jersey on August 15, Trump described the Medal of Honor as “the equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor” in an apparent reference to the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Trump added: “But the civilian version, it’s actually much better because everyone that gets the Congressional Medal of Honor, they’re soldiers.
A photo-illustration shows Donald Trump and various military-related images. One expert told Newsweek that Trump has a “complex relationship” with America’s veteran community following rows over the Medal of Honor and his visit to Arlington Cemetery.
Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty
“They’re either in very bad shape because they’ve been hit so many times by bullets or they’re dead.”
In response, the Veterans of Foreign Wars commander Al Lipphardt hit out at Trump commenting: “These asinine comments not only diminish the significance of our nation’s highest award for valor, but also crassly characterizes the sacrifices of those who have risked their lives above and beyond the call of duty.”
Trump went on to reiterate his position during a campaign rally in Potterville, Michigan, on Thursday when he said: “I would say there’s two awards, there’s the Medal of Honor, and often times [awarded] posthumously where they’re not there…and then you have the civilian version the presidential medal. And I always say I’d rather get the presidential medal because the guys that came in, other than you and a few others [gesturing to recipient in crowd], often times they’ve suffered greatly, right? They’ve suffered greatly or they’re not around. But it’s our highest award and it’s an honor to have you here.”
On Monday Trump attended a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery for the 13 American soldiers killed during the 2021 Kabul airport attack during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. However the visit sparked controversy as Trump’s team recorded video footage from Section 60, an area reserved for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and allegedly got into an altercation with an official who questioned their actions.
Speaking to Newsweek Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung insisted there was no physical altercation and said he was “prepared to release footage” to prove it, but he did not produce the footage when asked.
In an interview with Newsweek IAVA chief executive Allison Jaslow said: “When I visit Section 60, it is to honor the fallen and remind myself that I was one of the lucky ones who made it home. There are plenty of places appropriate for politics—Arlington is not one of them.
“Any aspiring elected official, especially one who hopes to be Commander-in-Chief, should not be confused about that fact. Nor should they hide behind members of our community to justify politicking on such sacred ground.”
Following Trump’s visit, Charlotte Clymer, a veteran and former member of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as “the Old Guard,” who was formerly stationed at Arlington National Cemetery, wrote in a blog post that Trump “cannot extend proper respect to our military.”
However, Trump’s visit was defended by five family members of two of the 13 soldiers who died in the Kabul airport attack in statement that said: “The [former] president and his team conducted themselves with nothing but the utmost respect and dignity for all of our service members.”
During a 2018 visit to France while president, Trump canceled a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, near Paris, allegedly asking several people “why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers,” according to The Atlantic. The publication alleges he later described the more than 1,800 marines killed during the First World War Battle of Belleau Wood as “suckers.” Trump’s team strongly contested the report and insisted he never used the language attributed to him.
In July 2015, just one month after announcing his bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, Trump hit out at then-Arizona Sen. John McCain commenting: “He’s not a war hero, he’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured, OK? I hate to tell you.”
While on a mission during the Vietnam War McCain was shot down and subsequently held as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam for five and a half years. During his incarceration he was tortured, leaving him unable to fully raise his arms for the rest of his life.
Speaking to Newsweek Dafydd Townley, an American politics expert who teaches at the University of Portsmouth in the U.K., said Trump’s controversial remarks had angered some veterans, especially given his personal lack of military service.
He said: “Trump has a complex relationship with the veteran community. His continuous insults toward veterans who have died, been captured, or been injured in the line of service, has not gone down well with veterans.
“His lack of understanding of that community is likely to be heightened by his exemption from the draft, four times because of college and once because of bone spurs. Some thought that his selection of JD Vance could be a bridge to healing the rift from that community, but his continued lack of empathy with veterans will make that hard to do.
Referring to Trump, Townley continued: “His use of Arlington Cemetery for a photo opportunity to support his campaign this week was not only against the law but also likely to further distance members of the veteran community from his cause.”
However, Thomas Gift said Trump’s various remarks have had little impact on most veterans, and that he retains substantial support from this demographic.
Speaking to Newsweek he said: “Trump has long used the military as a political pawn for campaign purposes, frequently invoking phrases like ‘my military’ and ‘my generals’ when he was in office.
“At the same time, his past, repeated attacks on military norms and personnel have barely budged his support among the veteran community. Consider, for example, his denigration of the late Sen. John McCain’s military service and his assailing of former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. Neither dramatically shook Trump’s support among Americans with military ties.
“The disproportionate number of January 6th rioters who had a military background is further evidence of right-wing extremism—and Trump loyalism—that have permeated its ranks.”
Newsweek contacted representatives of the 2024 Donald Trump and Kamala Harris presidential campaigns for comment by email.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’ 2024 running mate, served with his state’s national guard from 1981 to 2005. Earlier this month he was accused of “abandoning” his unit before it deployed to Iraq by Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Trump’s vice-presidential nominee who served as a military journalist with the Marine Corps.
