There are zero Fox executives reading this thread, but I think calling them lying fucks for this incident is totally accurate.
I just want to know if trump offered to sign the flags when they were folded and presented to the families.
Blame Reagan, he was the first President to return salutes. They’ve all done it since.
Yes, IIRC it was Reagan who started in earnest the performative military-style hand-to-forehead saluting by presidents, just because as CinC he could respond to a salute any way he wanted, and no one since seemed to feel worth it the aggravation to explain that NO the POTUS is not required to execute the gesture and NO it’s not “disrespecting the troops” if he doesn’t.
As far as ceremonies are concerned historically the POTUS and other high officials are to be treated by uniformed personnel sort of like a flag: you come to attention, and if in a saluting environment salute as they approach you, then recover when they’re past you, you don’t wait for them to return it.
At some point in the late 20th century the flag code was updated to specify that veterans wearing Veteran Organization headgear would follow the flag/anthem/funeral rules as if in uniform. So I suppose for POTUS this could probably have been salved a little by issuing him an official CinC ball cap with the Presidential or Service seal and some braid. But yeah, as a civil official wearing a casual hat what normally should behoove him at a solemnity is what would apply to me: uncover and hand-on-heart.
In the Christian West there was also the Pauline admonition that at least at religious rites the women in the congregation keep their heads covered and the men uncovered (denominational expansion to other activities may vary). That reinforced the etiquette.
“It’s not hypocrisy when we do it” is basically meta-hypocrisy.
Anything’s a toy if you’re brave enough.
I’d feel sorry for the cactus.
There are hats, and then there are ridiculous baseball caps with stupid shit on them. A USA baseball cap is in particularly bad taste
Gives a new meaning to the term “prickly”.
The type of hat is an issue. A baseball cap is something you wear at an informal event like a trip to the park or a sporting event. It’s not something you should wear to a formal state function, especially one with as solemn a purpose as paying respects to soldiers who died on duty.
There’s also the fact that Trump was wearing a hat that he sells on his website. He was turning a solemn state occasion into an advertisement for his side business.
You misspelled ‘hustle.’
Note also that this is mostly an issue for older people, and the dope tends to skew older. The rules and attendant foofaraw around hat use have been dying for at least 50 years, probably more. I suspect a lot of 20-somethings would share your reaction.
Of course not, don’t be ridiculous. He would have asked them if they wanted a pre-signed flag, for $49.99, plus tax.
Of course the response from MAGAssholes is “But Biden checked his watch during a transfer ceremony”.
The whole appearance of presidents at these transfer ceremonies is silly. You make a decision, right or wrong, to commit troops to battle but appearing all solemn and serious at these ceremonies makes you look caring. For some presidents, it’s true that they care. For a convicted felon who dodged the draft due to phony bone spurs and calls those who gave their lives losers and suckers, not so much. If DJT was honest, he’d borrow Melanoma’s trenchcoat with “I Don’t Really Care, Do U?” on the back.
It’s how things are done. You take your hat off when you’re raising or lowering a flag, when you say the pledge, when the national anthem is being played. I do a lot of stuff with scouts and there’s all sorts of flag stuff and ceremonies, and the hats come off.
Granted we don’t make THAT big a deal of it, but we’re not at a ceremony respecting a person who died after we chose to put them in harm’s way.
Is the hat important?
Must i remind you that Obama wore a TAN SUIT!
You typed that with a straight face?
I preface the Anthem with “Gentlemen, please remove your hats. Please join me in singing our National Anthem.” (and then, afterward, I usually say under my breath “Play Ball!”, unless it’s actually at a ball game, then I say it out loud)
As for the scouts, at least in our area, for the flag ceremonies they begin with “Please remove all non-Scouting head gear…”
Yeah, I’m old. That being said, you remove your hat when in church. You remove your hat when a lady enters the room. You doff your hat in greeting as a sign of respect. YOU REMOVE YOUR HAT FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND THE FLAG.
Enough of this euphemistic crap. It wasn’t a “hat”.
It was a gaudy bright baseball cap with a cheap-ass political and self-promotional phrase sprawled across it.
You are correct; “removing your hat” sounds like a distinguished businessman removing his fedora to be respectful. Trump is neither distinguished, nor a real businessman, nor respectful, and that cheap piece of shit on his head can barely be called a hat.