This is completely consistent with everything Trump has ever said. He has always spoken in terms of self-interest, and always especially with respect to helping overseas allies. This is consistent with his description of McCain (not a war hero, “I like people who weren’t captured.”).
There’s no reason to doubt the credibility of these reports based on the nature of the stataements.
What I find bizarre is, I remember all these Trump comments being reported at the time in 2018. I remember reading with disgust about his hair concerns and complaining about why he had to go to the event in France at all. Why it has suddenly resurfaced with The Atlantic now is surprising. I was appalled at the time that the reports of Trump’s comments/excuses didn’t garner more outrage.
I guess now they finally have enough confirmation to write an important story.
I don’t find it at all hard to believe that Trump said these things. It’s completely in character with things he has always said. It’s who he is. His go-to strategy is to denigrate in the ghastliest terms possible the person/entities of his derision. It wasn’t hard to work out he is a deplorable excrescence when he knowingly engaged in the false meme of birtherism; mocked a disabled reporter; called John McCain a loser and said he liked service members who “weren’t captured”; derided Kzihr Khan for the loss of his son in Iraq and on and on with countless incidents of ugliness. I question the ability to reason of anyone who isn’t able to connect these dots.
The question is, why did anyone ever think this is not who he is? And the other question is, what is there to admire about this deeply flawed, malevolent ignorant person?
And if the anonymous sources come forward, then they will be labeled as liars.
That would be a good time to remind them that he called McCain a loser and was so proud of it that he retweeted an article that discussed it. And, also remind them of his treatment of the Khan family.
Trump’s attacks on McCain and the Khan family are easily enough written off as “hit me and I’ll hit you back harder” by his supporters. “McCain was an old establishment Republican talking shit on Trump, so Trump shit-talked back…he’s a shit-talker, that’s his thing. The Khans were clearly being used as political props by Clinton to make a point about Muslims, so they were fair game.” That would be their rationalization, anyway.
But fucking Belleau Wood…that’s another level entirely. That is Marine Corps religion. That goes far beyond political feuds with individual people during a dirty campaign. He might as well have wiped his ass with the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor.
But as I said, many will simply not believe the story, because it comes from anonymous sources.
Someone hits you, you hit back on policy. He didn’t just go personal with McCain, he went beyond that and insulted all POWs.
He didn’t just talk shit about the Khan family, he was shitting on all KIAs.
I’m a bit surprised he didn’t just drop a deuce on the Tomb of the Unknown soldier, just to get the trifecta.
And they won’t believe those sources if they do come forward.
Trump probably thinks that Hitler was in power during WWI and of course he thinks that Hitler was a great leader.
**We are suckers and losers!**
My father flew PBYs in Alaska and the South Pacific during WW2. I served in the USAF during Korea, My cousin served in WW2 submarines and his teenage brother was killed on the Langley in 1942. And, why -so our Presidency could devolve from FDR to DJT? From the Manhattan Project to birtherism?
Re-calibrate the BS Meter and apply the probes to American mythology in Trump world:
Preserve, protect and defend the Constitution
Service before self
Give me your poor your tired your huddled masses
Liberty and justice for all
Equal justice under the law
One nation indivisible
Home of the brave
Brotherhood from sea to shining sea
The policeman is your friend
Under God
In God we trust
If it’s all bullshit then we ARE suckers and losers.
Trump ‘thinks’?
They admire him because they see so much of themselves in him. He’s getting away with cheeting, stealing and lying. Every dam day. They aspire to be just like him, and get away with it. Many of them think that the American Dream is screw everyone else as long as I get my way/don’t go to prison.
The rest of them are interested in hurting other people, and can’t think far enough ahead to realize that they are the next ‘other people’
But I know you know that Aspenglow.
Additional breaking news: The Trump administration has just cancelled funding for The Stars & Stripes newspaper, which has been serving the military since WWII. I read that paper for 20 years, along with the Navy Times. They can’t seem to have the gumption to come up with $15 million to fund it. Really? So no pressure from the shit-gibbon?
He is losing support from the military based on what he is doing.
If the military doesn’t know what he is doing, then he will stop losing support.
Fox news reporter confirms the story
Trump said what he did about McCain in public before a camera. And losers still made him the so-called commander in chief. I can only hope that enough voters have come to some kind of sense. It was nice to hear Biden slamming the con man over these allegations today. And there’s no way the allegations are untrue. He went to Pearl Harbor and didn’t know what happened there. I really am baffled how this idiot fools anyone.
I heard that he chickened out of that decision.
Oh. Oh, my. Munch, I am verklempt. Could there ever be a starker contrast between Biden and Trump, on who is more fit to be our Commander in Chief? Thank you for posting that. I am posting the video to Facebook now.
Stars And Stripes will not be shut down after all.
Who on earth thought this was a good idea in the first place?
Trump did, but he’s a fucking idiot.
Speaking of military outlets, asahi, have you heard about the Stars and Stripes newspaper being shut down? I guess Traitor Donny’s regime doesn’t want any independent voices addressing “his” military.
Ah, reading the article further after posting I see 45 has caved to the uproar over this and swore the funding would be restored.
We’ll see if that actually happens once public attention has moved on from this.