Perhaps by now you’ve seen the news.

A story first reported last week in The Atlantic — with details since confirmed by The Washington Post and other outlets — reveals the sheer, inhuman depths of Donald Trump’s disdain for people who choose to serve in our nation’s armed forces, especially those wounded, captured, or killed in the line of duty.

• For example, in 2018 Trump cancelled a planned trip to a World War I cemetery in France where American soldiers are buried — over worries that his hair would become disheveled in the rain.

• Here’s what Trump said to senior staffers: “Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers.”

• Trump called the 1,800 U.S. marines who died in a battle that was key to stopping the German advance toward Paris “suckers.”

This is a man who avoided the draft during the Vietnam War for allegedly having bone spurs in his feet.

This is a man who wanted to parade troops, tanks, and heavy artillery down Pennsylvania Avenue here in Washington, D.C., in a farcical (yet irresponsibly wasteful) show of strength like some two-bit foreign dictator.

This is a man who has exhibited no restraint whatsoever in deploying the military on American soil and against his own citizenry in flagrant violation of their constitutional rights.

Trump is entranced by the weapons, medals, and shiny things of the military. And he absolutely loves the display of force.

But he has no regard for the real people who serve in our nation’s armed forces — most especially those injured or killed in battle.

Why?

There are many theories. This is the one I find most troubling:

Donald Trump believes that nothing is worth doing without the promise of monetary payback and that talented people who don’t pursue riches are “losers.”

Tell Donald Trump:

Shame on you, Mr. President.

Thanks for taking action.

In unity,

- Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen

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