Never Take Normal For Granted Again
Never Take Normal For Granted Again
Trump’s grotesque farewell speeches make it easier to appreciate Biden’s simple inaugural address.
By WILLIAM SALETAN
(Slate) Over the past four years, many Americans forgot how it felt to have a president who preached and practiced basic decency. Joe Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday changed that. We’re hearing a normal president say normal things. And as we hear them, the perversity of Donald Trump’s behavior stands out more clearly. By traditional standards, Biden’s inaugural address was unremarkable. But when you compare it to the twisted farewell speeches Trump delivered on Tuesday and Wednesday, it’s shocking to remember that for four years, Trump was the president of the United States.
In his address, Biden preached modesty and compassion. “Today we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate, but of a cause, the cause of democracy,” he said. He asked Americans to “show a little tolerance and humility” to their neighbors, “to stand in the other person’s shoes.” Trump, by contrast, celebrated himself and his putative superiority. “I came to Washington as the only true outsider ever to win the presidency,” he declared. He portrayed public service as a grievous burden on his wealthy family: “They could have had a much easier life.” He boasted, falsely, that he had won “75 million votes, and that’s a record in the history of sitting presidents.” He thanked himself, not scientists, for developing coronavirus vaccines. “Another administration would have taken three, four, five, maybe even up to 10 years to develop a vaccine,” he claimed absurdly. “We did it in nine months.”
Biden promised to “set aside politics” and focus on doing the job. Trump focused instead on his image and on shifting blame. “The vets have given us an approval rating like has never been before,” he bragged. Anything good that might happen under Biden was really Trump’s doing, said the outgoing president: “You’re going to see incredible numbers start coming in, if everything is sort of left alone … Remember us when you see these things happening.” As to the 400,000 Americans who had died of COVID during his tenure, Trump devoted his remarks not to mourning them but to denying responsibility. “Nobody blames us for that. The whole world got hit,” he argued. He called it “the China virus” and said, “We all know where it came from.”
....(snip)....
Trump is gone from the White House, and most of us are glad to be rid of him. We’d rather not think about him anymore. But before we close that door, it’s important to recover our sense of perspective. The daily viciousness, callousness, and contempt we experienced for those four years wasn’t normal. What’s normal is what we’re seeing now. Don’t ever take it for granted again. ...........(more)
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/01/biden-inauguration-speech-normal-trump-farewell.html
= new reply since forum marked as read
LIE LIE LIE LIE - LIE LIE LIE - LIE LIE LIE
Trump focused instead on his image and on shifting blame. “The vets have given us an approval rating like has never been before,” he bragged.
EXAGGERATES GAINS - FAKE award
https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2020-09-23/ap-fact-check-trump-exaggerates-his-gains-for-veterans
Trump’s popularity slips in latest Military Times poll — and more troops say they’ll vote for Biden
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2020/08/31/as-trumps-popularity-slips-in-latest-military-times-poll-more-troops-say-theyll-vote-for-biden/
TROOPS AND THE 2020 ELECTION
IF the presidential election were held today, whom would you vote for?
AUGUST 2020
tRump 37.4%
Biden 41.3%
Oth 12.8%
MY OWN RESEARCH IN GENERAL IN RESPONSE TO A POST HERE ON DU.
I WANTED TO SHARE IT WITH MY SON WHO BELIEVES THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN, BUT WE BARELY TALK AS IT IS.
“WHY ARE TROOPS TURNING AWAY FROM TRUMP?
Maybe because... his campaign has issued a list of 3000 military families they wanted arrested for voter fraud who are currently deployed but voting in their home state, which is completely legal SEE LINKS BELOW FOR DETAIL
• In May 2020, the White House tried to end National Guard deployments one day before they could claim benefits
WOULD HAVE BUT MEDIA STORM AND PUSHBACK CHANGED THE COURSE
• The Trump admin (FEMA) seized 5 million masks intended for VA hospitals. PARTIALLY TRUE
• Trump fired the captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt after he warned superiors that COVID19 was spreading among his crew. The virus subsequently spread amongst the crew. Checked but found wrong. Though Trump waffled day by day about which side to take.
• After Iran's retaliatory strike, 109 US troops suffered brain injuries. Trump dismissed these as "headaches" TRUE
• On July 20, 2017, in-room 2E924 of the Pentagon, Trump told a room full of Generals, "You’re a bunch of dopes and babies" TRUE
• Pardoned multiple war criminals, which stomped on long-standing military values, discipline, and command. Trump has no military experience (May&Nov, 2019) TRUE AND THEN SOME
• Trump mocked Lt. Col. Vindman for his rank and uniform. He threatened said purple heart officer, resulting in the Army providing him protection PARTIALLY TRUE – REPUBLICANS MOCKED HIM. TRUMP CALLED HIM A “NEVER TRUMPER” AND THEN FIRED HIM
• Trump’s Chief of Staff worked—in secret—to deny comprehensive health coverage to Vietnam Vets who suffered from Agent Orange. TRUE SENATE HAD TO PUSH BACK TO GET BENEFITS FOR VETS
• There is a facility in Tijuana for US veterans that Trump deported. Wounded war vet, Sen Duckworth (D) marked Veterans Day 2019 by visiting this facility PARTIALLY TRUE. TRUMP POLICIES ON DEPORTATION WERE WIDE REACHING.
• Russia took control of the main U.S. military facility in Syria abandoned on Trump’s orders. Russia now owns the airstrip we built TRUE THOUGH SYRIA/TURKEY WORKED WITH MOSCOW, NOT US
• On Oct 7, 2019, Trump abruptly withdrew support from America's allies in Syria after a phone call with Turkey's president (Erdogan). Turkey subsequently bombed US Special Forces. TRUE
• Trump sent thousands of American troops to defend the oil assets of the country that perpetrated 9/11 – PARTIALLY TRUE – 15 of the 19 hijackers in 9/11 attacks were from Saudi Arabia, but it was AL Qaeda that was responsible.
• In Sept 2019, he made an Air Force cargo crew, flying from the U.S. to Kuwait stop in Scotland (where there's no U.S. base) to refuel at a commercial airport (where it costs more), so they could stay overnight at a Trump property (which isn't close to the airport). Trump’s golf courses are losing money, so he's forcing the military to pay for 5-star nights there. Can’t SAY HE MADE THEM, but HE PROFITED FROM IT. HIS RESORT WAS LOSING MONEY BEFORE THIS INCIDENT
• In Sept 2019, Pentagon pulled funds for military schools, military housing funds, and daycare to pay for Trump's border wall. TRUE TRUMP DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY TO USE THAT MONEY NOW THAT WAS SLATED TO BUILD MILITARY PROJECTS THAT HAD BEEN APPROVED ALREADY BUT NOT SLATED TO PROCEED UNTIL 2020
• In Aug 2019, emails revealed that three of Trump's Mar-a-Lago pals, who are now running Veterans Affairs, are rampant with meddling. "They had no experience in veterans’ affairs (none of them even served in the military) nor underwent any kind of approval process to serve as de facto managers. Yet, with Trump’s approval, they directed actions and criticized operations without any oversight. They wasted valuable staff time in hundreds of pages of communications and meetings, emails show. Emails reveal disdainful attitudes within the department to the trio’s meddling." TRUE MULTIPLE SOURCES
• Veterans graves will be "dug up" for the border wall after Trump instructed aides to seize private property. Trump told officials he would pardon them if they break the law by illegally seizing property -- WAS GOING TO HAPPEN BUT ACTIVISTS GOT ATTENTION AND HELP FROM CONGRESS
• Children of deployed US troops are no longer guaranteed citizenship. This includes US troops posted abroad for years at a time (August 28, 2019) PARTIALLY TRUE - EXTRA PAPERWORK REQUIRED. WHY? MILITARY PROMISES CITIZENSHIP AND THEN BUILD BARRIERS TO IT, INCLUDING AN OATH OF ALLIEGANCE
• On Aug 2, 2019, Trump requisitioned military retirement funds towards the border wall MOSTLY TRUE
• On July 31, 2019, Trump ordered the Navy rescind medals to prosecutors who were prosecuting war criminals TRUE AND TRUMP PARDONED THE WAR CRIMINAL AS WELL
• Trump (POLICIES) denied a U.S. Marine of 6 years entry into the United States for his citizenship interview (Reported July 17, 2019) TRUE
• Trump made the U.S. Navy Blue Angels violate ethics rules by having them fly at his July 4th political campaign event (July 4, 2019) PARTLY TRUE – HAD HE TURNED IT INTO A CAMPAIGN RALLY, HE WOULD HAVE HAD TO REPAY 13 MILLION
• Trump demanded US military chiefs stand next to him at the 4th of July parade (reported July 2, 2019) INITIALLY, BUT NOT SURE IF THAT HAPPENED
• In June 2019, Trump sent troops to the border to paint the fence for a better "aesthetic appearance" MOSTLY TRUE
• Trump used his D-Day interview at a cemetery commemorating fallen US soldiers to attack a Vietnam veteran (June 6, 2019) TRUE
• Trump started his D-Day commemoration speech by attacking a private citizen (Bette Midler, of all people) (reported on June 4th, 2019) TRUE
• Trump made his 2nd wife, Marla Maples, sign a prenup that would have cut off all child support if Tiffany joined the military (reported June 4th, 2019) TRUE
• On May 27, 2019, Trump turned away US military from his Memorial Day speech because they were from the destroyer USS John S. McCain TRUE THEY WERE TURNED AWAY. WHY?
• Trump ordered the USS John McCain out of sight during his visit to Japan (May 15, 2019). The ship's name was subsequently covered. (May 27, 2019) NAVY HAS AN EMAIL FROM WHITE HOUSE, BUT WAS NOT TRUMP DIRECTLY
• Trump (POLICIES) purged 200,000 vets' healthcare applications (due to known administrative errors within VA’s enrollment system) (reported on May 13, 2019) TRUE 2 3
• Trump deported a spouse of fallen Army soldier killed in Afghanistan, leaving their daughter parentless (April 16, 2019)
TRUE BUT IT GOT RESOLVED AFTER REPORTED 2 3
• On March 20, 2019, Trump complained that a deceased war hero didn't thank him for his funeral TRUE 2
• Between 12/22/2018, and 1/25/2019, Trump refused to sign his party's funding bill, which shut down the government, TRUE forcing the Coast Guard to go without pay, which made service members rely on food pantries. TRUE However, his appointees got a $10,000 pay raise TRUE
• He banned service members from serving based on gender identity (1/22/2019) TRUE 2 3
• He? denied female troops access to birth control to limit sexual activity (on-going. Published Jan 18, 2019) TRUE They were denied, but Trump’s actual attack was on ACA contraceptive mandate. 2
• He Trump policies NEARLY deported a marine vet who is a U.S.-born citizen (Jan 16, 2019) MOSTLY TRUE
• When a man was caught swindling veterans’ pensions for high-interest “cash advances," Trump's Consumer Financial Protection Bureau fined him $1 (Jan 26, 2019) NOT WITH RELIABLE MEDIA. UNPROVEN
• He called a retired general a 'dog' with a 'big, dumb mouth' (Jan 1, 2019) TRUE 2 3
• He increased privatization of the VA, leading to longer waits and higher taxpayer cost (2018) TRUE ?? SOME ARE WAITING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS ??COVERUP
• He finally visited troops 2 years after taking office, but only after 154 vacation days at his properties (Dec 26, 2018)
TRUE he hit 154 golf trips to his properties 11/25/2018
• He revealed a covert Seal Team 5 deployment, including names and faces, on Twitter during his visit to Iraq (Dec 26, 2018) FALSE
• Trump lied to deployed troops that he gave them a 10% raise (12/26/2018). He tried giving the military a raise that was lower than the standard living adjustment. Congress told him that idea wasn't going to work. Then after giving them the raise that Congress made him, he lied again saying they hadn’t gotten raises under Obama.
• He HIS ADMINISTRATION POLICIES RESULTED IN 2 fired service members living with HIV just before the 2018 holidays TRUE 2 3
• He tried to slash disability and unemployment benefits for Veterans to $0, and eliminate the unemployability extra scheduler rating (Dec 17, 2018) (June 14, 2017) MIXTURE
• He called troops on Thanksgiving and told them he's most thankful for himself (Thanksgiving, 2018) TRUE
• He urged Florida to not count deployed military votes (Nov 12, 2018) TRUE 2 PER FOX, COULD ALSO AFFECT VOTES FOR TRUMP 3 4
• He canceled an Arlington Cemetery visit on Veterans Day due to light rain (Nov 12, 2018) Per FOX News TRUE 4 Days LATER he’s sorry SNOPES says, NOT the first President in 56 years to not attend Arlington Cemetery. However, he may have been the first to simply stay in the White House, only minutes away from there.
• While in Europe commemorating the end of WWI, he didn't attend the ceremony at a US cemetery due to the rain -- other world leaders went anyway (Nov 10, 2018) TRUE – Guardian International FOX – rain grounded the helicopter BASICALLY lack of a plan B
• He used troops as a political prop by sending them on a phantom mission to the border and made them miss Thanksgiving with their families (Oct-Dec, 2018) Partly True He did send troops and it was irregular, but a large caravan of immigrants was arriving. However, they were fleeing horrible conditions. Thanksgiving was missed, but troops were withdrawn for Xmas FOX Military Times BBC Considered a stunt and abuse of presidential power
• He stopped using troops as a political prop immediately after the election. However, the troops remained in muddy camps on the border (Nov 7, 2018) NOT SURE ABOUT MUDDY CAMPS BUT TROOPS WERE TRIGGER HAPPY AND SHOT A US CITIZEN SOME NUMBERS WERE EXAGGERATED POLITIFACT Trump had said he would deploy as many as 15,000 – but did not – only 4,000 - 5,000
• Trump changed the GI Bill through his Forever GI Act, causing the VA to miss veteran benefits, including housing allowances. This caused many vets to run out of food and rent. (reported October 7, 2018) 1) Unintended consequence caused major computer issues and vets did get caught in really dire straits. 2) Funny he tried the same thing the year before (2017) and that was supposed to be a QUICK FIX
• Trump doubled the rejection rate for veterans requesting family deportation protections (July 5, 2018) HIS POLICIES DID CREATE THIS ISSUE Military TIMES
In fiscal 2016, the Obama administration denied 140 veteran requests for deportation protection and approved 1,304 requests.
In fiscal 2017, the Trump administration denied 250 veteran requests for deportation protection and approved 1,449 requests.
In the first nine months of fiscal 2018, the Trump administration has denied 218 requests for deportation protection and approved 875 requests.
• Trump deported active-duty spouses (11,800 military families face this problem as of April 2018) It IS a problem stemming from TRUMP policy, but the number is calculated because the information isn’t being accurately tracked. Spouses of active military are being deported. BUT this number is an estimate. SNOPES just listed the facts known and didn’t rate this issue.
• He forgot a fallen soldier's name (below) during a call to his pregnant widow, then attacked her the next day (Oct 23-24, 2017) TRUE
• He sent commandos into an ambush due to a lack of intel, and sends contractors to pick them up, resulting in a commando being left behind, tortured, and executed. (Trump approved the mission because Bannon told him Obama didn't have the guts to do it) (Oct 4, 2017) TRUE 2
• He blocked a veteran group on Twitter (June 2017) TRUE 2 3 (They were pretty critical of him, though.)
• He ordered the discharge of active-duty immigrant troops with good records (2017-present) His policies TRUE 2 3
• He deported veterans (2017-present) His Policies but Vets who commit crimes were also deported under Obama TRUE 2 3
• He said he knows more about ISIS than American generals (Oct 2016) TRUE IN CABINET MEETING MINUTES 2 While actually continuing same methods Obama did 3
• On Oct 3, 2016, Trump said vets get PTSD because they aren't strong TRUE (note: yes, he said it's 'because they aren't strong.' He didn't say it's 'because they're weak.' This distinction is important because of Snopes) So according to SNOPES Trump was trying to say Vets need more services, more help, more funding – but NOT STRONG, Can’t handle it SOUND like “weak” to many. Trump WAS trying to be empathetic and helpful
• Trump accepted a Purple Heart from a fan at one of his rallies and said: “I always wanted to get the Purple Heart. This was much easier.” (Aug 2, 2016) TRUE The fact that someone wanted to gift it to him. OK. The fact that he said he always wanted one, shows that he doesn’t get it. Wounded in battle isn’t a cakewalk.
• Trump “attacks” Gold Star families: Myeshia Johnson (gold star widow), Khan family (gold star parents), etc. (2016-present) I would more say is CARELESS in preparing (not knowing the name when it is in front of him on a report) because he doesn’t really care to begin with – just going through the motions. So I would say is DISRESPECTFUL more than “attacking” but he does double down when confronted with facts of what he did and lies. NEVERMIND YUP – TORE INTO THE KHAN FAMILY for a whole week.
• Trump sent funds raised from a Jan 2016 veterans to benefit to the Donald J Trump Foundation instead of veteran’s charities (the foundation has since been ordered shut because of fraud) (Jan 2016) SNOPES ½ TRUE STILL In 2019 he was found guilty of misuse of Foundation Funds. Basically, he was campaigning, raising Vet money and paying his foundation so he could be seen donating to the VETS at the same time. Sneaky circle of illegal activity, delays in distributing the funds and a VIOLATION OF CAMPAIGN LAW. FOUNDATION WAS DISSOLVED in NOV 2019.
• Trump said he has "more training militarily than a lot of the guys that go into the military" because he went to a military-style academy (2015 biography) 1) MOSTLY TRUE SNOPES 2)CONTEMPT FOR MILITARY CULTIVATED BY HIS DAD
• Trump said he doesn't consider POWs heroes because they were caught. He said he prefers people who were not caught (July 18, 2015) TRUE LIES ABOUT IN March 14, 2016 VIDEO C-SPAN
• Trump said having unprotected sex was his own personal Vietnam (1998) CNN or 1997 (Daily UK)
• For a decade, Trump sought to kick veterans off of Fifth Avenue because he found them unsightly nuisances outside of Trump Tower. 1991 - 2004 TRUE
• Trump dodged the draft 5 times by having a doctor diagnose him with bone spurs. TRUE Biden didn’t serve either though, but has family that did.
• No Trump in America has ever served in the military; this spans 5 generations and every branch of the family tree. In fact, the reason his grandfather immigrated to America (illegally) was to avoid military service.” ERIC Donald Trump JR have bone spurs too SNOPES on grandfather deportation from Bavaria
h/t Patrick Farley
THESE ARE THE LINKS BELOW -- CROSS REFERENCE WITH ACTUAL ARTICLES
LEGAL TO VOTE IN HOME STATE for MILITARY
https://news3lv.com/news/local/military-spouse-accused-in-gop-claim-of-voter-fraud-speaks-out
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-voter-fraud-claims-military-election-veterans-day-criminal-b1721284.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-election-irregularities-claims/2020/11/08/8f704e6c-2141-11eb-ba21-f2f001f0554b_story.html
https://www.reviewjournal.com/investigations/voter-fraud-unproven-in-nevada-despite-multiple-trump-campaign-claims-2181421/
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/524749-nevada-republican-party-sends-criminal-referral-to-doj-alleging-thousands
NATIONAL GUARD BENEFIT
https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewsolender/2020/05/19/trumps-plan-would-end-national-guard-deployments-one-day-before-benefits-kick-in/?sh=3caead4c518b
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/20/trump-administration-extending-national-guard-deployments-272156
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2020/05/20/early-end-date-for-guard-coronavirus-deployment-draws-criticism-from-veterans-in-congress/
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/05/national-guard-deployments-to-fight-coronavirus-will-end-day-before-benefits-kick-in.html
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/05/28/trump-says-hell-extend-guard-title-32-orders-securing-their-federal-benefits.html
FEMA SEIZED 5 MILLION FACE MASKS ORDERED FOR VA
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8259203/FEMA-seized-5MILLION-face-masks-ordered-veterans-VA-official-says.html
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-admin-seizing-ppe/
CAPTAIN FIRED FOR TRYING TO GET HELP FOR CREW
https://www.npr.org/2020/06/19/881039090/in-a-reversal-by-navy-sacked-captain-of-uss-roosevelt-will-not-be-reinstated
https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2020/06/19/navy-upholds-firing-of-uss-roosevelt-captain-after-coronavirus-breakout-onboard/?sh=76cf29c42dc6
https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2020/06/19/capt-crozier-wont-be-reinstated-as-the-commander-of-the-carrier-theodore-roosevelt/
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/04/trump-says-navy-captain-letter-asking-for-help-on-coronavirus-stricken-ship-was-terrible.html
https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-says-capt-brett-crozier-letter-looked-terrible-2020-4
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/04/06/president-trump-says-he-might-intervene-fired-navy-captains-case.html
WHY BRAIN INJURIES ARE SERIOUS
https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/22/politics/trump-us-service-members-traumatic-brain-injuries/index.html
https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2020/02/21/trump-calls-brain-injuries-headaches-insulting-dead/4827722002/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/todaysdebate/2020/02/06/trump-traumatic-brain-injuries-more-than-just-headaches-editorials-debates/4647272002/
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/01/30/secdef-says-he-personally-briefed-trump-on-the-seriousness-of-tbi/
SEC OF DEFENSE FIRED BY THE WAY https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/01/30/secdef-says-he-personally-briefed-trump-on-the-seriousness-of-tbi/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/09/mark-esper-fired-defence-pentagon-donald-trump
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-54880774
HOW THE WORLD SEES US
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/US-elections-2020/US-election-How-the-Trump-Biden-battle-unfolded
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/oct/28/us-election-global-reaction-polarized
TRUMP CALLED GENERALS DOPES AND BABIES
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2020/01/17/trump-blasted-top-military-generals-as-a-bunch-of-dopes-and-babies-according-to-new-book/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7899429/Donald-Trump-insulted-militarys-senior-officers-losers-new-book-claims.html
https://www.amazon.com/Very-Stable-Genius-Testing-America/dp/1984877496
GENERALS ARE DOPES BUT SOLDIERS WHO COMMIT WAR CRIMES ARE GOOD
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2019/11/16/trump-grants-clemency-to-troops-in-three-controversial-war-crimes-cases/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/27/eddie-gallagher-trump-navy-seal-iraq
https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-issues-multiple-pardons-in-war-crime-cases-overruling-military
AND THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTE LOTS TO REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGNS OR MURDERS OR WHITE COLAR CRIMES
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_granted_executive_clemency_by_Donald_Trump
Since taking office as the 45th president of the United States on January 20, 2017, Donald Trump has granted executive clemency to 28 individuals charged or convicted of federal criminal offenses, as authorized under Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution.[1] Ordinarily, all requests for executive clemency for federal offenses are directed to the Office of the Pardon Attorney (OPA) in the U.S. Department of Justice for review; however, Trump has frequently bypassed the OPA, and the majority of his executive clemency grants have been to well-connected convicted persons who did not file a petition with the OPA or meet the OPA's requirements.[2]
MOCKING ALEXANDER VINDMAN
https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-gop-slam-vindman-wearing-army-uniform-impeachment-hearing-2019-11
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/471113-trump-on-vindman-i-understand-now-he-wears-his-uniform-when-he-goes
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/10/alexander-vindman-wife-rachel-says-trump-threatened-family.html
AGENT ORANGE
https://www.militarytimes.com/pay-benefits/2019/10/23/white-house-responsible-for-delayed-decision-on-new-agent-orange-diseases-documents-show/
https://www.democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/speeches/schumer-calls-on-acting-chief-of-staff-mick-mulvaney-to-reverse-his-decision-denying-comprehensive-health-care-to-veterans-suffering-from-illnesses-due-to-agent-orange-exposure
https://www.wsls.com/news/2020/03/04/more-vietnam-vets-eligible-for-agent-orange-benefits-even-if-denied-in-past/
DEPORTING VETS
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-42330781
https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/deployed-then-deported-how-us-vets-who-served-their-country-get-kicked-out-11390471
https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2020/08/23/immigrant-marine-corps-veteran-works-to-return-deported-former-service-members/
RUSSIA IN US AIR BASE
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-security-russia/russia-lands-forces-at-former-u-s-air-base-in-northern-syria-idUSKBN1XP0XN
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7689121/Russia-lands-forces-former-U-S-air-base-northern-Syria.html
US TROOPS BOMBED BY TURKISH FORCES
https://www.newsweek.com/us-troops-syria-turkey-1464727
https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/11/04/the-realists-are-wrong-about-syria/
https://ahvalnews.com/us-turkey/trump-says-nothing-happened-after-us-troops-left-syria
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/465952-five-unintended-consequences-of-trumps-syria-withdrawal
TRUMP DEFENDS SAUDI OIL
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hijackers_in_the_September_11_attacks
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50021138
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/mideast/trump-admin-sending-thousands-more-troops-saudi-arabia-n1065051
MILITARY ODD STOP TO TRUMP’S SCOTTISH RESORT
https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2019/09/07/c-17-crew-stops-at-trumps-scottish-golf-resort-en-route-to-kuwait/
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/06/air-force-trump-scottish-retreat-1484337
https://qz.com/1705571/us-military-spent-17-million-at-scottish-airport-near-trump-resort/
PENTAGON PULLS MILITARY FUNDS FOR TRUMP’S BORDER WALL
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-pentagon/pentagon-pulls-funds-for-military-schools-daycare-to-pay-for-trumps-border-wall-idUSKCN1VP2VY
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2019/10/18/trumps-use-of-military-money-for-border-wall-survives-senate-test/
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/28/pentagon-money-border-wall-216156
CRONIES GIVEN VA INFLUENCE POSITIONS
https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/25/politics/trump-mar-a-lago-crowd-va-emails/index.html
https://www.disabledveterans.org/2018/08/09/is-va-really-run-by-mar-a-lago-trump-cronies/
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/08/va-decisions-influenced-by-three-civilians-at-mar-a-lago.html
CEMETARIES WERE IN PATH OF WALL
https://www.newsbreak.com/texas/san-juan/news/2047004703515/br-border-wall-cemeteries-082420
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/16/tribe-fights-to-save-ancestral-graves-in-the-path-of-trumps-border-wall
https://www.baltimoresun.com/la-na-texas-border-cemeteries-20190219-story.html
https://www.texasobserver.org/trumps-wall-may-have-to-avoid-multiple-historic-cemeteries/
MILITARY CHILDREN NOT CITIZENS BY BIRTH IF OUTSIDE US
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/08/28/children-us-troops-born-overseas-will-no-longer-get-automatic-american-citizenship.html
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/overseas-us-troops-kids-citizens/
MILITARY RETIREMENT FUNDS
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2019/08/02/unspent-military-retirement-funds-will-be-tapped-to-help-build-border-wall/
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/military-retirement-trump-wall/
TRUMP ORDERS NAVY TO RECIND MEDALS
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/07/31/trump-orders-navy-rescind-medals-given-seal-eddie-gallaghers-prosecutors.html
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/trump-orders-navy-to-rescind-medals-given-to-prosecutors-who-failed-to-convict-seal-eddie-gallagher
TRUMP POLICIES BLOCKED MARINE VET RETURN TO US
https://thehill.com/homenews/news/453225-marine-corps-veteran-denied-entry-to-us-for-citizenship-interview
https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/marine-corps-times/2019/07/17/deported-marine-corps-veteran-trying-to-reunite-with-family-denied-us-entry-for-citizenship-interview/
BLUE ANGELS
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2019/06/28/navys-blue-angels-set-to-participate-in-flight-demonstration-for-trumps-fourth-of-july-celebration/
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/07/trump-july-fourth-rally-hatch-act-violation.html
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-delivers-remarks-military-style-salute-america-event-n1026656
2019 4TH OF JULY EVENT COST TO TAXPAYERS
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/watchdog-says-trumps-2019-fourth-of-july-gala-cost-taxpayers-13-million-2020-06-26
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/06/25/trumps-july-fourth-event-2019-cost-double-previous-years-report/3260004001/
ANTI-CLIMB PAINT = WHITE PAINT
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2019/06/06/some-troops-to-spend-the-next-month-painting-border-fence-with-mexico/
https://time.com/5603209/donald-trump-military-border-wall-paint/
D-DAY POLITICIZED
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/06/world/europe/pelosi-mueller-trump.html
https://qz.com/1637160/trump-slams-veteran-mueller-in-d-day-interview-at-normandy-cemetery/
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-trashes-bette-midler-wwii-dday-memorial-event-844515/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/06/05/d-day-75th-anniversary-donald-trump-normandy-speech/1301411001/
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-bette-midler_n_5cf74f8be4b0dc70f44ecca1
USS JOHN MCCAIN
https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2019/05/30/white-house-tells-navy-to-keep-destroyer-mccain-out-of-sight-during-trump-visit-to-japan-report-says/
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48456742
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/uss-mccain-trump/
