Virtually everyone in America can agree that the service and sacrifice of U.S. troops are commendable. All veterans who put their lives on the line in service to this country are worthy of respect, gratitude, and appreciation.
Unfortunately, many veterans have experienced a hard time reintegrating back into society after returning from war. This is something President Trump has worked to remedy via the Department of Veterans Affairs and in other ways.
“Pete Buttigieg” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Gage Skidmore
As Trump sought office during the 2016 election, much of his campaign focused on respect for veterans and even raising funds for organizations that make it their mission to aid servicemembers. Despite the past and present work which the president has put in to assist veterans, 2020 Democrat and Afghanistan veteran Pete Buttigieg has a different outlook.
As a matter of fact, during a Face The Nation interview, Buttigieg accused President Trump of disrespecting and “belittling” veterans, reports Breitbart News.
Why Does Buttigieg Claim Trump Belittles Veterans?
During his time on-air, the 2020 Democrat made the case that Trump’s language regarding critical brain injuries sustained by soldiers following a missile attack shows disrespect to veterans. Buttigieg stated that his “blood boiled” after hearing Trump refer to the aforementioned brain injuries as “headaches.”
In additional remarks, the Afghanistan veteran also stated that servicemembers who experience brain injuries from missile attacks can be “completely [debilitated]” for the rest of their lives. Shortly thereafter, Buttigieg slammed Trump for supposedly not showing “a basic level of concern.”
While the former South Bend mayor’s service to his country as an Afghanistan veteran is admirable, the assertions of Trump having no regard or respect for soldiers is simply not accurate.
Since his time in office, President Trump has gone to bat for servicemembers on numerous occasions; some of the president’s work for veterans includes, but is not limited to, providing relief to disabled servicemembers, improving VA outpatient healthcare, and boosting VA mental health services.
A Strawman Argument
While Buttigieg may have disagreed with the president citing traumatic brain injuries as “headaches,” asserting that Trump has no respect for veterans is a shameful strawman argument for reasons already stated.
Following the president’s statements, Army veteran and GOP Sen. Tom Cotton provided some clarification. Cotton maintains that Trump wasn’t dismissing the gravity of servicemembers’ injuries; moreover, the military veteran explained that the extent of certain injuries caused by missile attacks can vary.
Like Buttigieg, Cotton’s service to his country as a veteran is commendable. Still, the 2020 Democrat is wrong to claim that Trump is belittling of veterans.
What do you think of President Trump’s statements about the injuries sustained by servicemembers? Do you agree with Pete Buttigieg or Tom Cotton, both of whom are veterans? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!
