“Losers” and “Suckers”

When to believe a Trump scandal.

Photo by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash

A few days ago, Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic wrote an explosive story. “Trump: Americans Who Died in War Are ‘Losers’ and ‘Suckers.’”

The full article is worthy of a quick read. Here are the takeaways:

1. In Paris, Trump canceled an appearance at a military cemetery because he was worried how his hair would look in the rain, asking “Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers.” Trump also called the dead Marines at Belleau Wood “suckers.”
2. Trump asked his advisers “who the good guys were” in World War II, seemingly unaware that the United States joined the Allies.
3. When John McCain died, Trump told White House staff that they aren’t going to support “that loser’s funeral,” and threw a tirade when he saw that the flags were lowered to half-staff.
4. He called George H.W. Bush a “loser” because his plane was shot down by Japanese fire in World War II.
5. Trump was alongside (former Chief of Staff) John Kelly when the two visited Robert Kelly’s grave, John’s son who died in Afghanistan. Trump turned to John Kelly and asked, “I don’t get it, what was in it for them?”

Republicans defend Trump’s unpleasantries in one of two ways. Either the alleged comments were never…