Fri Oct 25 20:30:00 UTC 2024: The article delves into Donald Trump’s controversial attitudes towards the military, particularly in light of his interactions surrounding the death of Army Private Vanessa Guillén. Here are the key points:

1. **Vanessa Guillén’s Murder:** Guillén was murdered by a fellow soldier at Fort Hood in 2020, which led to a massive search for her remains and sparked widespread public outrage.

2. **Trump’s Response:** At a White House meeting post-Guillén’s death, Trump expressed sympathy and offered to help pay for her funeral. However, he later became angry upon learning the funeral cost $60,000, allegedly making derogatory comments about the family.

3. **Military Leadership Failures:** An investigation revealed multiple leadership failures at Fort Hood, prompting a shake-up of military leadership. Trump reportedly questioned the severity of the punishments given to senior officers involved.

4. **Contempt for Military Values:** The article discusses Trump’s disdain for military culture, his desire for militaristic loyalty akin to dictatorship, and his admiration for historical dictators like Hitler. Former military officials pointed out Trump’s lack of understanding of military virtues like honor and sacrifice.

5. **Comments on Veterans:** Trump’s derogatory remarks about veterans and military personnel, including his infamous “suckers and losers” comment regarding fallen soldiers, have been corroborated by former aides and were a common theme during his presidency.

6. **Disdain for Wounded Soldiers:** Reports indicate that Trump expressed discomfort around wounded veterans, stating he didn’t want them in public displays as it would not reflect well on him.

7. **Interference in Military Justice:** Trump intervened in military justice cases, showing leniency towards service members involved in misconduct, undermining military discipline and ethics.

8. **Desire for Autocratic Power:** As his presidency progressed, Trump’s desire for autocratic control over the military grew. He expressed wishes for military leaders to exhibit unwavering loyalty to him rather than to their constitutional oaths.

9. **Criticism from Military Leaders:** Many military leaders, including retired General Mark Milley and former Chief of Staff John Kelly, voiced concerns about Trump’s authoritarian tendencies and ignorance of military traditions.

The article portrays a troubling picture of Trump’s relationship with the military and veterans, suggesting a growing trend of disrespect and misunderstanding of military service, potentially endangering democratic norms.

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