Rep. Cisneros and Congressional Veterans Condemn President's Attack on Servicemembers

Statement

Today, Representatives Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (CA-39), Ted Lieu (CA-33), Mark Takano (CA-41), Jason Crow (CO-06), Elaine Luria (VA-02), and Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) held a press call today to condemn President Trump's comments that Americans who died in war are "losers' and "suckers, as reported yesterday by the Atlantic. The Members said the President should apologize to veterans, service members and military families.

"When I read the Atlantic article, I was in shock. I thought this couldn't be true from our Commander-In-Chief. But then you remember the hurtful comments he's made about the late-Senator John McCain and Gold Star Families," said Rep. Cisneros. "The President denigrates all our veterans and active duty servicemembers, but also on a personal note, my family. They've served from World War II to Vietnam to Iraq. They inspired me to serve, and I'm proud to be a Navy veteran. Ultimately, the President doesn't understand sacrifice --sacrifice for something more than one's self, serving for the benefit of the country."

"Referring to our nation's fallen heroes as 'losers' and 'suckers' is a new low for Trump and for the American presidency. What may be even worse is the staggering silence from Senate and House Republicans, who have yet to repudiate the President's words. Trump's contempt for our heroes in uniform is well-known. What our service members need now more than ever is for military and political leaders to stand up for them. As veterans and Members of Congress, we are committed to upholding the honor and dignity of our troops, our veterans, and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The families of heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice in protecting our nation and our democracy deserve better than to have their loved ones be dismissed as 'losers' by Trump. Imagine how demoralizing it would be to be a deployed service member reading what the President has said. The President needs to apologize," said Rep. Lieu.

"It is clear to me that Donald Trump has little appreciation for the bravery of veterans, he has contempt for Gold Star immigrant families who have lost their children in battle, and he has complete disregard for the minorities who have shown their love for America, even as America has cruelly turned her back on them. Our veterans fought for a better America -- a more perfect America -- and Donald Trump dishonors them through his words, his actions, and his politics. To me, this is the greatest desecration of the sacrifices of all veterans. Mr. President, veterans are not "losers." They are not "suckers." They are patriots, and I am eternally grateful for their service," said Chair Takano.

"Trump's long history of disparaging our troops and veterans is abhorrent. He simply doesn't understand or respect service. He views the world only as a series of transactions for his own benefit. I took oaths under both Democrat and Republican presidents. Each time I was willing to give my life to keep that oath because I believed those presidents would try to do the right thing for the country. But we can't say that about Trump, and that's why he puts both our troops and national security at great risk. I can't explain why I came home and some of my friends didn't. But what I do know is that they were great Americans, and we owe them a debt we can never repay. Abraham Lincoln solemnly honored America's war dead as those "who gave the last full measure of devotion." Lincoln knew that when you serve, you do so selflessly. You don't do it for the paycheck, the medal, or the uniform. You do it because you believe in America. That's something Trump will never understand. He doesn't believe in anything more than Trump. And while the service of our fallen will remain the last full measure of their devotion, the comments of this president are the last full measure of his disgrace. It's time for all Americans of conscience to repudiate this man," said Rep. Crow.

"I condemn the President's disparaging and inappropriate comments toward the 1,800 American Marines who courageously paid the ultimate sacrifice during the Battle of Belleau Wood in World War I," said Rep. Luria. "As a 20-year Navy veteran, I have seen the enormous sacrifices that our servicemembers make every day to preserve the freedoms that we enjoy at home. We must honor these brave men and women and show them the reverence that they have earned. The President's comments are disrespectful to our servicemembers of today and years past."

"I served and took the oath to the Constitution not because I was a loser or because I was a sucker. I took that oath because I believe in something bigger than myself," said Rep. Sherrill. "Because I care deeply for this country and for my countrymen and women. The president does not share the values of the men and women in uniform or their families."