Senator Hassan: “President Trump has yet again expressed his disdain and lack of understanding of why people sacrifice for our freedom and democracy.”
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan took to the Senate floor yesterday in response to President Trump reportedly calling service members “losers” and “suckers.”
The Senator also called for the passage of a resolution led by Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), an Iraq War veteran and Purple Heart recipient, that recognizes the unmeasurable debt that the country owes to its service members and denounces the President’s reported comments.
To watch the Senator’s speech, click here.
“In New Hampshire, we’re proud to be home to a high percentage of service members, veterans, and their families,” Senator Hassan said. “And in my experience, people in my state – and all across the country – revere the bravery and sacrifices of those who serve and those who have served. We may disagree about policy matters – including those that impact when and where service members are deployed – but the respect that we have for service members, veterans, and their families must be undisputed.”
Senator Hassan continued, “Unfortunately, President Trump has yet again expressed his disdain and lack of understanding of why people sacrifice for our freedom and democracy. This is a failure of leadership. And it is a failure of basic citizenship that is out of step with most Americans.”
Senator Hassan went on to discuss her visit to burial grounds in France and Belgium with a bipartisan group of Senators last year to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge. The Senator called the experience an honor of a lifetime, and contrasted that with the President’s response to the sacrifices that these heroes made: “When speaking of service members who were killed or captured, the President referred to these heroes as ‘suckers and losers.’ For such words to come from the President of the United States is an affront to all that we stand for. And it is beneath the office that he holds.”
Senator Hassan concluded, “My colleagues on both sides of the aisle have seen the hurtful comments President Trump has made about members of our military. Every single one of us should condemn them.”
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