Donald Trump has been slammed on social media after claiming that U.S. service members killed in the Iran war had told him, “We can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” with critics accusing him of putting words into the mouths of fallen soldiers. Many branded the president “insane” and a “sociopath,” while others questioned how the deceased troops could have made those comments.
The president, 80, made the remarks while on his way to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Wednesday, July 22nd, to attend the dignified transfer of four fallen U.S. service members. The ceremony marked the third dignified transfer Trump has attended since the start of the conflict.
His comments also came after he shared a post on social media comparing the number of American deaths in the Iran war with the number of U.S. service members killed in previous American conflicts, in what critics said appeared to downplay the fatalities in the current war.
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Donald Trump's Comments About Fallen Soldiers
"We're going to Dover, some of you are going with us, to honor our heroes. And they are indeed great heroes, actually," Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One for Delaware. He went on to say that the transfer ceremony is "one of the hardest things to do as a president, but it has to be done."
Trump then made the comments that sparked backlash online, claiming that the fallen service members had echoed his position on Iran's nuclear program. "All of them said very strongly, 'We can't let... we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon,'" Trump claimed.
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When asked what he would say to the families of the fallen soldiers, Trump replied: "All I'm going to say is, we love you. We love your child, and that's what they are to them. They're their children. There's no games, no nothing. That's their child. And all you can do is throw out your heart."
A lot of the backlash online focused on Trump's claim that the fallen service members had expressed support for his stance on Iran, with many users accusing him of "lying."
Social Media Reacts To Donald Trump's Comments
"So he spoke to them personally & individually?" one X user asked. "As usual, he's lying! He never met any of the fallen soldiers!" exclaimed a second, while a third questioned: "Why doesn't a reporter ask: Do you have proof any of the deceased soldiers said that? Why do they just let him lie?"
"He disgraces their sacrifice with this blatant lie," slammed a fourth. "Nothing like putting false words into dead soldiers' mouths. He is without shame or conscience," criticized a fifth, while a sixth chimed in: "None of them said that. What a horrible excuse for a human being."
"Oh, so he spoke to all these fallen US troops. That's nuts. He is trying to justify the unjustifiable. Screw Donald Dump. Everything about this sociopath," criticized a seventh. "Just when you think that Trump can't sink any lower, he does. You have to be a monster to lie about what dead soldiers wanted," added an eighth in agreement.
"He can speak to the ghosts of fallen soldiers now? What can this man not do? He is so awesome!" sarcastically wrote a ninth, while a tenth said: "This man is insane. Did he speak to them after they died?"
"How did he communicate with them?" asked an eleventh, while a twelfth declared: "This is disgusting: Trump shrugs off the newly killed service men and women in Iran. What a rotten piece of [expletive]."
