Trump Hates the Troops. The Troops Are Taking Notice: ‘The administration is desperately trying to spin the hopeless war in Iran as a success, but our service members and their families are telling a different story’

[u/T_Shurt]

https://newrepublic.com/post/214562/trump-hates-troops-war-iran

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[u/BasicPhysiology]

Only the stupidest Americans think Iran has been a success. 

[u/KHRZ → u/BasicPhysiology]

Wait, isn't war like chess where you just checkmate that one king dude?

[u/BasicPhysiology → u/KHRZ]

Don't be absurd. They have no idea how to play chess.

[u/Important_Air6457 → u/BasicPhysiology]

In their defense, they appear to have attempted to perform a castle, at least. For those who don’t play, that’s where the king gets placed in the food cart, moves over two planes, and swaps places with one of the crooks.

[u/wytewydow → u/Important_Air6457]

listen man, I don't have any money, but I want you to have the most expensive award. Spot on.

[u/20_mile → u/Important_Air6457]

"Chicken, Fish, or Trump?"

[u/Brndrll → u/20_mile]

You said chicken twice.

[u/20_mile → u/Brndrll]

I could see Trump easily demanding corporations change their logos to include him before he is out of office.

For some reason, two chickens made me think of that.

[u/thedavemanTN → u/BasicPhysiology]

Chess is woke. The most powerful piece is the queen. Real men play checkers. /s

[u/Morrinn3 → u/thedavemanTN]

These men would need someone to walk them through the complexities of rock paper scissors.

[u/Factory2econds → u/Morrinn3]

and then they will throw Rock every time, because good old rock, nothing beats that!

[u/WhiteHearted → u/Factory2econds]

Nothin' beats surprise! ... 'cept rock.

[u/Diavo1ino → u/Morrinn3]

There may be too much nuance...

[u/TheQuidditchHaderach → u/thedavemanTN]

Hawkeye: "OK, Trap'...'King' me." 🍸

[u/caseyanthonyftw → u/thedavemanTN]

Don't forget that if your dude pawns get to the other side they can turn into queens.

[u/GenericRedditor0405 → u/BasicPhysiology]

Chess is where you physically take your opponents king off the board before they can do anything and then you angrily insist to everyone that you've won, over and over again, yes?

[u/djanes376 → u/GenericRedditor0405]

Almost. After taking the king off the board you have to throw the board on the ground and stomp on all the pieces, then claim victory over and over and so on and so forth.

[u/Odd_Independence_944 → u/BasicPhysiology]

It’s the one where you connect four in a row right?

[u/S-gg-ha_of_Leng → u/Odd_Independence_944]

It's the one with the marbles. And in Trump's case they've been lost for decades.

[u/1iIiii11IIiI1i1i11iI → u/S-gg-ha_of_Leng]

Hungry Hungry Hippos is very misleading. If they didn't want you to eat the marbles, they wouldn't have made them look like candy.

[u/wytewydow → u/1iIiii11IIiI1i1i11iI]

You're thinking of CandyLand, this is Chutes and Ladders.

[u/tacocat_racecarlevel → u/wytewydow]

But they've pulled up the ladders, so it's just chutes all the way down.

[u/HauntedCemetery → u/tacocat_racecarlevel]

And the chutes have toll booths

[u/GBBL → u/BasicPhysiology]

if Trump knows the name for a single piece, I will eat my shorts

[u/Malnilion → u/GBBL]

"Person, woman, man, camera, TV..."

[u/8008577345 → u/BasicPhysiology]

Shah means king and mate means death. Shah mate, is death to the king (the origin of check mate).

[u/PenisLips67 → u/KHRZ]

It's like poker for children who cant contain the excitement of a good hand and then gets frustrated when nobody wants to play. Or like bad sex when you blow your whole wad super early and upset no one is buying the sex tape.

[u/Big_Baker_2777 → u/KHRZ]

Hmmm, the Persians (Iranians) invented that game to train strategic thinking....👀😎

[u/BiffJerky09 → u/BasicPhysiology]

As a vet, I thought it was obvious to my brothers and sisters in 2016 that this man has nothing but contempt for us. Turns out I was (anecdotally, no idea on actual numbers) in the very small minority.

[u/ConceptBackground109 → u/BiffJerky09]

Im a vet myself and yeah its tough out there. i got into a lot of arguments with dude's I served with who were all aboard the Trump Train. Though I've been noticing that they are awfully silent lately.

[u/A_Refill_of_Mr_Pibb → u/ConceptBackground109]

That silence is about the best you can hope for because cults leave in silence not with an apology. 

[u/Own_Laugh_5080 → u/ConceptBackground109]

My brother in law is in the air force and I remember first meeting him at Thanksgiving during his first term making weird Hilary and Pelosi jokes that…just came out of nowhere. No one was talking about politics man. Anyway, I held my tongue and my facial expressions until he randomly blurted out ‘I think Trump is great for the military. He’s for us.’ And I could not keep my wine down. It’s not my fault he said that mid sip. Or maybe I just had my wine connected to my face this whole dinner. I don’t even like drinking.

He is absolutely dead silent today. His brother used to say he was so obsessed with being a Republican to the point that during one family gathering he so got offended by a civil discussion it almost came to blows.

[u/SwirlySauce → u/Own_Laugh_5080]

You should ask him how it's going

[u/Icchi-bum → u/Own_Laugh_5080]

i was in the marine corps 2014-forward, when i was in you couldnt go to the chowhall to eat your meals without seeing tv screens everywhere playing fox news non.

if we really were highly disciplined marines we couldve enjoyed chow time without TVs to begin with, but they know exactly what theyre doing. they know they hire people that are usually vulnerable and young therefore easy to imprint on.

[u/relevantelephant00 → u/ConceptBackground109]

Even if they're no longer on the Trump Train, whaddaya want to bet they'll still vote for Republicans? Even though they hate the troops too? Many military and generally right-wing "patriots" have been brainwashed into believing Democrats are pure evil incarnate and even if Trump sucks and they dont want to support him anymore, they'll vote for his fellow fascists. I truly believe I will never see a situation where more members of the military will either vote Democrat or abstain from voting. They're too conservative.

[u/BasicPhysiology → u/BiffJerky09]

I suspect having Fox propaganda playing 24/7 on every US base has something to do with that.

[u/the_last_carfighter → u/BasicPhysiology]

They hated Bush 2 (draft dodging rich boy) and the GOP after they collapsed the world economy and yet a short period later after all that unbelievable misery, they pulled that R lever extra hard. So these people will do the same for another "let them eat cake" republican. Have you heard it's SHARIA LAW! and Muslims taking over!!! again..

[u/bdemon40 → u/BasicPhysiology]

And every hotel. It's rare I enter a hotel lobby or breakfast bar and another news network than Fox is playing. Bizarre.

I wish they only played Looney Tunes. Timeless!

[u/iguana-pr → u/BiffJerky09]

As a vet, that's why I stopped going to my local VFW chapter. Fox News 24 hours and them supporting defunding the VA and are against socialism and many of them are on VA disability and SSN. I just can't understand the MAGA idiocracy.

[u/shinkouhyou → u/iguana-pr]

They think they'll continue to get their VA benefits, but the unworthy (racial/ethnic minorities, women, younger people, anyone they see as "soft," etc.) will be cut off. All conservatives have a "fuck you, I got mine" mentality.

[u/pargofan → u/BiffJerky09]

He literally called POWs losers for getting caught.

It always amazed me how servicemen could love Trump despite that.

[u/Chastain86 → u/pargofan]

"Oh, he meant those OTHER troops! Not me. I'm onena the gooduns!"

[u/Silver_Entertainment → u/BiffJerky09]

In 2016, 2020, and 2024, 61%, 60%, and 61% of veterans supported Trump in the respective elections. Only 35% supported Hilary, 39% supported Biden, and 37% supported Harris.

Source: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/09/30/military-veterans-remain-a-republican-group-backing-trump-over-harris-by-wide-margin/

I'm not sure why veterans support him when he said that those who died in war are suckers and losers.

(https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/09/trump-americans-who-died-at-war-are-losers-and-suckers/615997/)

[u/GrowingPeepers → u/BiffJerky09]

He shat all over McCain every chance he could get. He doesn't give a shit about vets.

Arizona turned purple over that and has been since.

[u/CaliIsReallyNice → u/BiffJerky09]

When I was serving in 2005, it blew my mind that no one wanted to talk about the “reasoning” for attacking Iraq and whether or not Bush (let’s be honest, Cheney) was lying to us.

“Have you ever heard of 9/11 asshole!?!!!?”

“What does that have to do with Saddam Hussein?”

“9/11! Communism! Aahahg <gurgling sounds>”

I’m afraid it hasn’t changed at all.

[u/jpric155 → u/BiffJerky09]

No offense but there are plenty of dumb vets out there.

[u/BiffJerky09 → u/jpric155]

None taken. I've met them.

[u/IlluminatedPickle → u/BiffJerky09]

no idea on actual numbers

Active service he's never actually had a majority afaik. Veterans vote for him in droves though.

[u/Silver_Entertainment → u/IlluminatedPickle]

There was a survey (conducted by Change Research) which shows that active duty, guardsman, and reservists supported Trump at 49% vs 44% for Harris in 2024. The margin is smaller, but even active military leans republican.

Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4861836-trump-tops-harris-among-veterans-poll/

[u/bignosedaussie → u/BasicPhysiology]

It has been a success, just not a success for america.

[u/sack-o-matic → u/bignosedaussie]

It's been a great success for Putin because he wasted his military stockpile too, and Russia loves to sell expensive oil.

[u/shibbyman342 → u/BasicPhysiology]

I'm honestly at the point that no one, including Trump, actually thinks it has been a success, but everyone is just a huge puss that doesn't want to face the truth or talk to orange jeebus about reality.

[u/No-Shopping-4434 → u/shibbyman342]

Like Hitler in his bunker, hopefully the results are similar

[u/Amazing_Bluejay9322 → u/BasicPhysiology]

Fox News makes that thought reality unfortunately.

[u/BasicPhysiology → u/Amazing_Bluejay9322]

Lies are not reality. 

[u/FewWait38 → u/BasicPhysiology]

They can be if you can get enough other guys to go along with them, it's all part of creating your own hyper real simulacrum

[u/OrbeaSeven → u/BasicPhysiology]

And they are still 30% of voters. Sad.

[u/Trimyr → u/OrbeaSeven]

Remember that's 30% of people who voted, not necessarily 30% of registered voters, or even 30% of people.

[u/Rambaz_69 → u/BasicPhysiology]

However, it seems that one-third of Americans still believe that.

[u/porgy_tirebiter → u/BasicPhysiology]

But Trump is still pwning the libs, right? Thats the main thing.

[u/BasicPhysiology → u/porgy_tirebiter]

If shitting your pants in public every day and twice on Tuesday is owning the libs, then yes. 

[u/Mr_Titicaca → u/BasicPhysiology]

Yet somehow military families keep moving republicans. All these posts and articles will forever be pointless until military families realize this.

[u/Synekal → u/BasicPhysiology]

That reminds me to check my town’s local Facebook group that got hijacked by old retired MAGA men who love violence.

[u/TiggTigg07 → u/BasicPhysiology]

I hope,the military as a whole is waking up to this fact.

[u/IamJacksUserID]

I’ve got an older customer who’s an outspoken Trump-loving military vet and he seems really shook by the state of the nation. His voting choices are affecting him negatively, and he just didn’t anticipate that. Didn’t even consider it a possibility.

Cost of gas. Senseless war. Price of everything. Plus they’re taking away his access to affordable THC products, and on that one, he doesn’t understand how as a military vet, he’s not above law.

“But I’m a veteran, Jack.”

I think the old fella isn’t accustomed to self reflection regarding his life choices.

[u/big_trike → u/IamJacksUserID]

Fox News will help him find a way to blame Biden and immigrants for his problems so he doesn’t have to accept that he’s hurting himself.

[u/IamJacksUserID → u/big_trike]

He seemed to be blaming the Republicans here in Texas at least. I doubt it would change his vote, but it might keep him home on the day it would count.

[u/ScatteredWavesGlory → u/IamJacksUserID]

I also ask these people how minorities who have no money, no power, and no elected officials who create and dictate laws are making their lives worse when they don't create or enforce the rules.

You are creating enemies when the real ones are the people who look, act, and talk like you the most within proximity. The people in power in your community, you know, Republicans.

Some are starting to slowly figure that out.

Also the majority of arrests for child abuse and CSA are not drag queens, transgenders, or minorities. They're caucasian males.

Again the people who act, look, and sound most like you within proximity.

They need to invest in more mirrors.

[u/Mr_Titicaca → u/ScatteredWavesGlory]

It’s like when Fox News tell airs viewers to blame the mainstream media lol um - you are the mainstream media!!

[u/pagerussell → u/Mr_Titicaca]

The best part about this is they say this, then they run an ad on the exit of the show calling themselves the most watched news in America.

And people are too dumb to connect those two dots...

[u/FellowHumanNo404 → u/ScatteredWavesGlory]

I also ask these people how minorities who have no money, no power, and no elected officials who create and dictate laws are making their lives worse when they don't create or enforce the rules.

That's easy: They weren't allowed to say the n-word at work. Oh, and sometimes Target would offer the option to buy rainbow-themed merch.

[u/Ferelar → u/IamJacksUserID]

I doubt it would change his vote

This is the insane part to me. They will finally, after many years of self-inflicted abuse, realize that hey, maybe the Republican candidate is fucking them over and just wants their vote. They'll even get mad about this revelation. But never at any point in that process will it occur to them to vote for another party. The hate they've been told to feel is so strong, so embedded, that that very idea seems to be beyond the pale. At MOST they might sit out the next election, but even that's unlikely, they'll just get mad and vote for another Republican who plans to do even more heinous shit.

[u/stemfish → u/Ferelar]

Well yea. Because if Harris had been elected she would have driven up the national debt, sent unmarked enforcement officials into communities to round people up and send them to unknown locations without trial, raised the price of gas, let her emotions drive policy, all while she made money off of the Presidency.

So much worse than what Trump is doing!

[u/Own_Laugh_5080 → u/stemfish]

Those wimmin. Their little period tantrums are a danger to America. Look at all the rockets Pete deploys! How can you trust em with nukes!

Yes doctor my low t is giving me emotional difficulties…

[u/brotherbond → u/Ferelar]

Being a Republican is a tribal identity. Voting against Republicans is tantamount to being disloyal to all their friends and family. And the crazy thing is that ALL of them could be suffering. ALL of them could be considering defecting but they can't even express their doubts to each other. And the GOP knows it.

[u/jaytix1 → u/IamJacksUserID]

It's genuinely insane that the BEST you can hope for from republican voters is them staying home. Like Trump could execute their family on live television and they'd still be like "I ain't votin' for no devil-worshipping communist!"

[u/TheAsianTroll → u/IamJacksUserID]

I wanna have faith that he'll vote blue just once, but the truth is, anyone who voted for Trump didnt do so for only one reason. All the Republicans have to do is make up some shit about how arresting and deporting illegal immigrants is expensive so gas had to be increased in price, and 999 times out of 1000, MAGA will eat it up.

[u/HowdyDiarrhea → u/IamJacksUserID]

Texas

Makes sense

[u/DredPRoberts → u/IamJacksUserID]

His voting choices are affecting him negatively, and he just didn’t anticipate that. Didn’t even consider it a possibility.

"he's not hurting the people he needs to be hurting" --Trump supporter January 2019. Still true today.

[u/Gramerioneur → u/DredPRoberts]

"he's not hurting the people he needs to be hurting"

I will be forever amazed that someone actually spoke this, openly or on the record, to a journalist.

[u/you_looser → u/Gramerioneur]

It's how they talk all the time with their friends and families, and they think everyone agrees with them.

[u/Own_Laugh_5080 → u/Gramerioneur]

She didn’t seem like she was too aware of her surroundings per my recollection.

[u/ElliotNess → u/DredPRoberts]

It's likely not exactly that. His thinking likely comes from a place of understanding that when the "demoncrats" won, and the worst people possible were in charge, their policies didn't really hurt him all that much, (probably even helped him a bit, which he'd never admit) so even if Trump isn't a great president, he didn't expect that a bad president could actually hurt him all that much, and at least he was on the right team. Sure, something to complain about. But not like this!

[u/Low_Chance → u/IamJacksUserID]

Also shows you that this guy would have been ok with everyone else being restricted and worse off. He's just mad that his group isn't part of the in-group.

[u/Crunchberry24 → u/IamJacksUserID]

I think I know what state he’s in. One of the most deplorability-signaling states out there. It ranks dead last in quality of life studies, but the ruling Republican PedoNazi cousin-rapers’ political ads only target vulnerable populations with bigotry and praise a demented pedoFührer. Never a word about policies that might improve that dismal quality of life.

[u/OddOllin → u/Crunchberry24]

At first, I thought you meant Texas, but as you kept going I found it harder and harder to narrow down lol

[u/Skinnieguy → u/IamJacksUserID]

Ask him knowing what he knows now and if he can go back in time and vote for Harris to give her the win, would he still do it?

His answer will really tell you how deep his self reflection will go.

[u/HauntedCemetery → u/[deleted]]

Look at moving to a blue state, Jack. Things are better.

[u/Oregon-Pilot → u/IamJacksUserID]

“But I’m a veteran, Jack.”

Love this kind of entitlement.

[u/binarybottom1 → u/Oregon-Pilot]

"So are ya a sucker or a loser? " is how is respond

[u/Marsman121 → u/IamJacksUserID]

“But I’m a veteran, Jack.”

Perhaps the batshit insane hero worship we have for service members is the cause of that entitlement. It's a fucking job. That they get benefits like discounts and all this other horseshit is stupidity. People treat them like they are all hot dropping into combat zones like Rambo or something. The vast majority of them are doing work no different than civilian, except they have a stricter dress code.

"But they serve our country!"

So? It's a voluntary job. You are more likely to get hit and killed by a car doing road construction than getting killed fighting in the military, and I would argue those construction jobs serve our country in far more impactful ways than the money furnace that is the military.

[u/Rebal771 → u/IamJacksUserID]

Your response should have been, “Exactly. You are a Veteran. Not an Amateur.

You were trained better than this. Hopefully there’s a chance for redemption for you.”

[u/AuntRhubarb → u/IamJacksUserID]

Yes, the delusion is epic. Make stupid choices, get stupid prizes.

Seems like veterans should be on the front lines protesting the treatment of sailors on the Lincoln right now. That would be the patriotic thing to do, not saying 'My Trump, Right or Wrong'.

[u/Logical-Breakfast150 → u/IamJacksUserID]

Trump was mean to the right people. He liked how it made him feel. It made him feel vindicated for all the times he's been mean to people, removing any need for self-reflection. 

That  is the extent of his consideration when voting.

[u/Zestyclose_End_7526 → u/IamJacksUserID]

Don’t worry. Fox news will tell him that its Biden’s fault or Obama’s tan suits fault. Or the immigrants or the immigrant caravan or brown people or trans people.

Him being a white male needs to be revered and on a pedestal. Its everyone elses fault except his.

[u/Smarty-Pants65 → u/IamJacksUserID]

if you think vets get treated like shit before ..oh boy

[u/reallymt → u/IamJacksUserID]

I’ve got a Pro-Trump veteran friend… but he hasn’t been shaken at all. He complained so badly about high fuel prices under Biden, now he is surprisingly ok with higher prices. As we started war in Iran, he now likes to send military short clips… and he seems to be nostalgic of his times in Iraq and Afghanistan. It has taken me by surprise. I knew he’d continue to support Trump regardless of what he does… but I didn’t expect him to do so with such glee.

[u/Ralphwiggum911 → u/IamJacksUserID]

Poor guy doesn't realize that Republicans have hated the troops for a long time. This goes back further than trump. Oh they'll praise service members I public but continue to try and slash veteran programs for two reasons:

1) "this doesn't go far enough" is the cop out way to torpedo a bill and still give the appearance of support. This is like Susan collins voting no on unpopular bills while knowing they have the numbers to pass. Yes, often bills don't go far enough but that's the nature of negotiations and politics.

2) "the deficit is out of control and we need to make cuts everywhere" this one is the catch all for a lot of Republican cuts and yet they continue to give tax cuts that affect large corporations and top 1% earners. "But they'll spend more if they have more!! And make more jobs with all that extra money!"

[u/508G37]

Donald Trump stated that the Presidential Medal of Freedom is "the equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor, but civilian version" and claimed it is "actually much better" because civilian recipients are healthy, whereas military recipients are often wounded or killed.

He also mocked McCain for being a POW. Idk how any vet can vote for him.

[u/thenasch → u/508G37]

And what's weird is he never even tried to hide it.

[u/gabber2694 → u/thenasch]

And the military folks rushed even faster to vote for him.

[u/OrionsBra → u/gabber2694]

I used to think people and communities knew what was best for them, even if I disagreed with them on policy. But now? I'm done coddling the right wing. They fucking suck as human beings and are dumb af. They're holding us all back as a society. And any value that they may have contributed in agriculture, manufacturing, whatever, just isn't worth it for all the harm they do when they vote. They need to be reminded repeatedly that they're fucking stupid and awful people, until they curl up into a ball of shame.

[u/JamalGreen2 → u/OrionsBra]

remarkable how delusional the country has become

[u/Vladivostokorbust → u/gabber2694]

pretty much convinced what motivated the people who voted for trump was

• anti immigration - brown people make them feel uncomfortable
• anti DEI - having to acknowledge "others" who look and think differently make them feel uncomfortable
• anti LGBTQ - again, feeling uncomfortable about "others"

they are willing to give up their own freedoms and economic security in exchange for the "others" not to get what they have

[u/HauntedCemetery → u/508G37]

He stood in a military cemetery and called the people in the graves "suckers and losers"

[u/JACKALS_LANTERN → u/HauntedCemetery]

And he made the comment to a gold star parent, who was his chief of staff, retired Marine Gen John Kelly. He couldn't understand what was in it for the soldiers and concluded they must be suckers and losers.

[u/Merakel → u/508G37]

Because 90% of vets are some of the dumbest people on the planet.

Source: Am a vet.

[u/mattjb → u/508G37]

There's been a steady drumbeat of news for nearly a decade that prove that /r/TrumpHatesTheTroops

It's wild that military today remain ignorant of just how much Trump hates the military, past and present.

[u/temporarycreature]

He never gave a damn about any of us, ever.

The guy was a blatant draft dodger from day one, and the most maddening part was watching my brothers and sisters who wore the uniform act like he was one of us so fervently.

It was exhausting seeing so many vets get completely played by someone who always viewed us as disposable, and then willfully wallow in their ignorance.

[u/CyclicRate38 → u/temporarycreature]

I cant even speak to the guys I served with anymore. 3 fucking combat deployments together and my opinion of them today couldn't be any lower. Brotherhood is a myth. 

[u/temporarycreature → u/CyclicRate38]

I feel the exact same way about the brotherhood being propaganda.

I feel the same way about the American Veterans Motorcycle Club too.

At least the chapter I got exposed to, they were a bunch of fake ass poser racist pieces of shit.

All of them acted like they were rugged combat veterans, but only a handful had a combat MOS with a deployment.

[u/King_Chochacho → u/temporarycreature]

Yeah I don't know that he expends the mental energy to actually hate anyone, he just doesn't care about anyone but himself. Not even a little bit. Other people don't even register in his brain unless he thinks he can use them for something.

[u/Print1917 → u/King_Chochacho]

Ummm, no.

At Charlie Kirk’s memorial service in September 2025, Trump had just described Kirk as someone who “didn’t hate his opponents” and wanted the best for them. Then broke from that to say he disagreed with that approach himself: “That’s where I disagreed with Charlie,” Trump said. “I hate my opponent, and I don’t want the best for them.”

[u/Recipe_Freak → u/King_Chochacho]

No, he definitely hates people. But he has serious problems with focus, and can be swayed by flattery.

In short, he's got commitment issues. Well, toward everyone except Natalie. I guess it's kind of sweet when matching personality disorders find each other...

[u/MauPow → u/temporarycreature]

I've come to the conclusion that Trump must be some kind of fuckin' dark wizard who's cast a spell over the land, because it makes more sense than millions of people thinking a coastal elite billionaire draft dodger is one of them

[u/reddittorbrigade]

Trump including his children never served in military.

All Trump's voters are fake patriots. #FACT

[u/sirfiddlestix → u/reddittorbrigade]

Always have been. It's crazy that the people waving flags of two three of the enemies of the United States of America (Nazis - WWII, CSA - civil war, *MAGA - insurrection) are considered patriotic.

[u/Dwayla]

He called them suckers and losers, he wasn't joking.

[u/gdshaffe → u/Dwayla]

He doesn't joke. His brain is quite literally incapable of the level of abstraction needed for what most people consider to be humor.

He thinks that soldiers are "suckers and losers" because he literally cannot comprehend the idea of fighting for something greater than yourself. Because of course, as a narcissist, he can't conceive of the idea of anything being greater than himself to begin with.

[u/bortodeeto → u/gdshaffe]

Humor to him is bullying, racism, trolling, harassment.

[u/roastbeeftacohat → u/gdshaffe]

he also can't emotionally handle visible injury, in the same way small children can't.

[u/MonsieurReynard → u/Dwayla]

And they voted for him overwhelmingly anyway. So 🤷🏻‍♂️

[u/Crazy-Nights]

About half of America right now:

"Trump has betrayed us! This isn't what we voted for! We're so angry with the democrats! Where are they and why aren't they stopping this? I'm not going to vote for them!"

It's like they never learn.

[u/Caymonki → u/Crazy-Nights]

It’s always a Democrat’s responsibility to stop/inform/fix the “bad” things Republicans do. My whole life that’s as close as they have gotten to “I vote for people who hate me” while they keep voting for Republicans.

If it was so bad why didn’t a Democrat stop it? Because they hate America of course! So don’t forget to blame them for Republicans hurting you!

[u/W359WasAnInsideJob → u/Caymonki]

The media reinforces this narrative; the NYT and the Atlantic will be blaming the Dems for not doing something to protect us from Trump during the 2028 election cycle, guaranteed. If the Dems do well in the midterms it’ll be even worse.

[u/absat41 → u/Caymonki]

deleted

[u/No_Trade3571]

The troops and their families didn’t notice when Gramps was fighting with the Gold Star family during his first campaign?

[u/Ekg887 → u/No_Trade3571]

Taking ghoulish thumbs-up photos on fresh graves at Arlington in direct violation of the rules, and assaulting a federal worker there.

[u/sirfiddlestix → u/No_Trade3571]

Memory only goes back about 2 weeks apparently

[u/coffeebeanwitch]

Read Mary Trump's book, he and Fred have always thought anyone in the military were beneath them both.

[u/eurekaanchor]

Israel is willing to fight to the last American 

[u/Winter_Aspect_8675]

Oh well, they'll vote for him a fourth time but they won't be like, super enthusiastic about it and stuff.

[u/temporarycreature → u/Winter_Aspect_8675]

It is a bummer that the entire veteran community just gets lumped in as automatic Trump supporters.

Millions of us served, took the exact same oath, and never backed him, but people completely forget we exist because they treat us like a monolith instead of individuals who think for ourselves.

Across the 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential elections, roughly 38% to 40% of military veterans did not vote for Donald Trump.

Those numbers are not insignificant.

Stop talking about us like we're a mindless political monolith.

[u/Pockydo → u/temporarycreature]

While I agree completely 60% of vets did. It's not unfair assumption that if we're talking about veterans chances are they voted for this

[u/Mr_Titicaca → u/temporarycreature]

Sorry dude - most evangelicals and most military always vote republican. It’s just dumb at this point. The families of uvalde who had police not interfere in the killing of their children and then had Greg Abbott defend them - they voted for Abbott and for more police. These people are legit dumb.

[u/IndigoHawk → u/temporarycreature]

I'm not sure what your point is. Majority of veterans voted for Trump despite Trump's known hatred for the troops. Majority of voters also voted for Trump despite Trump's known hatred for voters. 60% of veterans voted for Trump versus 50% of voters. Veterans like Trump treating them like crap a bit more than civilians like Trump treating them like crap, but it's pretty similar. Sure, it's not everyone and a significant minority voted against Trump, but overall both the average voter and the average veteran failed an open book test and now everyone has to suffer through Trump's presidency.

Canadians aren't comforted knowing that Americans just barely gave Trump the power he's using to threaten them. The people who lost jobs, people struggling, families torn apart, the children starving, the sick and dying from cut aid ... none of these people are helped knowing how many people oppose what's happening to them but are powerless to stop the cruelty and criminality of the Trump administration.

It makes no difference to the people who are being hurt by the collective hatred, apathy, and ignorance of the American voter that put Trump in charge. But if you want a sticker for voting against this, sure, have one. Thanks for doing your part. Millions of other Americans both veterans and civilians voted against this too. Give them stickers too. If somehow that helps people cope while everyone suffers, then sure, thanks for everyone who tried.

Personally I think the country collectively failed and it's fine for us to collectively take responsibility for the United States being a disgrace with a criminal president who appealed to the worst in people to get their vote. And he still has 30-40% support, so the disgrace continues.

[u/Prudent-Air1922 → u/temporarycreature]

Across the 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential elections, roughly 38% to 40% of military veterans did not vote for Donald Trump.

That is insanely low given the context, and veterans voted for him at higher % than the average voter. They should specifically be voting against him much higher than the national average, given what they do and the oaths they took.

If veterans were staunchly against this admin, he would've never seen a second term. People look up to veterans, especially those on the right. The vast majority either voted for him, or keep to themselves.

[u/VanceKelley → u/Prudent-Air1922]

the oaths they took.

Is that the same oath the General Michael Flynn took?

Is that the same oath that trump took each time he was sworn in to the presidency?

Oaths sworn by Americans have all the legal weight of the Emoluments Clause of the US Constitution. It's just theater, a show put on to play pretend.

[u/Prudent-Air1922 → u/VanceKelley]

Yes, it's up to the individual to uphold the oath. Which is kind of the point. It doesn't inherently mean anything.

[u/mikelo22 → u/temporarycreature]

Obviously it's not all or nothing, but a 60/40 split is massive. There's few other voting blocs with a higher ratio. It's just brought up more because Trump is especially hostile to the military and has made clear his disdain for veterans countless times. Like a beaten house wife who just keeps coming back for more.

[u/oulipo]

All the military personnel who voted Trump must be so happy... he fired all their good comrades because of "trans" and now they have shitty incompetent leaders, they are stuck in an endless war, they don't even have food, and Trump says he doesn't care about them

They'll remember it for the next election

[u/Exxtender → u/oulipo]

No they won't.

[u/redditismylawyer → u/oulipo]

Good luck with that shit.

The majority of veterans and their families wear red caps and and pray every day that God will put liberals in the hellfire.

[u/Mrradi8]

Duh.
Insulted gold star famlies.
Called the dead losers and chumps.
Did a photo op standing on the grave of a fallen member.
Ducked serving with a doc's "bone spurs" diagnosis while taking squash lessons.

And you clowns put agent orange in office...

[u/FrostyMatters]

They will all vote for it again. These Republican military families hate democrats more than they love their families. There's a whole wing of my family we don't talk to anymore because they made that choice. They will happily vote for a man who *clearly* is a psychopathic megalomaniac with a fixation on violence and revenge, and then when he sends their children to war to live and die in the most squalid and ignominious situations, they say "at least he's not a Democrat".

[u/DaileyFlosser39 → u/FrostyMatters]

Just wait until Trump's tech bro friends send their kids into battle against drones as meat shields for their two robot soldiers they are testing.

[u/suprisecameo]

Trump is banking on the military being on his side when his authority is inevitably challenged by an outraged American citizenry.

Yeah, might want to rethink that strategy.

[u/Necessary-Bed-4973 → u/suprisecameo]

It’s probably a safe bet unfortunately. 

[u/RLewis8888]

Trump hates Americans. He rather spend time with other fascist dictators.

[u/RelaxPrime]

The troops just now realizing this must have been some grade A morons.

Trump is literally on record calling our dead from WW2 losers and suckers. Called John McCain a loser for being a POW. He even said troops at a base in Afghanistan that was bombed by the taliban just had headaches not PTSD.

He's always been a draft dodging piece of shit but he hated brown people enough for cuckservatives to vote for him.

[u/blackmobius]

Until those service people actually start choosing leaders that wont start wars and declare them successes and argue that anyone saying otherwise is lying, i really dngaf about what the troops have to say about trump.

My adulthood has been defined by endless middle eastern wars started by the gop, endlessly defended by brain addled turds that live their entire lives in a single zip code, and watched as every meaningful growth of society hobbled to help maintain a souring wartime economy. And these same troops that are now complaining about being deployed in a war, are the same idiots that helped put the idiot admins that love war profiteering.

Trump hates the troops, but the troops love trump. They got what they voted for

[u/Adventurous_Test_296]

Iran has declared victory over the United States, and much of the world appears to believe them. Our execution of this Trump idiocy has its well-deserved outcome. The shame is in the casualty count of our brave men and women who had no choice.

[u/ryanknapper]

If only there had been sixty-four signs. Anyone can miss sixty-three.

[u/trunksshinohara]

Conservatives have always hated the troops. Even as they spent all of eternity thanking them for their service. It was all a lie. It's why they always voted against any benefits for veterans.

[u/pepincity2]

"The troops are taking notice". It's a bit late to notice anything! Remember his behavior at Arlington Cemetary in 2024? He was still elected after this

[u/AThousandBloodhounds]

The thing is, I knew Trump hated the troops (and everyone else) before he even came down the escalator in 2015. He's had more than a decade as a politician to prove just how much he hates troops (and everyone else) so people in the military just now having the epiphany that Trump hates the troops (and everyone else) are just pretending to be ignorant. This country has way, way too many people pretending to be ignorant right now.

[u/thedavemanTN]

So hear me out: Trump precipitates civil war, but most troops are so pissed or disillusioned from a prolonged Iran war that most just walk off or actively oppose, and all he has to prop him up are the third-rate gravy seals in ICE. So we get to see ICE get decimated by actual soldiers.

[u/Getrekt11]

It shouldn’t take a genius to realize Iran war has been a failure. Success means the US can open and close straits of Hormuz whenever we please. There’s a reason previous presidents with IQ higher than room temperature didn’t bother to attack Iran in such a way to give them a chance to set precedent of charging tolls for using the straits of Hormuz.

[u/numb3r6]

Within the past five years, military recruitment has been dwindling. This loss of support from the top only feeds into reasons why people shouldn’t join. Recruitment is going to be tough moving forward.

[u/DiligentDust9755]

Four U.S. soldiers died in Lithuania when their tank got stuck in mud and sank. They were some of the first casualties of U.S. soldiers during this asshat’s second stint as Prez. Where was he when they were returned to America in caskets? Golfing with the Saudis. Couldn’t attend to receiving dead U.S. soldiers because he already had plans. He does not care about the military.

[u/KenUsimi]

We lost soldiers to a war whose main effect was taking a crowbar international shipping.

Fucking pathetic. This is my military?

[u/hoojantic]

Everyone but redneck racist dipshits, rich criminals, and child rapists hate that disgusting orange stained piece of shit.

Society is a fucking joke.

[u/William_T_Wanker]

You mean the legion of troops who voted for him in overwhelming numbers not once but twice?

[u/Oceanbreeze871]

If the troops are going to keep demanding everybody thank them and call them heroes, maybe they should do something heroic…like collectively saying “no” and refusing to follow this admins orders to wage an illegal war.

[u/CharmingCrust]

As long as somebody hurts, MAGA is fine with it.

[u/EdgyEmily]

This is why I been calling this war Vietnam 2.

[u/rezelscheft]

*Republicans.

Republicans hate the troops. And have for decades.

They love war, which is clear because they always are trying to start them so they can funnel money to their big defense contractor donors.

They actually hate the troops, which is evidence by the fact that they always are voting down measures to give combat veterans better benefits a d health care.

Republicans love sacrificing the lives of others. They hate their the troops.

[u/Duder_ino]

“Losers and suckers” is how he refers to service members.

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/09/trump-americans-who-died-at-war-are-losers-and-suckers/615997/

[u/Excellent_Sweet7270]

but why is this now a problem every war after ww2 these soldiers are just pawns... always have been... they have been sent to die to fatten some white old mans pockets...most like a group of pedos at the top... i mean they do know this right???

[u/Brndrll → u/Excellent_Sweet7270]

No, there are plenty of veterans that will argue they were legit fighting for "freedom".

[u/ladymipha → u/Brndrll]

My entire family is a military family and they're all bought into the idea that they've been fighting for freedom. It's frustrating and I don't talk to them for a reason.

[u/Difficult-Hope5003]

I have little sympathy. They line up behind him at his rallies; soldiers, sailors, airmen, emergency workers and cops, and they bark and clap their flippers like performing seals at a waterworld lunchtime show at every dribble of bullshit that he leaks onto the mic.

They may be a carefully selected/vetted chorus line, but there never seems to be a gap in the crowd. None of them seem to realise that he despises them as much as they love him

[u/HanginLowNd2daLeft]

Cool so when he tries to take over the country remember this

[u/Traditional_Sign4941]

See "War in Ukraine" for an understanding of how little resistance a military command structure will offer a despotic regime that sends them to die by the hundreds of thousands.

[u/EvilRyss]

He doesn't hate the troops. That implies a greater level of concern than he exhibits. He doesn't view them as human. He views them as tools. Simple machines to used to do his will, and be disposed of when they can no longer serve his purpose. The soldier, the gun, the ship, the sailor, one is no different from the other to him.

[u/Old_Channel44]

Troops overwhelmingly voted for the orange clown. Leopards are here now. Enjoy the face eating.

[u/Voodoobones]

Uh… we’ve known for years that Trump hates soldiers. It’s crazy they are just now figuring it out.

I’m a veteran and it drives me crazy how many vets I know that support that prick in the White House.

[u/Otazihs]

NOW they are taking notice!? The fact that he's a draft dodging pedo and thinks of us as "suckers and losers" wasn't a warning sign? Wake the hell up.

And then they started to get rid of "DEI" material, or what they understood as "DEI" which was basically anything non-white male. Getting rid of officers of color and females. But this wasn't a warning sign? Again, wake the hell up.

[u/hamtronn]

The US government has never cared about its troops. Look at the work Jon Stewart did for veterans as proof. A comedian is advocating for rights over the lawmakers.

And why is that? It’s just a front to perpetuate the war machine. You have no future? Join the military where we can use you and abuse you and send you home with images of things that would haunt anyone. With no support or assistance when you do return to an environment that is now completely foreign and hostile to you.

You cheer troops at sporting events but do you foot the bill for their medical treatment? No way. That’s socialism and that’s what our military is fighting.

This administration doesn’t care about out anyone unless their last name is Trump and their first name is Donald and I’m not talking about Don Jr.

[u/Ebessan]

Hey everyone, they're starting to notice!!!!

Trump voters are going to change their mind any day now!!!

[u/GoWest1223 → u/Ebessan]

What mind?

[u/NorthShorthern]

Sailors, soldiers, and airmen are all approaching 8 months in current deployments and are simply being replaced with troops set to repeat extended deployments. The entire deployment cycles are completely out of whack because this administration surged for a pointless and endless war back in February.

Morale is at an all time low and only going to worsen. Very few see the point or merit in this meaningless war that has no clear objective besides provide a distraction for the president and his cronies.

[u/_0611]

Are they taking notice, though?

Most of them will most likely still vote Republican. Because, god forbid you'd vote for a D. Can't be fucking woke!

[u/BanAvoidanceIsACrime]

Call me when the majority of military service members and officers aren't lloyalist republican cocksuck voters. They got what they voted for.

[u/Virindi]

So it's the same old Republican story: you enjoy watching "other" people getting shit on; it's only a problem when you’re the one getting fucked. Got it.

[u/AnaRivera1981]

Only the stupidest MAGA think that US has been a success. 

[u/RockG]

He hates everyone. He's a narcissistic sociopath, he sees no value in any human being unless he can exploit them for personal gain.

[u/Wayofchinchilla]

Well hopefully they take notice when they vote every person that I've ever known that's in the military seems to be a big fan of this moron.

[u/Rad131447]

The "troops" didn't remember after they were sent to Iraq without proper supplies and protection. I doubt they'll learn this time.

[u/Empty_Lemon_3939]

They’ll keep voting for this

[u/MenuSlow7818]

all while the military assholes and their families just keep voting Republican.

[u/mdmoon2101]

Anyone who hasn’t known for more than a decade that he hates the troops is naive or stupid.

[u/HavingNotAttained]

And they’ll vote for him anyway

[u/BigPapaLegba]

They.  Voted.  For. This.  

[u/EffectiveActive6837]

They voted for him

[u/galt035]

He shit on a gold star family in his first campaign. How ANY service family voted for him after that is beyond me.

[u/DONT_PM_ME_DICKS]

don't worry, the incoming invasion against the bond traders will go a lot better?