Not content with wearing his own merchandise in dignified transfers, President Donald Trump is now doubling down on “shameful” insults in an attempt to cash in on the controversial photo.
In a twist of events, the 79-year-old used a photo of himself saluting the casket of a soldier killed in the Iran war to raise money for his campaign.
Last week, Trump became the first president in history to wear a baseball cap while honoring returning service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The move drew condemnation from across the political spectrum.
Critics point out poor design choices
When six flag-draped coffins arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware last week, Trump was seen wearing a white hat with gold embroidery that said “USA” on the front and “45-47” on one side. The hat is on sale for $55 on the president’s for-profit merchandise website.
In an email to supporters on Friday, Trump furthered the disrespect by using footage of the transfer to promote a private news distribution group that receives “national security briefings.”
Trump was criticized over the weekend for wearing a hat, available for purchase on his website, during the dignity transfer of six U.S. Army service members. /Anna Chammemaker/Anna Chammemaker/Getty Images
“I am President Donald J. Trump,” the email read. “I made this special announcement to the public an hour ago.”
“This is the first time ever that I’m opening up a spot on the National Security Briefing membership.
“Seize your spot. There are not many spots left!”
The website linked to the newsletter asks supporters for donations to help Trump continue to pursue his policies. / Never Surrender Company
The email linked supporters to Never Surrender Inc.’s website and asked them to donate $1,000 or more to support the “MAGA Agenda.”
The email was widely criticized online, with California Governor Gavin Newsom lashing out at the campaign on his X News account.
“Donald Trump is using dead soldiers to raise money. He is a very sick, disgusting man!” Newsom wrote.
Newsom has long criticized Trump’s behavior online. /X
“Trump sent a fundraising email containing the casket of a fallen soldier … who died in a reckless war that Trump himself started. This is the most shameful thing I have ever seen,” wrote Tommy Vietor, host of Pod Save America and a former staffer for Barack Obama.
“Retract this message and fire the person in your office who approved it @realDonaldTrump,” Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, an Iraq war veteran, wrote. “Don’t you have any shame?”
“Thirteen brave Americans died in Trump’s illegal war on Iran. Now he’s using it to raise money?!” New York Rep. Pat Ryan, a veteran, wrote. “The American people deserve a commander in chief. Not a liar commander in chief.”
Ryan commented on X’s newsletter. /X
Since “Operation Epic Fury” began on February 28, 13 U.S. service members have been killed in the Middle East. About 140 others were injured.
“Sadly, more people are likely to die before the war is over. That’s what it is. There may be more. But we will do everything possible to prevent that from happening,” Trump said in a March 1 video address, referring to the deaths of Americans during the conflict.
The president has since said the war with Iran will continue until he feels it “in my bones.” In a message to Truth Social on Friday, the president added that it was a “great honor” to be able to kill Iran’s leader despite the United States’ continued losses, not to mention the more than 1,300 civilians killed in Iran.
Former Republican congressman Joe Walsh succinctly expressed his distaste for the president’s latest fundraiser: “It’s despicable.”
