Trump's Memorial Day Tribute at Arlington

Arlington, May 26 (AP) - On Monday, President Donald Trump honored fallen service members during a Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. In his address, he celebrated the “great, great warriors,” but also momentarily diverged into political territory, asserting he is “fixing” the nation after “a long and hard four years.” Traditionally, U.S. presidents approach this solemn holiday with reverence. However, Trump initiated the day with a combative, all-caps social media post criticizing his predecessor and denouncing judges who obstructed his deportation policies as “monsters who want our country to go to hell.”

At Arlington, where over 400,000 service members are buried, Trump paid homage to their sacrifices and highlighted the stories of several Gold Star families. “We just revere their incredible legacy,” Trump stated. “We salute them in their eternal and everlasting glory. And we continue our relentless pursuit of America's destiny as we make our nation stronger, prouder, freer, and greater than ever before.” He acknowledged their valor in creating “the freest, greatest, and most noble republic” and noted his efforts in “fixing” it after difficult years.

Trump shared stories of fallen heroes, including Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon Kent, who died in a 2019 Syria suicide bombing, leaving behind her husband and young sons. Kent, from Pine Plains, New York, was on her fifth combat deployment, serving as a linguist and cryptologic technician. “She was among the first women ever to do it, and she did it better than anyone,” Trump said, inviting applause for Kent's family.

The audience also heard about Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Elroy Harworth from Erhard, Minnesota, who perished in the Vietnam War while his wife was seven months pregnant. His son, also present, has been in the Army for 20 years. Trump additionally honored Army Cpl. Ryan McGhee of Fredericksburg, Virginia, who enlisted after the 9/11 attacks and was killed in Iraq at 21 after multiple tours.

Vice President JD Vance, speaking before Trump, emphasized the lesson of the gravestones: “We must be cautious in sending our people to war,” urging leaders to regard soldiers' lives as “the most precious resource.” In a later humorous note, Trump mentioned next year’s “big, big celebration” for the US’s 250th birthday, jesting his electoral loss meant he'd be president during major events like the World Cup and Olympics.

Trump participated in the tradition of laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, marking the occasion with a salute. He was joined by Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Earlier in the day, Trump had skewered Joe Biden on social media, branding him “scum” who, Trump claimed, had undermined the nation with radical policies and an open border. He also erroneously wished "HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!"—a mistake, as the day is intended to solemnly honor fallen soldiers.

Vance, addressing Naval Academy graduates, stressed that Memorial Day is not “happy.” “Memorial Day is not for those who served and came home; it is for those who served and didn’t,” Vance noted. (AP) GRS GRS

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