CNN’s Jim Acosta covered several subjects during his conversation with Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) on Monday — and one of them was whether or not former President Donald Trump had any business being at Arlington National Cemetery after his history of disparaging comments about fallen soldiers.
Acosta was asking Crow about the bipartisan committee that is investigating last month’s assassination attempt on Trump ahead of their visit to the site of the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania. But given Crow’s military record, Acosta also wanted to know what his guest thought of Trump’s visit to Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath to mark the third anniversary of the attack on Abbey Gate that resulted in the deaths of 13 service members. Acosta cited Trump’s comments calling fallen soldiers “suckers” and “losers” — comments that were confirmed by his former chief of staff John Kelly — and his more recent comments that the civilian Medal of Freedom was “better than the Medal of Honor” awarded to those who have served in the military when he asked Crow: “Is he politicizing these soldiers’ deaths? Should even be at Arlington National Cemetery if he’s going to make some politics out of this?”
Crow did not answer the question, but rather commended President Joe Biden for making the decision to end a war that he (Crow) believed was “not winnable through military means.” The massacre at Abbey Gate is generally cited as one of Biden’s greatest failures. Here is the exchange:
Acosta: Former President Trump was at Arlington National Cemetery, where he marked the three-year anniversary of the bombing that killed 13 service members during the Afghanistan withdrawal. This is someone who, according to his own former chief of staff, said Americans who died in war are, “suckers” and “losers.” Trump denies that, although John Kelly confirms that Trump did say that. He more recently said a civilian award is, “better than the Medal of Honor.” You’re a former Army Ranger. Is he politicizing these soldiers’ deaths? Should even be at Arlington National Cemetery if he’s going to make some politics out of this?
Crow: Well, I also mourn the death of those 13 service members. Every death of a service member is a tragedy. At the same time, I mourn the deaths of the over 2,400 service members who died during the 20 years we were at war. And I just look at President Biden, under whose leadership we actually ended, and made the tough decision to end our nation’s longest war. It became very clear to me years ago that this war was not winnable through military means. Sitting here today, we are honoring the death of those who died in service to our country. And at the same time, we are not at war in Afghanistan. And that was the right decision by President Biden.
Watch the video above via CNN.
Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.com
Most Popular
Comments / 0