A Democracy Drive Thread
A commander in chief who dodged the draft, privately called fallen soldiers “losers,” told a widow her husband “knew what he signed up for,” and said a civilian medal beats the Medal of Honor.
Trump presents himself as the military’s greatest champion. This thread tracks the record his own former officials and the public reporting describe: a bone-spur deferment arranged as a favor, his chief of staff confirming he called fallen troops “suckers” and “losers,” conflicts with Gold Star families, a political event that ended in a confrontation at Arlington National Cemetery, and the generals who served him calling him dangerous. Entries are in order, with sources.
October 17, 2017
In his own words
Trump said the congresswoman “totally fabricated” his words. Johnson’s mother said Wilson’s account was accurate, and his widow later said Trump stumbled over her husband’s name.
“He knew what he signed up for … but when it happens, it hurts anyway.”
November 10, 2018
In his own words
Kelly said in October 2023 that Trump “thinks those who defend their country in uniform, or are shot down or seriously wounded in combat, or spend years being tortured as POWs are all ‘suckers’ because ‘there is nothing in it for them.’” The remarks dated to Trump’s 2018 trip to France, where he skipped a visit to an American cemetery.
December 26, 2018
On the ground
Trump received five draft deferments. Michael Cohen later testified that Trump told him there was no surgery and no injury.
September 22, 2023
In his own words
Milley said the calls were meant to reassure China that Trump was not planning an attack. He said he would take measures to protect his family after Trump’s post.
“This is an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH!”
August 15, 2024
In his own words
Veterans groups condemned the comment. The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest military award for valor.
“It’s actually much better because everyone gets the Congressional Medal of Honor, that’s soldiers, they’re either in very bad shape because they’ve been hit so many times by bullets or they’re dead.”
August 26, 2024
On the ground
Federal law bars political campaign activity at the cemetery. The Army said the official was “abruptly pushed aside” and that the incident was “unfortunate.” The campaign later posted video from the visit.
October 4, 2024
In his own words
In 2025 the Army restored the name, citing a different soldier also named Bragg, while Trump restored other bases’ Confederate-linked names.
“We’re going to do everything we can to get it back.”
October 11, 2024
In his own words
Milley said he feared Trump would have him court-martialed in a second term. After taking office, Trump removed his security detail and moved to review his rank.
“He is the most dangerous person ever. … I realize he’s a total fascist. He is now the most dangerous person to this country.”
January 20, 2025
On the ground
Incoming Pentagon officials gave no explanation. Biden had preemptively pardoned Milley hours earlier because of Trump’s threats against him.
January 28, 2025
On the ground
The Pentagon said “undermining the chain of command is corrosive to our national security.” Biden’s preemptive pardon covered criminal prosecution but not administrative action on Milley’s rank.
April 4, 2025
On the ground
Staff Sgts. Jose Duenez Jr., Edvin Franco and Troy Knutson-Collins and Pfc. Dante Taitano died when their vehicle sank in a swamp. Hegseth attended for the administration.
May 1, 2025
On the ground
The VA said it “is not set up or intended to be a mortgage loan restructuring service.” Lawmakers of both parties introduced bills to restore some form of relief.
June 10, 2025
On the ground
Congress had ordered the Confederate names removed. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth got around the law by renaming the bases for different people with the same surnames, such as renaming Fort Lee for Pvt. Fitz Lee, a Spanish-American War Medal of Honor recipient.
June 16, 2025
On the ground
Facilities were also told to remove marital status, political affiliation, disability and union membership from rules barring discrimination in hiring medical staff. Former VA health chief Kenneth Kizer said the change “seems to open the door to discrimination on the basis of anything that is not legally protected.” The VA said other federal rules still protect patients.
August 7, 2025
In his own words
He was referring to the bullet that grazed his ear in Butler. The remark drew a muted reaction from the crowd.
““I guess in a certain way, it wasn’t that easy for me either when you think of it. But you went through a lot more than I did.””
September 30, 2025
On the ground
The VA cited no new science. Veterans already covered keep benefits, but about 100 newly diagnosed men a year face a harder path. A former VA official said male and female breast tissue respond to toxic exposure alike.
October 13, 2025
On the ground
The reprogrammed money came from unspent research and development funds. Mellon had given heavily to Trump’s campaigns.
November 14, 2025
On the ground
The U.S. American Battle Monuments Commission is revealed to have quietly removed panels honoring Black WWII soldiers from the American cemetery in Margraten, the Netherlands. The Heritage Foundation had complained that they violated Trump’s anti-DEI orders. One panel told the story of George H. Pruitt, a Black soldier who drowned trying to save a comrade a month after the war ended.
November 24, 2025
On the ground
The Pentagon announces it is investigating Sen. Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain, over the “illegal orders” video, citing a law that lets retirees be recalled to active duty for possible court-martial. It says his statements may have interfered with the “loyalty, morale, or good order and discipline of the armed forces.” A day later, the FBI’s counterterrorism division contacted all six lawmakers in the video to schedule interviews; Sen. Elissa Slotkin called it a “scare tactic.” On Jan. 5, 2026, Hegseth formally censured Kelly as “a necessary process step” toward proceedings that could demote him from his retired rank of captain and cut his retirement pay. On Feb. 12, 2026, Judge Richard Leon blocked the demotion, ruling that Hegseth had “trampled on Senator Kelly’s First Amendment freedoms and threatened the constitutional liberties of millions of military retirees”; Hegseth appealed.