To the Editor:

Martin, you asked, “Who would ever say such a stupid, irreverent thing? Not any Commander-in-Chief“ about Trump declaring that healthy Presidential Medal of Freedom awardees are superior to US Medal of Honor recipients who are bullet-ridden or dead. You wishfully insisted that the many incidents of Trump’s disregard for the military have been debunked.

General John Kelly, whose son is among those buried at Arlington, in a first-person account said 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.’ A person that did not want to be seen in the presence of military amputees because ‘it doesn’t look good for me,” and rants that our most precious heroes who gave their lives in America’s defense are ‘losers,’ and wouldn’t visit their graves in France.” Because it was raining. The hair! The makeup!

Last week, “The Military Times” reported that Trump was attempting to create a campaign photo-op at Arlington attacking President Biden for the rapid Afghanistan withdrawal (a deal Trump negotiated). It is a federal crime to take campaign photographs in Section 60 (Iraq and Afghanistan dead) and Trump’s entourage had been formally so advised. Nevertheless, his photographer shot a picture with Trump smiling and giving “two thumbs up” over military graves in Section 60. A staffer enforcing the rules was roughed up by Trump’s “people” who threatened her as a “mental case” and demanded she be fired.

These are not obscure, trivial, and “debunked” observations of Trump. Why is it you want this man to be Commander-in-Chief?

But he’s not just a pretend patriot. Let’s give credit when due. Howza, howza! Step right up to collecttrumpcards.com where for only $99 each you can buy digital Trump Trading Cards, one which shows him “dancing,” one with a buffalo companion, and the comedic zenith with Trump reimagined as Adonis with rolled-up sleeves over arms that rival Schwarzenegger’s. Buy 15 of these babies ($1,500 dollars or bitcoin) and you will get one actual physical card.

Buy 75 ($7,500) and you can have dinner with the ex-president, not at Mar-a-Lago, but at his Jupiter FL hotel. Woo-woo!
You can also get a pair of super-rare platinum high tops, two pairs of $299 gold tennies (“a $498 value!”), some autographed, and (be still my heart)…a piece of his suit worn at the Biden debate and, for specially selected collectors, a piece of his red tie. Donold advises that these treasures can be passed down to eager generations to come. He’s already selling pieces of his stuff, like the relics of a saint, even before he gets to hawking himself to international despots.

This is how deep the grift goes with Trump. He claims to support the military for political purposes but has no respect for actual soldiers. He sells overpriced junk to his faithful base while claiming he will solve inflation within “the first 100 days.” And some people believe him.

Kelly Scoles,
Fillmore, Ca