Report Claims Trump Made Disparaging Remarks About Military Service Members

On Wednesday, an article published in The Atlantic reported that, according to anonymous sources, President Donald Trump previously made several strongly-worded disparaging comments about military service members, including those who died during World War I. The report also alleges that in 2018 Trump asked that wounded veterans be removed from planned military parades. Trump denied making the comments on Thursday, calling the report “fake news” and suggesting the sources were “liars.” White House spokeswoman Alyssa Farah said the report has “no basis in fact.” The Associated Press, The New York Times, The Washington Post and others cited sources confirming Trump’s disparaging comments, including “a senior Defense Department official with firsthand knowledge of events,” “a senior U.S. Marine Corps officer who was told about Trump’s comments,” “a former senior administration official,” and “people familiar with Mr. Trump’s comments.” Fox News cited “two sources who were on the trip in question” refuting the claim that Trump cancelled a 2018 trip to a WWI cemetery because the dead soldiers were “suckers.” The report quickly picked up national media attention. Some outlets on all sides published the AP’s coverage. Coverage in right-rated outlets and some center- and left-rated outlets focused on Trump’s denial of the report’s allegations. Some coverage in left-rated outlets focused on the report’s claims but included Trump’s denial.