About 96 percent of our nation has never volunteered to pick up a weapon to defend it.
Yet the verbal assault on our veterans by our current political establishment continues — and now by the civilian leadership of the military itself.
The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest recognition for battlefield valor. To demean a recipient based on political beliefs or birthplace is an affront to the core values of the U.S. military and to America itself.
Yet far-right activist Laura Loomer, an ally and informal adviser to former President Donald Trump, publicly attacked the Army last month for honoring Medal of Honor recipient Florent Groberg — a combat hero who stopped a suicide bomber in Afghanistan at risk of his own life and at the cost of his health.
Her complaint? Groberg, a naturalized U.S. citizen, spoke at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
Last week, the U.S. Air Force refused to grant early retirement to transgender service members with 15 to 18 years of service who are being forced out.
No exceptions were approved — not one — despite earlier assurances to service members. Those airmen are now forced to accept a meager lump-sum separation payment or be involuntarily discharged.
These men and women upheld their oath. Because of politics, the American institution they serve is casting them out without the benefits they earned — after they made the commitment to our Constitution and our nation.
President Trump himself has also faced backlash over comments about veterans, minimizing the Congressional Medal of Honor.
In 2024, Trump said the nation’s highest civilian honor was “much better” than its highest military honor.
He made the remark while discussing political donors Miriam Adelson and her late husband, Sheldon Adelson. Trump awarded Miriam the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018 for her contributions to U.S. national interests and “world peace.”
“That’s the highest award you can get as a civilian. It’s the equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor,” Trump said. “But (the) civilian version, it’s actually much better because everyone (who) gets the Congressional Medal of Honor, they’re soldiers. They’re either in very bad shape because they’ve been hit so many times by bullets or they’re dead.”
Rhetoric that discredits decorated heroes. Politics that strip benefits from honorable service members. Each weakens our national defense in its own way.
Regardless of race, sex, birthplace, or politics — every veteran has earned their respect through sacrifice.
While protected under the First Amendment, criticism from those who never had the courage to stand a post stem from ignorance, guilt, and regret.
Government officials and their sycophants need to stop insulting veterans and politicizing the military. The service and sacrifice of America’s defenders should be honored, not weaponized for perceived political points.
