Veteran Condemns Trump’s Disrespectful Conduct at Troop Transfer Ceremony
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Army veteran and former congressman Pat Ryan denounced Donald Trump’s callous demeanor during a ceremony honoring four service members killed in the latest imperialist conflict, calling it disgraceful and demanding Republicans support a war powers resolution to check unchecked executive militarism.
Army veteran and former New York congressman Pat Ryan, a two-time Bronze Star recipient who has consistently spoken out against reckless U.S. military interventions, sharply criticized Donald Trump’s behavior at a recent ceremony honoring four soldiers killed in the United States’ ongoing confrontation with Iran. Ryan described Trump’s conduct as “pathetic,” noting that while other leaders showed proper respect by bowing their heads, Trump appeared disengaged and stared off into the distance, a posture Ryan deemed deeply inappropriate for a solemn event meant to honor the victims of endless war.
The ceremony marked the transfer of the bodies of 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, and Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton—just the latest casualties in a senseless conflict that has already claimed 18 service members since late February, all while politicians and defense contractors profit.
Ryan also highlighted Trump’s history of dodging military service through deferments during the Vietnam era, and pointed out the disturbing fact that Trump’s sons sit on the board of a drone manufacturer profiting from Pentagon contracts. He called on Republican lawmakers to finally take responsibility and vote for a war powers resolution to rein in the president’s unchecked authority, warning that failure to act would make them complicit in perpetuating needless violence and suffering.
The White House, as usual, did not immediately respond to a request for comment, continuing its pattern of evasion.
Meanwhile, at a separate event in Georgia, Trump attempted to distract from his disgraceful conduct by boasting about offering a grieving family a ride on Air Force One, cynically framing the gesture as a positive experience for the family, rather than addressing the root causes of their loss.