Twitter users on Monday accused President Trump of focusing on himself and not others when he heralded the economy and unemployment figures, and for saying those who lost their lives defending the nation would be “very happy and proud.”
“Happy Memorial Day! Those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today,” Trump tweeted. “Best economy in decades, lowest unemployment numbers for Blacks and Hispanics EVER (& women in 18years), rebuilding our Military and so much more. Nice!”
Several people tweeted that the message struck a sour tone on a day that is supposed to be dedicated to those who gave their lives for the country.
The Atlantic’s David Frum called it the “the grossest, most inappropriate, most self-flattering Memorial Day message in the history of the US.”
Many people question this president, but it’s no small achievement to write the grossest, most inappropriate, most self-flattering Memorial Day message in the history of the US presidency https://t.co/t8JN7JNwdg
— David Frum (@davidfrum) May 28, 2018
Judd Legum, editor of ThinkProgress, said Trump was claiming that fallen service members “would be Trump supporters.”
Trump commemorates Memorial Day by asserting that members of the armed forces who died would be Trump supporters https://t.co/IJ9Rb0BW7C
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) May 28, 2018
Business Insider used a photo of Trump embracing the flag for its story.
Trump wishes everyone for Memorial Day, says soldiers who ‘died for our great country’ would be proud of his accomplishments https://t.co/sawy8IDW1Z
— Business Insider (@businessinsider) May 28, 2018
The Twitter handle for Dictionary.com went with the definition of the day, and what it doesn’t include.
Memorial Day is defined as “a day set aside in most states of the U.S. for observances in memory of dead members of the armed forces of all wars.”
Not found: Economic reports https://t.co/SFer0sLGgR https://t.co/0upU2gdIcC
— Dictionary.com (@Dictionarycom) May 28, 2018
Conservative talk radio host and former Illinois congressman Joe Walsh was more blunt.
Trump makes Memorial Day all about himself. Trump is an ass. https://t.co/HKmAXgwsA2
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) May 28, 2018
And former NSA Director Michael Hayden used three letters to describe his reaction.
— Gen Michael Hayden (@GenMhayden) May 28, 2018
Conservative writer Stephen Miller compared Trump to Ron Burgundy from the “Anchorman” films.
Trump on Memorial Day pic.twitter.com/oxdm4PGwOM
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) May 28, 2018
However, one Twitter user did find one positive thing to point out.
Trump’s Memorial Day tweet is terrible but it’s actually an improvement over 2015 when he definitely had no idea what Memorial Day was https://t.co/yEPot6s8bi
— Dan Amira (@DanAmira) May 28, 2018
