This morning, America was forced to endure perhaps the most self-important tweet in the history of the presidency from Trump, in which he perverted this day of remembrance to promote his own “accomplishments.”
Happy Memorial Day! Those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today. Best economy in decades, lowest unemployment numbers for Blacks and Hispanics EVER (& women in 18years), rebuilding our Military and so much more. Nice!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 28, 2018
The president’s Memorial Day statement is not only glaringly tone-deaf – using “happy” to describe the solemn holiday as if it’s a birthday celebration – but shamefully self-serving.
Former President Barack Obama, per usual, struck a different tone. His message is sympathetic, articulate, and selfless— and come in stark contrast to the current occupant of the Oval Office.
We can never truly repay the debt we owe our fallen heroes. But we can remember them, honor their sacrifice, and affirm in our own lives those enduring ideals of justice, equality, and opportunity for which generations of Americans have given that last full measure of devotion. pic.twitter.com/pRxwmaMClL
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) May 28, 2018
Obama has a long history of displaying the utmost respect for those who have fought and died for this country, as evidenced by this quiet interaction between him and the sister of a fallen soldier.
WATCH — President Obama met the sister of a fallen soldier unexpectedly.
This is how a President should honor the fallen; not with self-congratulatory tweets. #MemorialDay pic.twitter.com/c75lLHIjNM
— Millennial Politics (@MillenPolitics) May 28, 2018
Obama’s powerful words are an important reminder that there are still those who value the ideals on which this country was founded and the sacrifices that people have made to defend it.
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