Over the Memorial Day weekend, Eric Trump, son of former President Donald Trump, sparked controversy with a post on the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter.
The post, which was a reshare of another user's content, featured a photograph of the Trump family with a caption claiming they had given up "everything to Save America."
"And we will do it again!" Eric Trump added to his repost.
The photograph included Donald Trump and his wife Melania, Eric Trump and his wife Lara, and Donald Trump Jr. with his fiance Kimberly Guilfoyle. Notably absent from the image were Ivanka Trump, the former president's daughter, and her husband Jared Kushner.
Critics were quick to express their disapproval, arguing that the post was inappropriate given the significance of Memorial Day weekend, a time dedicated to honoring the sacrifices of America's fallen service members.
Former Representative Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), a former Air Force second lieutenant and outspoken critic of the Trump family, took to X to voice his objections. "Your family has sacrificed nothing, your name will become synonymous with 'Benedict Arnold' and how dare you tweet this, THIS weekend," he wrote. "You dont know the first thing about service you child."
Conservative commentator Bill Kristol also criticized Eric Trump's post, calling it "particularly disgusting to post... on Memorial Day weekend."
The controversy was further fueled by reminders of Donald Trump's past derogatory comments about members and veterans of the U.S. military, such as referring to fallen soldiers as "suckers," and his five deferments to avoid the Vietnam draft.
The backlash extended beyond political figures, with social media users expressing their outrage. One user, Staff Sergeant Gonell, Aquilino, accused the Trump family of stolen valor, while another user, Leslieoo7, questioned the family's sensitivity towards the significance of Memorial Day.
The sentiment was echoed by other users, with one writing, "Memorial Day weekend is to honor our fallen members of the military who sacrificed their lives so we could be free. This family has been dishonoring our Military and yet, fake patriots still support them. Its sickening."
Another user, Uncle Chad, challenged the Trump family's claim of sacrifice, asking, "Did you give up ANYTHING? NO! - Did you leave your families for years and go FIGHT in a WAR with a REAL CHANCE of DYING? NO! None of you gave up ANYTHING!"
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