Lawrence O’Donnell Critiques Trump’s Warrior Claims During Vietnam War
- Lawrence O’Donnell criticizes Trump for his ‘warrior’ claims.
- Trump’s Vietnam War avoidance is highlighted by O’Donnell.
- O’Donnell questions integrity of Trump’s medical exemption.
- Trump received five deferments during the Vietnam draft.
- O’Donnell depicts Trump as a coward for evading military service.
O’Donnell Calls Out Trump’s Vietnam War Avoidance
Lawrence O’Donnell, MSNBC host, didn’t hold back on his criticism of former President Donald Trump during a recent episode of “The Last Word.” His ire was directed at Trump’s claim of feeling like a warrior, a statement which O’Donnell countered by referencing Trump’s medical diagnosis that exempted him from military service during the Vietnam War. This particular comment from Trump arose at a NATO summit held in the Netherlands, where he suggested reinstating the cabinet title “Secretary of War” for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as a tongue-in-cheek gesture, stating, “we feel like warriors.” Interestingly, just prior to that, Trump bragged about military actions such as bomb operations in Iran, despite evidence suggesting limited effects.
Criticism of Trump’s Actions and Character
During his critique, O’Donnell pointed out the stark contradiction between Trump’s self-proclaimed warrior status and his past actions. He highlighted Trump’s five deferments from the Vietnam draft, which included four for educational purposes, until finally receiving a medical exemption for bone spurs after he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968. O’Donnell questioned the authenticity of Trump’s medical narrative, stating, “There is no reason to believe that Donald Trump wasn’t perfectly healthy enough to serve in the military during the war of his youth.” According to O’Donnell, Trump’s decisions stemmed from a deep-seated fear of becoming just another statistic among the numerous lives lost in Vietnam.
Trump’s Warrior Claims Provokes Major Backlash
O’Donnell further ridiculed the former president, describing him as the “biggest crybaby in the history of American politics” who now claims to feel like a warrior without ever facing the hardships of combat. Trump, who reportedly spent his time in the political arena complaining about how unfairly he was treated, was contrasted with those who served with actual valor. O’Donnell’s observations provide a stark reminder of the split between rhetoric and the reality of service seen during critical times in American history. The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for any comments on these disparaging remarks made about the former President’s military history.
In this biting commentary, Lawrence O’Donnell dismantles Donald Trump’s self-proclaimed warrior status by referencing his deferments during the Vietnam War and questioning the legitimacy of his medical claims. O’Donnell argues that Trump’s avoidance reveals a cowardice that stands in stark contrast to the image he attempts to project. The segment on MSNBC not only serves to critique Trump’s military record but also highlights the broader discussion about accountability and the meaning of service in America today.
