He received a deferment that allowed him to not serve in Vietnam War due to bone spurs, but has been unable to remember in which foot, leading to accusations of draft dodging, including this week from 2020 rivals. Though Trump has been a boisterous cheerleader for the Pentagon, he is part of a recent trend of commanders-in-chief who did not serve in the military. Humayun Khan, who was killed in Iraq, and as president clashed with the mother of Sgt. But TrumpвЂ™s relationship with the armed forces - and the families of individual soldiers - has at times been uniquely fraught.ДЄs a candidate, he feuded with the parents of Capt. Plenty of previous presidents have embraced the military, identifying themselves with its power and patriotism.

вЂњIn situations like these, itвЂ™s best for President Trump to focus on his positive vision for reforming the Department of Veterans Affairs and advocating for a more restrained foreign policy,вЂќ said Dan Caldwell, a senior adviser for the conservative Concerned Veterans for America. Some veteran groups were pleased that Trump was attending the D-Day commemoration but urged him to leave the political broadsides at home. Trump also sided with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un over criticism of former Vice President Joe Biden. The president denied knowing about the request but said the gesture was вЂњwell-meaningвЂќ because he was no fan of McCain, a prisoner of war whom Trump once mocked by saying he preferred soldiers who вЂњwerenвЂ™t captured.вЂќ Navy to keep the warship rededicated in honor of Sen. He also wished everyone a вЂњHappy Memorial Day,вЂќ a greeting some find off-key for a holiday dedicated to honoring dead servicemembers.ДЄhead of the trip, the White House told the U.S. вЂњYou are the ones keep going and striving, and keeping America safe, and strong, and proud, and free,вЂќ Trump said during the visit.

In recent days, he visited Arlington National Cemetery and spent Memorial Day on a naval ship in Japan. Trump blamed the Secret Service and the next day went to a different cemetery outside Paris. His absence set off howls from many veterans. It did not explain why Trump could not make the 50-mile drive. The White House said the presidentвЂ™s helicopter could not make it to the site because of bad weather. In November, also in France, Trump scuttled plans to honor the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery. The president missed the other significant military commemoration of his term. On a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach, rows of white crosses and the Stars of David stretch as far as the eye can see - markers of sacrifices. More than 9,000 Americans are buried in the cemeteries dedicated to the D-Day operation that marked a turning point in World War II, beginning the Allied push to drive the Nazis out of France and eventually Europe. So weвЂ™re rightfully holding our breath for an event like this.вЂќ You go with the president weвЂ™ve got, and this is the president weвЂ™ve got. вЂњItвЂ™s unfortunate we have to be even concerned that this historic commemoration will be overly politicized, but this is the command climate heвЂ™s created and the reality we have,вЂќ said Paul Rieckhoff, founder and former head of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and now host of the podcast, вЂњAngry Americans.вЂќ вЂіWe have to send our president. ItвЂ™s a pattern that is set to get more scrutiny in coming days, as Trump heads overseas for the D-Day memorial where he will be joined at the service by, among others, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat whom he has called вЂњcrazy NancyвЂќ and warned not to try to impeach him. TrumpвЂ™s antipathy for the late senator was so well known that the White House this week requested that the Navy keep the USS McCain out of the presidentвЂ™s line of sight during a recent trip to Japan, so as not to rile the president. John McCain, a prisoner of war, for being captured by the enemy. The president, who did not serve in the military before becoming commander in chief, has feuded with Gold Star families, blasted political opponents on foreign soil, and mocked Sen.

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