His Own Worst Enemy

The other week, Trump created another unforced error for his campaign.  (It's a long list that starts with selecting "JD Vance" as his running mate.  Interestingly, just yesterday, "JD Vance" created yet one more unforced error of his own after getting booed by firefighters, never a good start, and he insulted them back by calling the firefighters, who risk their lives to save people, "haters" -- something always considered not ideal strategy when running for political office, particularly to run the country.)  That was the time,  two weeks ago, when Trump suggested the Medal of Honor given by Congress was a lesser tribute than the Presidential Medal of Freedom, since Medal of Honor recipients, he said, were usually either badly injured in war or killed in battle.  Given his previous statements belittling the military, such as calling them "losers" and "suckers, and saying he didn't want anyone who had been wounded to be in parades he was involved with, his denigrating the Medal of Honor didn’t sit well with people who…well, had an ounce of decency.
 
This was exacerbated on Monday by his using the hallowed Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery for an election promotional film, which his team was told was illegal, as well as him giving a creepy “thumbs up” when surrounded by the families standing among gravestones.  This not only brought about an incident report and press statement by officials at Arlington National Cemetery after a physical confrontation with an employee that required the military police intervening, but also a rebuke by the U.S. Army.  Just the sort of strategy you’re going for when running to be president and commander-in-chief of the military.  And the controversy grows, aided in part by it turning out that Speaker Mike Johnson was involved as the person who contacted Arlington to get them to allow Trump permission to be at the event.
 
By the way, given that there is past footage of Trump on camera demeaning soldiers in war by saying, "I like people who weren't captured," why would one think Trump cares anything for soldiers who actually died for their country?! And think he was therefore at Arlington to actually honor them??  But I digress…
 
One would think that after all this, a reasonable person – especially one running for president – might lay low on the subject or figure out a way to say things really positive about the military.  But “a reasonable person” and “lay low” (and “really positive”) are not words often associated with Trump.  Like pretty much ever.
 
And so, at a speech in Michigan yesterday, Trump doubled down on his “Which is the Best Medal” comparison test.  For reasons known only to him.  It came about because, as part of the speech, he was honoring James McCloughan, a war hero who had been given the Medal of Honor, awarded by Congress, during the first year Trump was in office.  Trump, of course, could have just said nice things about Mr. McCloughan and left it at that.  But hey, this is Trump.  And so, he chose to veer off during the speech.  For reasons known only to him.
 
"I always say,” he noted, “I'd rather get the presidential medal, because the guys that came in — other than you and a few others — oftentimes they've suffered greatly, right? They've suffered greatly, or they're not around. But it's our highest honor."
 
Yes, really.
 
Trump not only repeated once again that he preferred the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the Medal of Honor – but said so to the face of a war hero who had received the Medal of Honor!!  Risking his life in the service of his country.

But that’s okay.  It’s just Trump being Trump. (tm) And if you happened to miss it this time around, not to worry, he’ll likely say it again.  Or something worse.  Because dementia is degenerative.
 
And thoughtless, egomaniacal, hate-filled insensitivity lives forever.