Reporter, HuffPost
Eric Trump raised eyebrows among Twitter users this week after stating that his father, Donald Trump, “fought” for the U.S.
“My father fought for this country,” the former president’s son said in a video shared online. “[NFL quarterback] Tom Brady always fought and played for his team. My father’s playing for Team America.”
Eric Trump: “My father fought for this country. Tom Brady always fought and played for his team. My father’s playing for Team America.” pic.twitter.com/dfc21jJm2b
While the word “fought” was likely just a turn of phrase, critics on Twitter felt it was doing a lot of heavy lifting.
They immediately highlighted Trump’s history of medical deferments from the military, including one on the basis of bone spurs in his heels. That diagnosis has since been questioned, though, after the daughter of the podiatrist who saw Trump said it was done simply as a favor to his father, Fred C. Trump.
Others online pointed out Trump’s past criticism of wounded war veterans. The former president has also described avoiding sexually transmitted infections in the 1970s and 1980s as his “personal Vietnam.”
President Bone Spurs? Fought? https://t.co/FmZoAm4f1L
“My father fought for this country” ? 😂 You just insulted every actual veteran who actually did fight for this country !
Your father never fought for anyone or anything except himself. Remember the bone spurs? https://t.co/SzF16nDTxd
Your father pissed all over people who fought for this country. Exhibit A: John McCain. https://t.co/75lma08Jjn
He also fought hard to stay out of the military.
Exactly HOW did he ‘fight’ for this country?? WHAT did he do that benefitted THE COUNTRY?? I really want to hear it like I’m 5 years old.
Your father fought harder to keep his tax returns secret and his DNA from the courts than he ever fought for a single American.
Hope this helps, Eric
Reporter, HuffPost