On Memorial Day, the former president somehow managed to stir yet another social media frenzy by putting up a post that was perceived by some as ironical by the stoics who would rather the day be remembered in silence. The post read, duplicated by conservative commentator Benny Johnson, “Happy Memorial Day from President Trump” followed by an American flag emoji. A fairly boring and routine greeting should have split opinion instead.
Advertisement
An immediate backlash grew forth. Some indicated the irony of having Trump, who flaunted the law to avoid military service during the Vietnam era, posed for a photo-op with supposedly military-style clothing for this post: “He’s a draft dodger. Dressing him up in military garb is despicable and disrespectful to our country’s heroes.” The statement found resonance with hundreds of users within a few minutes.
Others took offense at Trump’s failure to give the true meaning of Memorial Day. “It’s never a ‘Happy’ day to remember someone who died a gruesome premature death during service to this country,” said one user. Another commented: “He didn’t even mention them… he’s so full of hate that every holiday is just another opportunity to bash democrats.” The charges were just another variation of the usual opposition refrain that Trump turned what ought to have been solemn remembrance into just another occasion for airing his own political grievances.
Not all negative reviews were fair. A few possibilities in the spirit of supporting Trump praised him for his message; one said, “He tells it like it is.” Another took up the defense, saying, “It’s right for President Trump to remind us of those who hate our country on the day when we honor those who loved and died for her.” Alas, these few followers were lost in the clamorous tide of negativity.
Discussion concerning the conduct spilled over to mention past presidents. “Imagine if Obama acted like this,” thought another, implying a double standard in the way Trump’s conduct is judged compared to his predecessors. Another came in: “If Obama did this, y’all would be livid.” Introduced into an already fiery discourse, the contest and contrast with Obama, the almost ever-present target of conservative scorn, merely served to deepen the fracture even further.
Besides those political exchanges, criticisms about the wording were also made. “Just me… ‘Happy’ Memorial Day has never seemed appropriate for this solemn day of reflection,” one person said. “Sounds trivial, but words do matter, especially to the families and friends of the warriors lost.” This struck a chord with most people who felt the day should be treated with a bit more respect.
As comments poured in, it became obvious that the Trump post hit a raw nerve on either side of the aisle. Supporters saw it as yet another example of his bold honesty, while detractors saw it as yet another instance of his failing on basic perception-level expectations of people. Controversy ensured that Trump, especially on this particular day set aside to honor those who offered the ultimate sacrifice, kept his name in the headlines.
Advertisement
This particular incident dredges up memories of the fact that reactions to Trump remained sharply divided even years after his presidency. Either praising him or rejecting him, nobody could seem to take their eyes off him. And as long as that goes on, every holiday, even one so solemn as Memorial Day, will definitely remain another battleground in the culture wars.
This story originally appeared on Celebrityinsider
