Trump returns to Arlington’s ‘sacred soil’

U.S. president honours fallen soldiers, but is criticized for tweets about economy

ARLINGTON, VA. — U.S. President Donald Trump paid a Memorial Day tribute at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, saying he came to “sacred soil” to “honour the lives and deeds of America’s greatest heroes.”

The commander in chief, speaking before an audience of Cabinet members, military leaders, veterans and families assembled in the marble amphitheatre near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, said, “We mourn alongside their families and we strive to be worthy of their sacrifice.”

Trump’s sombre tone contrasted with a self-promotional tweet earlier Monday in which he said fallen soldiers would be “very proud and happy at how well our country is doing today,” citing the economy and low unemployment.

During his second Memorial Day trip to Arlington as president, Trump laid a wreath at the tomb. He recognized military figures, including Bob Dole, the former senator and 1996 Republican presidential nominee, who served in the Second World War. And he spoke warmly about a number of military families in attendance, including a young boy named Christian Jacobs, whose father is buried at Arlington. Trump said the boy showed him his father’s grave last year, calling it “a moment I will always remember.”

Before heading to the hallowed grounds across the Potomac River from the nation’s capital, Trump tweeted that “those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today.”

But the president then veered from the sombre to the self-congratulatory in the tweet, citing what he said was the “Best economy in decades, lowest unemployment numbers for Blacks and Hispanics EVER (& women in 18years), rebuilding our Military and so much more. Nice!” The president also posted quotes in line with his criticism of the Justice Department and investigations into ties between his winning campaign and Russia.

He was criticized for his tone by a number of people, including a former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Obama administration, retired Gen. Martin Dempsey, who wrote, “This day, of all days of the year, should not be about any one of us.”