Trump faces fire after joking about slain Seal
Washington, March 1: US President Donald Trump faced criticism from some netizens on Tuesday night after he joked about a slain Navy Seal during his maiden address to Congress, saying the fallen hero must be smiling for breaking “a record” of receiving sustained applause.
Mr Trump in his joint address to Congress honoured US Navy Seal William ‘Ryan’ Owens, who died late last month during a military raid in Yemen authorised by his administration.
“We are blessed to be joined tonight by Carryn Owens, the widow of a US Navy Special Operator, senior Chief William ‘Ryan’ Owens’,” Mr Trump said to heartfelt applause.
“Ryan died as he lived: a warrior, and a hero — battling against terrorism and securing our nation.” The joint chamber then honoured Owens’ widow with a lengthy standing ovation.
Mr Trump responded to the applause for Owens with an off-script comment of the night: “Ryan is looking down right now, you know that, and he’s very happy, because you know what? I think he just broke a record.” The audience laughed.
The joke about Owens being “very happy” about the applause sparked ire in some of Mr Trump’s critics, who found the because his mention joke disrespectful. broke an applause
“Trump’s highest com- record?” Eric Geller pliment to a fallen war- tweeted. “They lost Ryan. rior is that HE BROKE They? WE. He was one of AN APPLAUSE OURS. YOU gave the RECORD,” Ana Marie order. Take some responsibility,” Cox tweeted. another netizen
“Ryan died for that said. The negative laugh line,” another netizen response to Mr Trump wrote. “Did...Did was by no means universal Trump just say a slain and many Twitter Navy SEAL is looking users also backed Trump down happily from heaven for his remarks.