Politicians condemn newspaper protest
President Donald Trump was forced to deny describing US war dead as “losers” after facing the condemnation of veteran groups.
He was criticised as a “coward” after The Atlantic magazine claimed he made the remarks in 2018 ahead of a cancelled visit to the Aisne-marne American Cemetery in France.
Four sources allegedly confirmed that President Trump told his entourage that soldiers buried at the cemetery near Paris were “suckers” and the land was “filled with losers”.
President Trump was due to visit the cemetery for a commemoration but the White House told reporters bad weather meant he had to cancel the visit.
However, it was reported that the Secret Service only said helicopter travel was risky and offered to drive him there.
President Trump responded he did not want to visit the cemetery because it was “filled
Politicians have united in condemning environmental protesters who attempted to prevent newspapers from reaching the shops.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson led criticism, accusing Extinction Rebellion of jeopardising free speech.
More than 100 protesters blocked
White House hopeful Joe Biden
with losers”, according to The Atlantic, and he was concerned the inclement weather would mess up his hair.
In another conversation on the trip Mr Trump referred to the 1,800 Marines who died in the First World War battle of Belleau Wood as “suckers” for getting killed, The Atlantic reported.
President Trump tweeted: “This is more made up Fake News given by disgusting and jealous failures in a disgraceful attempt to influence the 2020 Election!”
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said roads outside the Newsprinters works at Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, and Knowsley, near Liverpool on Friday night. There were 72 arrests by the police.
A smaller protest near Motherwell, Lanarkshire, aimed to disrupt distribution of the Scottish Sun. No arrests were made.
Writing on Twitter,
President Trump’s remarks were “a disgrace” and called on him to apologise. Mr Biden’s son Beau served in Iraq in 2008 and 2009.
Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth – a former Army pilot who lost her legs in combat in a helicopter crash in the Iraq War – said President Trump had “insulted war heroes”.
And Khizr Khan, the father of an Army captain killed in the Iraq War, said President Trump’s “soul is that of a coward.”
The White House mounted a robust defence of President Trump amid fears that the remarks could further diminish his chances of re-election.
Most polls show President Trump trailing his rival Mr Biden in both battleground states and national polling.
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said: “It’s sad the depths that people will go to during a lead-up to a presidential campaign to try to smear somebody.”
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he was with the president for part of the trip to France two years ago. Mr Pompeo recalled: “I never heard him use the words that are described in that article.”
Mr Johnson said: “A free press is vital in holding the government and other powerful institutions to account on issues critical for the future of our country, including the fight against climate change.”
Labour MP Dawn Butler posted a tweet supporting the group, but later deleted it.
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “A free press is vital for our democracy.”
Newsprinters presses publish the Rupert Murdoch-owned News Corp titles including The Sun and The Times.
Extinction Rebellion apologised to newsagents and customers for the disruption but added it would “not apologise to Mr Murdoch for disrupting his agenda”.