Disrespect for troops

President Donald Trump’s gratuitous and derogatory comments about retired Adm. William McRaven, the Navy SEALs and the bin Laden matter are but the latest example of his disrespect for the military.

He who wraps himself in the flag of patriotism, but magically avoided the draft, earlier failed to follow the established presidential tradition of visiting Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day, claiming he was busy on the telephone.

Somewhat earlier, after spending the taxpayers’ money to go to France in recognition of Armistice Day, Trump, unlike the leaders of other relevant countries, failed to go to the ceremony, claiming that the rain and logistics prevented his appearance. This after he had chosen that visit to criticize our allies, thereby distracting attention from the memorial.

Moreover, so far Trump has not visited any deployed troops, claiming he has been too busy, yet he has found more than ample time to play golf. While he is full of patriotic mouthing, it stands in sharp juxtaposition to his actions, which have been, and are, disrespectful of our military, past and present.

— William P. Gottschalk, Lake Forest