Removal of flag honoring veterans from White House sparks anger
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A decision by the Trump administration earlier this year to move the flag honoring missing war veterans from a prominent position atop the White House to a less visible spot on the South Lawn has angered some veterans and lawmakers, who see it as disrespectful and potentially illegal.
The flag is dedicated to prisoners of war and service members who are missing in action. According to a White House video posted in June, it was relocated in a private ceremony with full military honors, months after President Donald Trump signed into law a bill requiring the flag to be flown at certain federal sites including the White House every day.
The revelations come amid growing questions over Trump's respect for the military, after a report last week by the Atlantic magazine alleging that Trump had called fallen American soldiers "losers" and "suckers" sparked outrage and controversy.
Trump denied the assertions, but has publicly disparaged the service of the late Senator John McCain, a war veteran, and was accused of criticizing his own generals in excerpts of a forthcoming book titled "Rage," by Bob Woodward.
"It's bad enough that President Trump publicly ridicules American heroes like Senator McCain and others who were captured on the battlefield. He inexplicably promotes the Confederate flag but fails to fly the POW/MIA flag," said Democratic Senator Jack Reed, a co-sponsor of the bill. "It's part of a pattern of disrespect by President Trump toward those who honorably served our nation."
Reed, and fellow Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Margaret Hassan, who also co-sponsored the bill, sent a letter to the White House on Thursday requesting that it reconsider the flag's relocation.
"This decision to abruptly move the POW/MIA Flag from atop the White House to an area that is apparently not visible to the public may violate federal law and does not appropriately honor the service and sacrifices of American prisoners of war, missing servicemembers, and their families," the letter reads.
The White House defended the change of venue but did not offer a reason for it.
"President Trump dedicated a POW/MIA memorial site earlier this year on the White House grounds to forever remember our heroic service members who were prisoners of war or missing in action," White House spokesman Judd Deere said. "The President selected a site on the Southwest corner of the South Lawn for this prominent and sacred memorial, which is visible to all those who visit the White House, that features the POW/MIA flag," he added.
The black and white flag, which reads "you are not forgotten," depicts a man beneath a guard tower gazing down at a barbed wire fence. Roughly 82,000 American servicemembers are still missing since World War Two.
U.S. law requires the flag to be displayed in a "manner designed to ensure visibility to the public." In its current position, it can be viewed from limited vantage points outside the White House complex.
The American Ex-Prisoners of War group, which represents 10,000 former POWs and their families, said it was outraged last month when it learned of the move, calling it a "slap in the face."
"While he touts his support for the U.S. Armed Forces and their families, actions speak louder than words. And this action speaks of disdain for Prisoners of War and the Missing in Action," the group said.
The bill, co-sponsored by Republicans including Senators Marco Rubio, Tom Cotton and John Thune, was signed by Trump in November and sought to give the flag a lasting place of prominence.
Over Memorial Day weekend this May, Trump touted his signing of the law to representatives of Rolling Thunder, a veterans advocacy group.
"In the months since, that righteous flag has proudly flown over the White House; you probably noticed it today," Trump told them.
But its relocation prompted inquiries from veterans advocates, including Artie Muller, founder and executive director of Rolling Thunder, who said he "wasn't too happy" when he learned of the change.
"It was supposed to be over the White House," he said, adding that he did not see it as illegal or disrespectful, but hoped it would be restored to its prior location to increase visibility.
Ann Mills-Griffiths, chairman and chief executive officer of the National League of POW/MIA Families, said that "working-level White House staff members" had been made aware of the concern over the flag not being flown over the White House.
For its part, the American legion said it was pleased that the flag "flies 24/7 at its own POW/MIA Memorial on White House grounds."
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Trump seems to have some sort of psychological dysfunction related to U.S. prisoners of war or MIA. It's hard to imagine anyone but Trump ordered the removal of this flag to a less visible and prominent location.
I think it's true, I think he really does consider those who were killed or captured or became missing in our wars to be "losers".
Nice find PJ.
Their sacrifice is the highest any American can give to their country. I'm not exactly sure what is driving this aversion to those in our military. It's weird.
Because he knows inside that he could never measure up. It is a blatant reminder that he is a coward where others showed the metal of their character.
trumpturd doesn't measure up in any way, shape, or form to a decent human being.
I think that's exactly it. I was trying to form the words in my head, but you said it best. It's like that flag is an affront to him because it reminds him of how cowardly he is. And I do think he listens to criticism regarding him and how he treats the military.
That flag commands so much more respect than he could ever hope to have
Have you noticed how he denigrates everyone that he knows is better than he is and has achieved more than he has because of their character.....
Oh, yes I have. He pisses on veterans because he knows they had the balls to go do what he was too afraid to do. He hates scientists because they make him look foolish. He can't stand intellectuals because he can't figure out what they're talking about.
The White House is not/did not move the U.S. flag from the roof of the White House - just the POW/MIA flag.
On November 7, 2019, the National POW/MIA Flag Act was signed into law, requiring the POW/MIA flag to be flown on certain federal properties, including the US Capitol Building, on all days the flag of the United States is flown.
The White House is NOT the U.S. Capitol Building. The U.S. Capitol Building is where Congress meets and has offices.
How utterly disgusting. Trump has never served a day in his life and IMO, is very jealous of real men and women that served in the military.
There's definitely a diagnosis there but you would think someone in the WH or in his campaign would tell him now is not the best time to do anything that may be viewed as controversial as it relates to his support for our military. He is going to need that block of voters.
Trump knows his military supporters have turned away from him so now he just wants to heap more abuse upon them. He is all butt hurt because they don't like him now, so screw them.
Yes, some are upset with his comments but other Vets have said they don't care that he disparages them. They plan on continuing to support him. That may be one reason he doesn't feel he needs to pretend to care.
Any vets who still supports him are total scum and no longer part of my extended family. They have dishonored the uniform they wore.
Almost all of the people I hang with are veterans. They still support him even after he's dumped on them.
Why hang out with them then?
And are any of their reasons for still supporting him valid, or are they mixing the Kool-Aid (bug juice) extra strong prior to consumption?
They're Mr G's friends and I don't have any of my own. I do like my daughter's MIL. We're like sisters and she doesn't get political
I honestly don't know. I suspect that some of them think that just because they're veterans they're supposed to support the Republican Party. My own husband doesn't like him very much but he supports him as pres.
And it could be that they are just assholes. I like that idea
Everything about trumpturd is utterly disgusting.
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Of course he moved the flag, all of us vets are losers and suckers according to donny the draft dodger.