While Memorial Day is traditionally a time for Americans to reflect on the sacrifices made by fallen service members, Donald Trump took a different approach — using part of the solemn holiday to voice his personal complaints.
A sharp attack
President Donald Trump is facing backlash for the way he chose to observe Memorial Day — by launching into a fiery, all-caps tirade on social media.
In his post, he took aim at the Biden administration, labeling them “scum,” criticized former President Joe Biden directly, and lashed out at judges who have ruled against his policies.
Trump’s Memorial Day message to the nation echoed the tone of his Easter greeting — beginning not with unity or reflection, but with a sharp attack on the injustices he claims he’s fighting to correct.
On Monday, Trump posted this on Truth Social:
”Happy Memorial Day to all, including the scum that spent the last four years trying to destroy our country through warped radical left minds who allowed 21 million people to illegally enter our country, many of them being criminals and the mentally insane, through an open border that only an incompetent president would approve, and through judges who are on a mission to keep murderers, drug dealers, rapists, gang members, and released prisoners from all over the world on our country so they can rob, murder and rape again.”
Speech at Arlington
On Memorial Day morning, President Donald Trump attended a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, joined by Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The trio each took a moment to address the crowd during one of the country’s most solemn national observances.
Memorial Day holds deep significance across the United States, especially in Washington, D.C., where places like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial draw countless veterans and grieving families. At Arlington, Trump took a more measured tone, honoring fallen service members with poignant stories and heartfelt tributes.
He spoke in detail about Corporal Ryan McGee from Fredericksburg, Virginia, who completed three tours in Afghanistan before being killed in Iraq at just 21 years old. McGee is buried in Section 60 of Arlington, and Trump acknowledged the presence of his mother, Sherry. “All of America shares in your grief and, more importantly, we share in your pride in your wonderful son,” Trump told her.
Reflecting on the nation’s military history, Trump noted, “Their valour gave us the freest, greatest and most noble Republic ever to exist on the face of the earth; a Republic that I am fixing after a long and hard four years.”
”A deranged lunatic”
From there, the president pivoted to familiar campaign themes, expressing outrage over immigration and the border crisis: “Who would let that happen? People pouring through our borders unchecked; people who are doing things that are indescribable and not for today to discuss.”
Trump also reignited his feud with Harvard University, issued a bold speech at Arlington National Cemetery where he declared that he now has “everything” in his second term, and amplified a post referring to President Biden as a “decrepit corpse.”
As usual, many had strong opinions about the president’s choice of words and timing, and they didn’t hold back on social media.In particular, it was Trump’s Truth Social post that struck a nerve and ignited a wave of outrage. Here’s a glimpse at some of the criticism it triggered:
As the country took time to remember those who gave their lives in service, Trump’s mix of tribute, personal jabs, and political bragging had people talking —for better or worse. Some say he was just being himself, others think he completely missed the moment.
So, what’s your take? Did he go too far, or was it just Trump being Trump?
