美国总统唐纳德·特朗普(Donald Trump)周一在阿灵顿国家公墓(Arlington National Cemetery)纪念阵亡将士纪念日时,在悼念美国战争死难者的讲话中介入政治。
特朗普在谈到第一批死在邦克山的士兵后,抨击了前任政府。
“那些年轻人可能永远不会知道他们的牺牲对我们意味着什么,但我们当然知道我们欠他们什么。这种勇气给了我们地球上有史以来最自由、最伟大、最高贵的共和国。在漫长而艰难的四年后,我正在重建一个共和国。这是我们经历的艰难的四年,”特朗普说,引发了观众的一些掌声。
“谁会让这种事情发生?人们不受限制地涌入我们的边境,”他继续说道,尽管他没有明确提到前总统乔·拜登的名字。"人们做着难以形容的事情,今天不讨论."
尽管如此,特朗普继续说道:“作为一个国家,我们将比以往做得更好,比以往任何时候都更好。我向你保证。”
在一个阴天的早上,特朗普在发表演讲前参加了无名烈士墓的传统敬献花圈仪式。
“这些战士肩负起责任和服务的使命,他们知道为他人而活意味着他们可能会为他人而死。他们什么也没问。他们付出了一切。我们欠他们一切,甚至更多,”特朗普在讲话中说。
特朗普说:“他们勇气的最大纪念碑不是雕刻在大理石上或铸造在青铜上——它就在我们周围,一个拥有3.25亿人口的美国国家,它很快将比以往任何时候都更强大。”“会的。”
当特朗普、国防部长皮特·赫格塞斯和副总统JD·万斯抵达纪念圆形剧场时,他们受到了一些欢呼和欢呼。
Hegseth在他自己的言论中,多次提到为国家牺牲生命的男人,但没有提到在军队中服役或在战斗中死亡的妇女。与此同时,万斯指出,阿灵顿国家公墓是“我们国家的儿女永远的安息之地”
在无名烈士墓,万斯、海格塞斯和美国华盛顿军区少将特雷弗·布雷登坎普(Trevor Bredenkamp)加入了特朗普的行列。四个人都举手敬礼。
出席的还有参谋长联席会议主席约翰·丹尼尔·凯恩将军、国家情报总监塔尔西·加巴德、退伍军人事务部长道格·柯林斯和其他特朗普官员。
周一早些时候,总统在他的保守社交媒体平台上发布了一条全大写的通用信息,以纪念这个节日。
在第二个阵亡将士纪念日社交媒体帖子中,特朗普主要集中在抨击联邦法官和被认为是政治对手的人。它没有提到在军队服役时丧生的美国军事人员。
特朗普祝所有人节日快乐,包括他说“过去四年来试图通过扭曲的激进左翼思想摧毁我们的国家”的“人渣”。
帖子的其余部分批评了前任政府的边境安全,并抨击了阻止特朗普部分移民议程的法官。
特朗普在纪念圆形剧场的演讲中提到了即将到来的阅兵纪念美国250周年。6月14日的庆祝活动恰逢特朗普79岁生日。
“我们将举行一个非常非常盛大的庆祝活动,”特朗普周一在讲话中说,并补充说,如果他在2020年再次当选,他将错过这段时间担任总统。
他还吹捧了即将在美国举行的其他大型活动,包括2026年世界杯和2028年奥运会。
“你能想象我错过了那四年吗?现在看看我有什么。我什么都有。事情的发展令人惊讶。上帝做到了,我也相信,”他说。
Trump takes veiled swipe at Biden in Arlington Memorial Day remarks
President Donald Trump, marking Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, waded into politics during remarks to pay tribute to those who died in America's wars.
Trump took a swipe at the previous administration after speaking about the first soldiers who died at Bunker Hill.
"Those young men could never have known what their sacrifice would mean to us, but we certainly know what we owe to them. That valor 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. That was a hard four years we went through," Trump said, prompting some applause from the audience.
"Who would let that happen? People pouring through our borders unchecked," he continued, though he did not explicitly mention former President Joe Biden by name. "People doing things that are indescribable and not for today to discuss."
Still, Trump continued: "We will do better than we've ever done as a nation, better than ever before. I promise you that."
During an overcast morning, Trump took part in the traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns before delivering his speech.
"These warriors picked up the mantle of duty and service, knowing that to live for others meant always that they might die for others. They asked nothing. They gave everything. And we owe them everything and more," Trump said in his remarks.
"The greatest monument to their courage is not carved in marble or cast in bronze -- it's all around us, an American nation 325 million strong, which will soon be greater than it has ever before," Trump said. "It will be."
Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance received some cheers and shoutouts when they arrived at the Memorial Amphitheater.
Hegseth, in his own remarks, repeatedly referenced the men who sacrificed their lives for the nation but made no reference to women who have served in the military or died in combat. Vance, meanwhile, noted Arlington National Cemetery is the "eternal resting spot for our nation's sons and daughters."
At the Tomb of the Unknowns, Trump was joined by Vance, Hegseth and Commanding General of U.S. Military District of Washington Maj. Gen. Trevor Bredenkamp. All four men raised their hands in salute.
Also in attendance were Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. John Daniel Caine, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Veteran Affairs Secretary Doug Collins and other Trump officials.
The president earlier Monday had posted to his conservative social media platform a generic message in all-capital letters commemorating the holiday.
In a second Memorial Day social media post, Trump focused largely on lashing out at federal judges and perceived political opponents. It contained no mention of U.S. military personnel who lost their lives while serving in the armed forces.
Trump wished a happy holiday to all -- including "the scum" he said "spent the last four years trying to destroy our country through warped radical left minds."
The rest of the post criticized the previous administration on border security, and hit out at judges who've blocked parts of Trump's immigration agenda.
Trump, in his speech at Memorial Amphitheater, mentioned theupcoming military paradeto mark America's 250th birthday. The June 14 celebration coincides with Trump's 79th birthday.
"We're going to have a big, big celebration," Trump said in his remarks on Monday, adding that if he'd been reelected in 2020 he would have missed being president during this time.
He also touted other big events coming to the U.S., including the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics.
"Can you imagine I missed that four years? Now look what I have. I have everything. Amazing the way things work out. God did that, I believe that, too," he said.