Ever classy, ever careful
Trump raises cash over bodies of dead soldiers, sells national security access
By Sam Bellamy
Last fall, our resident buffoon asked gullible donors to send cash to help him get into heaven, apparently unaware that church call centers rescinded that special offer way back in the Middle Ages.
Now the irrepressibly venal Donald Trump is trying to shake down America’s abundance of dumbasses by exploiting the deaths of U.S. service members and peddling access to “unfiltered” national security briefings.
A recent email from Trump’s Never Surrender political action committee featured a much-ridiculed photo of him in his white USA baseball cap (now, only $55 at trump.com!) at an ordinarily solemn “dignified transfer” ceremony at Dover Air Force Base. He’s shown saluting the first six slain service members returning from his war in Iran.
With the photo comes the following pitch from Trump: “For the very first time ever, I’m opening up spots on the National Security Briefing Membership. As a National Security Briefing Member, you’ll receive my private national security briefings, unfiltered updates on the threats facing America. The straight truth on border invasions, foreign adversaries, deep state sabotage, and every danger the fake news hides.”
The email continues, “I’m the strong commander who stares down tyrants, obliterates terrorists, and never backs down. This is for patriots ready to stand with that kind of unbreakable strength. Not for the weak or wavering.”
That’s right, patriots: Don’t you be weak or waver reaching for that checkbook or Venmo link.
The email doesn’t disclose whether a National Security Briefing Membership entitles the donor to review classified documents in a Mar-a-Lago bathroom or ballroom, but a deal undoubtedly could be struck for the right sum.
When asked about the email on Sunday, Trumplethinskin expressed outrage that someone might think this is all terribly crass, unpresidential and – if those briefings actually contain any real information – dangerous.
Brian Linder at Pennlive.com provides a recap of the heated exchanged:
“Your PAC put out a fundraising email a couple of days ago, and it’s being criticized for using official White House photos of you at the dignified transfer,” a reporter asked the President on Sunday. “And the PAC is also promising access to secret …”
Well, I was at the dignified transfer unlike a lot of other people,” the President responded before she could finish..
“But do you think that was an appropriate email to send, your critics are saying that you are fundraising off …” the reporter asked before the President cut her off again.
“I do,” Trump said. “I mean, I didn’t see it. Somebody puts it out. We have a lot of people working for us, but there’s nobody that’s better to the military than me, and all you have to do look at the election. Look at the election results. Look at the kind of votes that we get. Look at the poll numbers. There’s nobody that has ever been higher as a president than me with the military.”
Trump then asked who the reporter was with, and when she responded “ABC News” he offered sharp words.
“One of the worst, most fake, corrupt … you know what ABC News, I think is maybe the most corrupt news organization on the planet,” Trump said. “I don’t want any more from ABC News.”
Democrats were quick to criticize the letter.
Sen. Andy Kim of New Jersey, a Democrat, posted on X: “I hope the donors’ national security briefing doesn’t skip the ‘Iran will close the Strait of Hormuz’ section that Trump and Hegseth missed.”
Others offered up statements of the obvious that nevertheless bear repeating.
“Donald Trump is fundraising off of dead soldiers. He is a deeply SICK and DISGUSTING MAN!” Gavin Newsom’s press office posted on X, in Trumpian style.
On CNN, Pete Buttigieg said, “If the president is willing to raise campaign funds over the bodies of America’s war dead, he is unfit to be the commander in chief.”
That much was clear from the moment Trump announced his first campaign. It’s only gotten worse.
The midterm elections are Nov. 3. Democrats had better be putting together an impeachment plan that drives Trump and his National Security Briefing Members from our midst as rapidly as possible.