On Memorial Day, former President Donald Trump once again stirred controversy by posting a message on Truth Social that veered away from honoring fallen U.S. soldiers. Instead, he used the occasion to lash out at political opponents, the judiciary, and his successor, Joe Biden. The post, written entirely in capital letters, was described by various outlets as contentious due to its aggressive tone and incendiary rhetoric.
"HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY TO ALL, INCLUDING THE SCUM WHO SPENT THE LAST FOUR YEARS TRYING TO DESTROY OUR COUNTRY WITH THEIR RADICAL LEFTIST AND PERVERTED MINDS," Trump's post began. He went on to accuse these individuals of allowing "21,000,000 illegal aliens—many of whom are criminals and mentally ill—into our country through an open border that only an incompetent president would endorse."
The former president charged that American judges are protecting foreign criminals to "keep murderers, drug dealers, rapists, gang members, and ex-cons in our country," claiming these judges "hate America" and harbor a "sick and very dangerous ideology."
The Observance of Memorial Day
Memorial Day in the United States is a solemn occasion dedicated to honoring members of the armed forces who lost their lives while serving. The day traditionally involves ceremonies, floral tributes, and speeches focused on national unity and sacrifice. Many media outlets have pointed out that wishing someone a "happy Memorial Day" is neither culturally nor protocol appropriate, as the day is meant for reflection and remembrance, not celebration.
Nevertheless, Trump chose to subvert this intention with a message filled with derogatory remarks and written entirely in uppercase. "Let's hope the U.S. Supreme Court and other good and compassionate judges across the nation save us from the decisions of these monsters who want our country to go to hell," he concluded.
Trump's Continued Use of National Holidays for Political Rhetoric
Alongside his social media post, Trump participated in the traditional ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, where he laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He was accompanied by Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
This incident is not the first time Trump has used a national holiday as a platform for confrontation. In 2018, during his first term, he tweeted that "those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud of how well our country is doing today," focusing