Washington, March 3 (IANS): US President Donald Trump, who received five deferments from the Vietnam War draft, has angered military veterans by wearing a flight jacket and an Admiral’s cap during a visit aboard an aircraft carrier.
Trump donned the olive military jacket and hat during a tour of the new Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier in Newport, Virginia, on Thursday as he pledged to boost defence spending, USA Today reported.
The jacket and hat, which were personalised with the words “POTUS 45” on the back, were a gift from the crew.
“They said, ‘Here Mr. President, take this home.’ I said, ‘Let me wear it’,” Trump said during his address to the crew, drawing laughter.
“And then they gave me the beautiful hat, and I said, ‘You know? Maybe I’ll do that’.”
Trump continued, “We have a great ‘Make America Great Again’ hat, but I said, ‘This is a special day, we’re wearing this’.”
Though the items were a gift to the President, his choice to wear the clothing wasn’t received well by veterans on the social media.
“As a Veteran watching a 5 time draft dodging COWARD saluting a Marine guard is the epitome of HYPOCRISY Impeach this cowardly b------ NOW!!!,” tweeted one user.
“My skin crawls watching this man wear the uniform of my service. This is disgraceful,” said another Twiiter user.
Author and broadcaster Joy Reid tweeted: “Trump - who got five deferments from Vietnam - is currently cosplaying as a military man, complete with hat and jacket.”
“As a vet, I am appalled to see draft-evading #trump donning a military cap & jacket on a naval aircraft carrier! Insult to navy seal who died,” a user said.
Trump during his visit also met sailors and military leaders as he pledged to provide “the finest equipment in the world” and give the military the “tools you need to prevent war”.
The President angered veterans last year also when he attacked Senator John McCain, saying: “I like people who weren’t captured.”
