A political action committee linked to Donald Trump has used a photo of the president saluting a dead soldier’s casket in a fundraising email, prompting backlash from several Democratic officials and veterans groups.
The message, sent on Thursday and paid for by Never Surrender Inc., advertises a new “National Security Briefing Membership” and includes multiple donation links. It features an image of Trump saluting during last week’s dignified transfer ceremony for six U.S. service members killed in an Iranian drone attack in Kuwait.
Government officials were quick to criticise the email on social media. California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office called Trump a “deeply SICK and DISGUSTING MAN” and accused him of “fundraising off of dead soldiers.” Representative Mike Quigley, a Democrat from Illinois, claimed Trump is “profiting off” service members’ deaths. Democratic Senator Andy Kim also reacted, and Army veteran Naveed Shah, political director for veterans’ advocacy group Common Defense, said: “Not a shred of dignity to be found anywhere in this administration.”
Trump-connected fundraising groups have sent more than a dozen emails and text messages referencing Iran since the start of U.S.-Israeli strikes, often written to appear as if the president himself has written them. One recent message included a direct warning to Iranian forces, while another said: “NOW THAT DEMOCRATS SIDED WITH THE RADICAL REGIME IN IRAN… IT HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT TO HOLD OUR MAGA MAJORITY DURING THE MIDTERMS!”
At least 13 U.S. service members have been killed since the Iran conflict began on 28 February. At least 140 others were injured over the first 10 days of the campaign, according to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell. The conflict is now entering its third week.
