You hear the word “horrific” thrown around a lot in political conversations—crises, mistakes, or failures get called “horrific” when they’re really just embarrassing or incompetent. But every once in a while, something comes along that makes the word feel inadequate, that forces us to confront a reality so dark it shakes you to your core. The murder of Vanessa Guillén at Fort Hood was one of those moments.
Guillén, a soldier stationed at Fort Hood, was brutally murdered in 2020 by a fellow soldier. Her death was a culmination of both horrifying violence and systematic neglect. She had previously confided in her family that she had been sexually harassed by a superior, and yet, little was done to protect her. When her dismembered body was finally found months after she went missing, it was not just a moment of grief but of reckoning—a reckoning for the military’s systemic failures and its culture of silence surrounding sexual harassment and violence.
Donald Trump, who was president at the time, met with Guillén’s family. He expressed sorrow, and in a rare moment, he appeared to empathize, offering financial assistance to help with funeral expenses. It was the kind of gesture that, on its face, seemed kind, if not entirely expected from a sitting president. But now, more than four years later, new allegations raise questions about Trump’s true feelings behind closed doors.
According to reports by The Atlantic, a publication known for its integrity, Trump privately raged about the costs of the funeral and allegedly referred to the deceased soldier as a “f—ing Mexican,” expressing anger over the financial burden he’d taken on. The shockwave from this revelation is seismic, not just for the cruelty of the alleged words but for what it represents about the former president’s attitudes toward both the military and immigrants.
Imagine that—a commander-in-chief who claims to support the troops, who’s wrapped himself in the flag at every turn, allegedly belittling a fallen soldier because of her ethnicity. The Atlantic piece details how Trump consistently displayed disdain for the military, comparing generals unfavorably to the brutal but effective leaders of dictatorships, particularly Hitler’s generals.
His administration, predictably, has denied the allegations. Former officials have come out to say these events never took place, a narrative we’ve seen before in controversies swirling around Trump’s remarks on fallen soldiers. But time and again, accounts from multiple sources surface, stories of his temper and his disdain for those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
So here we are, facing yet another gut-wrenching reminder of what Trump’s America looks like when the cameras stop rolling. A president whose anger bubbles over not because of the tragedy of Vanessa Guillén’s death, but allegedly because of a bill he didn’t want to pay.
And that brings us back to the fundamental question: What does it mean to truly support the troops? Is it about loud rallies and waving flags? Or is it about empathy, respect, and understanding the profound sacrifices our service members and their families make? Trump has long claimed he champions the military, but if this account proves accurate, it offers a disturbing glimpse into what that “support” looks like when no one is watching.
Editors note: Typically the team here at Political Colonoscopy tries to bring the funny while highlighting important stories we think you need to hear. There’s nothing funny about this. Four years ago, the American people decided that Donald Trump was not the candidate they wanted in the White House. Despite this, he’s making another attempt to get the job back. Our troops deserve a commander-in-chief who, whether he actually said this or not, is somebody who we would never even believe in a million years could say such a thing. Donald Trump is not that man.
