Adam Kinzinger slams Trump’s ‘I am a war hero’ claim as ‘nuts’, calls it offensive to those who served
WASHINGTON, DC: Former Republican Rep Adam Kinzinger criticized President Donald Trump for calling himself a war hero after the Iran strikes.
The former Air Force pilot argued such remarks are offensive to veterans who have served in combat.
Donald Trump links Iran strikes to his ‘war hero’ status
On Tuesday, Donald Trump phoned into conservative host Mark Levin’s radio show and praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “war hero.”
He then compared himself to Netanyahu, saying, “He’s a war hero. I guess I am too. Nobody cares. But I am too. I mean, I sent those planes.”
Trump was referring to an airstrike he ordered in June targeting Iran’s underground nuclear facilities.
Trump suggested that the mission, which he claimed was meant to eliminate Tehran’s nuclear program, elevated him to war hero status.
Adam Kinzinger calls Donald Trump's claim 'nuts'
Adam Kinzinger, who served in the Air Force with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, reacted strongly during an interview on CNN with Erin Burnett.
“Yeah. I mean, look, this is just nuts. This is nuts. And they’re going to find — his people are going to find a way to justify this,” said Kinzinger.
The former congressman also pointed to earlier moments when Trump attempted to tie himself to military service.
“Listen, when they were putting out something honoring the Army’s 250th anniversary, they put out a picture of Donald Trump in his military academy uniform, which has nothing to do with the military except they drill you,” Kinzinger added.
Adam Kinzinger says Donald Trump’s rhetoric demeans real military service
While Adam Kinzinger said he hopes President Trump can secure progress toward a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, he argued that comparing himself to service members goes too far.
“You can like what he’s done. That’s fine. I hope he gets a resolution in Ukraine,” Kinzinger continued.
He added, “But to put himself on the same level of people that have actually gone out and served this country, not claimed bone spurs, is an offense to anybody who served.”
He added that even veterans avoid using the phrase war hero for themselves. “And frankly, you just take somebody that served, calling themselves a war hero, even that would be inappropriate,” Kinzinger said on the show. “For a guy that never served to say it, it’s nuts.”
Benjamin Netanyahu’s ICC warrant and Donald Trump’s history with veterans
Donald Trump’s comments came as Benjamin Netanyahu remains the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued last November over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
Reportedly, more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israel’s offensive that began after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack killed around 1,200 people in Israel.
Trump himself never served in the military. He received five deferments from the Vietnam War draft, including one for bone spurs when he was 22.
In 2015, Trump questioned Senator John McCain’s service, saying he preferred “people who were not captured.”
In 2020, Trump reportedly had referred to dead service members as “losers” and “suckers,” as per Atlantic, claims he denied.
Kinzinger concluded that despite the controversy, Trump supporters will likely rally around him. “But somebody, they’ll defend it, they’ll find a way,” said Kinzinger.
