'Sick and disgusting': Newsom blasts Trump for fundraising off of troops killed in Kuwait

CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES: California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office has launched a scathing attack on President Donald Trump, accusing him of using the deaths of American soldiers to raise money for his campaign.

The governor’s press office called the move "sick and disgusting" after the campaign email featured a photo of Trump from the dignified transfer ritual held at Dover Air Force Base last Saturday, March 7. 

Newsom condemns Trump's fundraising tactics

The California Governor’s press office was very blunt when reacting to the latest campaign materials distributed to the president's supporters. 

After a photo of the specific fundraising email began circulating on social media, Newsom’s press office shared the post on X with a blunt assessment of Trump's character and methods.

The post read, “Donald Trump is fundraising off of dead soldiers. He is a deeply SICK and DISGUSTING MAN!” 

Huffington Post correspondent reveals contents of Trump's fundraising email

The backlash began after S V Date, a senior White House correspondent for the Huffington Post, shared the contents of the email sent to millions of small-dollar donors.

The email encouraged supporters to claim their spot as a “National Security Briefing Member” and prominently featured an image of Trump from his visit to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on March 7.

Date’s post on X pointed out the specific optics of the appeal, noting that “Trump is now offering 'national security briefings' to his millions of small dollar donors. Using a photo from his recent excursion to Dover, where he honored troops killed in his Iran war by wearing his white campaign baseball cap.”  

Dignified transfer for six troops killed in Kuwait 

The controversy is tied to the ceremony at Dover Air Force Base attended by President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump to honor the six American soldiers who were killed in a drone strike in Kuwait. 

The troops were killed on March 1 when an Iranian drone struck their position in Port Shuaiba while they were supporting "Operation Epic Fury." 

Notably, the six soldiers were members of the 103rd Sustainment Command, based in Des Moines, Iowa. The command plays a key logistical role in military operations by providing food, fuel, water, and ammunition, while also transporting equipment and supplies.

Newsom’s press office previously slammed the president’s conduct during this event, specifically his decision to wear a branded "USA" baseball cap while honoring the dead soldiers. 

Sharing a video of the ceremony, the governor's press office posted, "Take your hat off, you disgusting little man."