Trump blasted for choosing golf tournament over honoring US soldiers killed in Lithuania: 'A disgrace'

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: President Donald Trump earned the ire of netizens on social media by not attending the dignified transfer of four US soldiers who died during a training accident in Lithuania and instead attending a golf tournament on Friday, April 4, reported The Mirror US.

The deceased service members were part of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, and were on a tactical mission related to NATO operations around the end of March when their M88 Hercules armored vehicle disappeared.

Lithuanian, Polish, and US troops and rescue teams searched the forests at the Gen Silvestras Zukauskas training ground in Pabrade and ultimately pulled out the tank from a bog on Monday.

The deceased troopers have been identified as Staff Sgt Troy S Knutson-Collins, 28, of Battle Creek, Michigan; Staff Sgt Jose Duenez Jr, 25, of Joliet, Illinois; Staff Sgt Edvin F Franco, 25, of Glendale, California; and Pfc Dante D Taitano, 21, of Dededo, Guam.

Why did Donald Trump not attend the dignified transfer of soldiers?

The incumbent did not attend the dignified transfer ceremony of US soldiers at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Friday.

Instead, he went over to Florida the day before to attend the inauguration of the three-day LIV Golf series at one of his golf courses. Trump will be spending the rest of the week in Mar-a-Lago, where he hosted a fundraising dinner on Friday.

Trump sent Pete Hegseth to the official ceremony in his stead, with the White House stating, "The Secretary of Defense will represent the Administration at the dignified transfer for the four brave US service members who tragically died during a training exercise in Lithuania."

According to the Independent, the transfer ceremony was also attended by a group of Democratic senators, such as Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin and Senators Tammy Duckworth and Chris Coons.

The absence of the POTUS from the ceremony further attracted criticism as political and religious leaders of Lithuania, as well as thousands of common people, had gathered on the streets of the Baltic country to bid farewell to the deceased soldiers on Thursday.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said in his speech about the show of support from his countrymen, "For us, it is more than a duty — it is an emotion. We have experienced trials in our history, and therefore, we understand well what loss is, what death is, what honorable duty is."

Internet slams Donald Trump for his choice

Netizens reacting to the news on the social media platform X were furious with Trump for choosing to attend a golf tournament instead of the dignified service ceremony. The following tweets demonstrate some of the takes.

"A man’s gotta have a code. Trump’s code is that the Saudis are paying him millions to host the golf tournament, so that’s where he is," wrote a person.

"Four of our dead Soldiers will be flying in to Dover this weekend. But you gotta golf," mocked another.

"Trump, as Commander in Chief, wasn't aware that four US soldiers were missing and presumed dead. He had to be informed by reporters. Now, Trump decided not to attend when those fallen soldiers are returned home because he'd rather be at a golf tournament that he profits from. Trump is a disgrace," noted a third.

"Trump is all about power and money," echoed a fourth.

"Well, you gotta put the important things first. Right? Priorities," chided a fifth.

"Lithuanians in Vilnius paid more respects to the 4 American troops who died in Lithuania than Donald Trump…who ran off to go golfing," pointed out yet another.

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