[Selected from Buzz Feed]
Veterans Are Sharing How They Honestly Feel About The Trump Administration — Here's What They Had To Say
Dannica Ramirez
Wed, August 13, 2025
Recently, we asked active and reserve US military members and veterans to share what they honestly think about Donald Trump and his administration, and they didn't hold back. Amid jeopardizing America's relationships with long-standing allies, Veteran Affairs layoffs, and — among many other things — deploying troops to intimidate the American people, here's how veterans are reacting:
* "Trump lacks any integrity and is the first president in my lifetime to blatantly use the military as political pawns. I served for 21 years, and I never thought I'd see the day that a president would politicize soldiers while speaking to them as he did at Fort Bragg. It's reprehensible and sad that our military has come to this. For those service members who are okay with this, you need to realize that Trump is breaking down your trust with the American public by egging soldiers on to cheer at a clear political message. This won't bode well for the stature of the services. Senior officers better get off their asses and do something before it's too late!"
Melissa Sue Gerrits / Getty Images
—smartcentipede134
*"As a Vietnam veteran, I am appalled at what our country is becoming under Trump and the Republicans who are condoning all of his actions."
—deadpankid7571
* "I'm a retired Navy veteran who's served 21 years for my country. I've been retired since 1993 and have voted for both Republican and Democratic presidents. I honestly have to say that Trump is the worst president elected in my lifetime. He was disrespectful to the late Senator John McCain by making comments about him being captured and spending time as a prisoner of war. But at least McCain served his country. Trump makes everything about himself; he's an adulterer and a convicted felon. What other president found it necessary to use the military to celebrate his birthday, spending millions of taxpayer dollars to do so? Trump could be the only candidate on the ballot, but he will never garner my vote."
YouTube: C-SPAN / Via youtube.com
—grumpytrash952
* "I retired after 30 years of service. Trump is the exact type of fascist dictator I spent my entire career fighting. Like all other fascist dictators, he only cares for himself. This will end violently."
—Doc B., 60, Virginia
* "Retired Air Force here. If I were active duty, I'd retire or resign immediately, because I wouldn't be able to support Trump's actions and his attempts to create false conditions to declare martial law so he can rule us. He's a coward and a bully. If Congress won't stop him, then the courts must. Otherwise, we must get ready for a potential civil war."
—sportycloud34
*"I am a veteran of two branches of military service with honorable discharges from both. I served during the Gulf War and the War on Terror after 9/11, and I grew up in a household with a US Marine Corps aviator. My dad retired after over 20 years of service, and as much as I miss him, I'm glad he passed before he could witness the embarrassment of the person who currently holds the office of President of the United States. Dad always preached that you don't have to respect the man, but you must respect the office."
Inti St Clair / Getty Images/Tetra images RF
* "But Trump has insulted the military and our veterans, and he continues to trample our Constitution. I was taught that my oath of office was to uphold the Constitution, and I seem to remember something about refusing orders that were morally questionable or violated our oath. I'm not embarrassed by my service, but I'm embarrassed by our president."
—beaunamy15
* "Trump is a draft dodger who was afraid of fighting for his country in Vietnam. How can any veteran who put their life on the line for the country find this man acceptable as a citizen, let alone as a president who can decide their fate?
* "I am a veteran who has voted for Trump in all three elections. I believe that voting for him this last time was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. Seeing how cowardly he acts toward our enemies makes me sick. He is turning our best allies against us while trying to befriend the dictators we swore to prevent from prospering. Trump is single-handedly trying to crash the American economy and make life harder for everyone except for the 1%. He expects the American people to bend the knee as if he were a king. I fear for the direction our country is headed."
—Anonymous
* "I am a USAF Cold War and Vietnam-era veteran and registered Republican. I was appalled by the ensuing damage Trump did to our country internally and internationally during his first term, which he ended with an attempted insurrection. The next four years were spent correcting much of the damage, only to have it totally destroyed in less than six months by Trump and his inept administration. Although I'm not totally convinced it will happen, my hope is that our Congress and courts of law will have the fortitude to shut Trump and his administration down."
—boringsquirrel324
* "In 1971, my draft number was 85, and I joined the Navy at the end of the Vietnam War. I retired in 1994 during the first Gulf War, and I was a registered Republican until Trump came on the scene. He lacks the knowledge, ability, and heart to be commander in chief. He dodged the draft five times, called military members 'suckers and losers,' is a 34-time convicted felon, was divorced [two] times, and the list goes on and on. He has NO place in politics, and he is the WORST president ever. This isn't over, but we don't know how it will end. Let's pray the Constitution survives."
—vibrantmoon825
* "I have served 22 years for my country. This clown that was elected to represent us all is, by far, the most corrupt president to date. He thinks he can do anything and disrespect anyone; he has done nothing to unite this country for the better. Additionally, the Supreme Court is a joke and just as corrupt as Trump. I served to protect and defend and follow lawful orders, not a dictator."
Win McNamee / Getty Images
—superlatte284
* "I'm a 21-year retired SFC war veteran. Trump is doing a fine job so far. All of these idiots using the hyperbole that Trump is the 'worst president ever' need to get a clue. He's not perfect, but he is 1,000 times better than the clown we had before him. Many of you KNEW Biden was compromised in more ways than one and said nothing. NOTHING. So, sit back and enjoy the next four years of Trump, because you were too cowardly to speak up against Biden."
—smartcomet37
* "President Trump is doing everything he campaigned on, and he's keeping his promise to the American people who elected him to do so. When his four-year term is over, America will be a better place for it. If we're lucky, a majority of the Democratic so-called leaders will have committed themselves to mental institutions, and The View will have been taken off the air. America will be better for all of it."
—Anonymous, 61, Delaware
* "As a 20-year retired Army veteran, I've served under numerous leaders and have supported generals, secretaries of defense, and chiefs of staff. Leadership matters, and this administration has made it clear that reckless governance weakens institutions. I once encouraged young people to consider military service. Now, I can no longer offer that advice in good conscience. This turbulent era will pass, but not soon enough."
—David, 68, North Carolina
* "As an Air Force veteran, I am insulted by those who don't understand how Trump is disobeying the Constitution. Any ex and current military member who doesn't feel the same should be ashamed of themselves. Biden wasn't a great president, but he was a good one who dug us out of a deep hole that the previous Trump administration put us in. To deny what Biden did is to deny reality; Biden wasn't corrupt like Trump. Any president who openly states they are unsure if they have to uphold the Constitution should be immediately impeached. It is also shameful that the other two branches of government don't seem to have the morals or decency to stand up to Trump. If America survives, history will surely look at this period as a far darker time than during the Civil War."
Bloomberg / Bloomberg via Getty Images
—Anonymous
* "I'm a 24-year veteran and a three-tour combat veteran. I am struggling to understand veterans who like [Trump]. This behavior is not okay in any form. People actually believe the stuff Trump and his administration say, and it makes me embarrassed and angry. I will definitely fight against the MAGA community if it comes to it. My country and its three WORKING forms of government NEED TO WORK CORRECTLY!"
—Jim, 64, Kansas
* "I'm an 80-year-old combat veteran of the Marine Corps, and I find the current administration incompetent, shameful, and dangerous. Trump and his enablers would benefit from devoting more time to self-reflection, self-improvement, and self-discipline. Instead, it seems to me that with their power-hungry appetites, they favor self-aggrandizement, money-grubbing, and boot-licking."
"Using masked agents who can therefore not be held accountable is a police state action that prevents due process. Employing active duty military as a police force is unlawful and demeaning to the individual soldier. Spreading clever misinformation is destructive. We need leaders now who are willing to stand in the breach and resist. Few elected Republicans seem to have the necessary fortitude. We are on the cusp of losing our Democratic Republic, and Trump's presidency is without merit."
—John, 80, Colorado
* "As a former active duty, combat arms platoon leader during the 1970s, I learned leadership principles from the world's finest leaders. The first lesson I learned and practiced every day was to take care of your people. We were taught that you are responsible for your people's well-being, which included giving them realistic training, adequate shelter, food, health, and pay and promotions. Trump doesn't give a damn about taking care of anybody but himself."
"The California National Guard that he deployed to put down protestors — something that the local police could have easily handled — were warehoused and sleeping on concrete floors. They were operating without official orders, not adequately trained or utilized effectively for their missions, and were doing all of it without pay. We know how Trump feels about veterans; Mr. Bone Spurs has been quite clear about it for years!"
—Mike, 72
* "I'm a Cold War veteran who served for four years on active duty when the Soviet Union was a real threat. Now, the biggest threat to my country is the current administration in DC. I never did think that there would be troops deployed against our fellow Americans just because the president gets offended when someone calls him out on his lies. Every single day, there's a new lie fed to the MAGA cult. It's absolutely disgusting and disgraceful. Service members swear an oath to the Constitution, not to a person. We are obligated to disobey orders that are illegal. We need military leadership to stand up and call him out for his actions."
Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images
—John, 55, Connecticut
* "The convicted felon residing in the White House is a true danger to all of democracy. I served 10 years in the Army and am proud to have served. I worked closely with other NATO soldiers and know what they admired the United States for. I look around now and wonder what happened. Felon Trump and his asslicking, self-serving sycophants have created an image of our country that embarrasses and frightens me as a father and grandfather."
—Anonymous
Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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