President Trump‘s speech to a joint session of Congress is getting mixed reviews to say the least. Some see it as his most “presidential” speech to date, while others saw as nothing more than just another attack on immigrants.
What’s undeniable is the powerful moment where the widow of Chief Petty Officer William “Ryan” Owens‘ received a standing ovation that lasted for nearly two minutes. Owens was a Navy SEAL who was killed during a botched Yemen raid targeting Al Qaeda last month, where 14 to 25 civilians were killed, many of them women and children.
Carryn Owens‘ pain was on full display as she stood for the ovation. But some thought she was being exploited by Trump, who many agree didn’t give the operation enough scrutiny before authorizing it.
One of those people is ex-NSA analyst, current security consultant, and columnist for The Observer John Schindler. During Trump’s speech, Schindler took to Twitter and expressed his disgust for the spectacle, accusing Trump of exploiting the dead SEAL’s widow for political purposes.
Snr Chief Owens' widow…for God's sake leave this poor woman alone.
Trump gloating, of course…talking the Bible.
— John Schindler (@20committee) March 1, 2017
Anybody who saw the faces of the Joint Chiefs tonight when the cam hit them knows exactly what the US military thinks of Trump.
— John Schindler (@20committee) March 1, 2017
In the above tweet, Schindler was referring to a photo that circulated on social media showing the Joint Chiefs of Staff looking rather cynical as Trump spoke (see below).
Via Twitter
Schindler clarified that it’s expected that people will die in military operations, but Trump’s usage of Owens’ widow as a political prop is a game changer.
Bad decisions happen. War is war. Right until POTUS publicly exploits a widow whose husband's body is still warm. Fuck that. Fuck all that.
— John Schindler (@20committee) March 1, 2017
In response to another Twitter user who said Carryn Owens didn’t really have a choice in the matter, Schindler suggested that she probably didn’t want to be there in the first place.
.@mdfsmith1 @Christi64297529 she was trapped. Literally. Terrible abuse of a grieving widow. She didn't want to stand up. We know why.
— John Schindler (@20committee) March 1, 2017
If watching POTUS publicly exploit S/Chief Owens' grieving widow didn't make your skin crawl, I worry about you — as an American & a human.
— John Schindler (@20committee) March 1, 2017
He then mentioned Trump’s interview on Fox & Friends where he seemingly shifted blame for Owens’ death to the military — who carried out an operation that he approved.
So "the generals" got S/Chief Owens killed, but let's spotlight his widow on live TV.
Has Stockholm Syndrome overtaken the whole country?
— John Schindler (@20committee) March 1, 2017
I have sympathy for Trump voters who got scammed. It happens. Got none for DC RW pundits who want to pretend that Trump just isn't Trump.
— John Schindler (@20committee) March 1, 2017
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