Dear Mr. Trump,
As I sit down to write this, I find it quite ironic that I’m agreeing with you on a point for the first time. During a forum with veterans on October 3 in Herndon, Virginia, you spoke about the need for better support for veterans struggling with PTSD and other mental health issues. You mentioned that the Department of Veterans Affairs is in disarray and requires urgent reform. I’m on board with that. However, your subsequent comments took a detour into dangerous territory.
You suggested that among soldiers returning from combat, there are those who are strong enough to cope and those who aren’t—referring to veterans battling PTSD who take their own lives. Mr. Trump, such remarks are not just misguided; they are perilous. Linking strength or weakness to the mental health challenges faced by veterans only serves to reinforce harmful stereotypes and stigmas that the mental health community has fought hard to dismantle.
As a veteran who also grapples with mental illness, I offer a unique perspective. I served my country 15 years ago and have lived with depression and anxiety for much of my life, despite never seeing combat. Now, consider the reality for today’s soldiers, who often know nothing but the chaos of war.
Since 9/11, our brave military personnel have been thrust into perilous situations time and time again. They are deployed for stretches of 12 to 18 months, witnessing horrors that most people cannot fathom, and many return home only to find inadequate support. According to MentalHealthFirstAid.org, around 30% of active duty and reserve members deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan—approximately 730,000 individuals—suffer from mental health conditions that necessitate treatment, and shockingly, fewer than 50% of those in need actually receive care.
This nation has placed these men and women in harm’s way repeatedly. They endure unimaginable experiences and yet continue to serve. That’s true strength.
As someone who aspires to the highest office in the land, I would expect you to be informed and choose your words with greater care. If you were to win the presidency, you would be the commander in chief for these very individuals whom you’ve deemed possibly “not strong enough.”
However, I can’t say I’m surprised by your degrading comments about veterans. You’ve consistently used our military as props in your campaign of fear-mongering. Here are just a few instances that illustrate this point:
- You dismissed decorated veteran, POW, and senator John McCain as “not a war hero,” later adding, “He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren’t captured, OK?”
- You ridiculed the Khan family, a Gold Star family, because of their Muslim faith and their critique of your divisive rhetoric.
- You trivialized the significance of the Purple Heart when a supporter handed you a replica, saying, “I always wanted to get one of these. This was much easier.”
- You claimed American soldiers were stealing money during their service in the Middle East.
- You profess to know the best way to run the military, yet you’ve never served a day in your life and received multiple deferments for an alleged foot injury.
Let me be clear: PTSD and other mental health issues are not indicative of a lack of strength. Mental illness exploits your fears, doubts, and insecurities. It whispers lies about your worth and can lead to thoughts of surrender. Does this ring a bell, Mr. Trump? It sounds suspiciously like the way you’ve portrayed the nation in your pursuit of the presidency and the tactics employed to get there.
So yes, I concur that veterans require more resources and that the VA needs to be reformed, but you’re not the right person to lead this charge. Your campaign has been characterized by insults directed at anyone who dares to disagree with you—women, minorities, non-Christian faiths, the disabled, and even the military you claim to honor.
The courageous men and women of our armed forces are some of the strongest individuals I know. They can handle a great deal; they just shouldn’t have to endure your brand of leadership.
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In summary, while I agree that veterans deserve more support and the VA needs reform, your approach and rhetoric are counterproductive and harmful to those you claim to want to help.