Trump: 'I Need the Kind of Generals That Hitler Had'

Source: The Atlantic

n April 2020, Vanessa Guilln, a 20-year-old Army private, was bludgeoned to death by a fellow soldier at Fort Hood, in Texas. The killer, aided by his girlfriend, burned Guilln's body. Guilln's remains were discovered two months later, buried in a riverbank near the base, after a massive search.

Guilln, the daughter of Mexican immigrants, grew up in Houston, and her murder sparked outrage across Texas and beyond. Fort Hood had become known as a particularly perilous assignment for female soldiers, and members of Congress took up the cause of reform. Shortly after her remains were discovered, President Donald Trump himself invited the Guilln family to the White House. With Guilln's mother seated beside him, Trump spent 25 minutes with the family as television cameras recorded the scene.

In the meeting, Trump maintained a dignified posture and expressed sympathy to Guilln's mother. "I saw what happened to your daughter Vanessa, who was a spectacular person, and respected and loved by everybody, including in the military," Trump said. Later in the conversation, he made a promise: "If I can help you out with the funeral, I'll help--I'll help you with that," he said. "I'll help you out. Financially, I'll help you."

Natalie Khawam, the family's attorney, responded, "I think the military will be paying--taking care of it." Trump replied, "Good. They'll do a military. That's good. If you need help, I'll help you out." Later, a reporter covering the meeting asked Trump, "Have you offered to do that for other families before?" Trump responded, "I have. I have. Personally. I have to do it personally. I can't do it through government." The reporter then asked: "So you've written checks to help for other families before this?" Trump turned to the family, still present, and said, "I have, I have, because some families need help ... Maybe you don't need help, from a financial standpoint. I have no idea what--I just think it's a horrific thing that happened. And if you did need help, I'm going to--I'll be there to help you."

Read more: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/10/trump-military-generals-hitler/680327/