President Donald Trump's eldest son, Don Jr., has been making the rounds this week hawking his new book, Triggered: How the Left Thrives on Hate and Wants to Silence Us. It purports to be a guide that "leftist elites don't want you to read."
However, a cringeworthy moment in which Junior recounts his visit to Arlington National Cemetery is standing out for all the wrong reasons.
The hallowed site, where over 400,000 troops who made the ultimate sacrifice are buried, reminded him of the sacrifices he and his family had made to get his father to the White House—namely "millions and millions of dollars annually."
“I rarely get emotional, if ever. I guess you'd call me hyper-rational, stoic," Trump Jr. writes. "Yet, as we drove past the rows of white grave markers, in the gravity of the moment, I had a deep sense of the importance of the presidency and a love of our country."
That's all well and good, but then he continues:
“In that moment, I also thought of all the attacks we'd already suffered as a family, and about all the sacrifices we'd have to make to help my father succeed — voluntarily giving up a huge chunk of our business and all international deals to avoid the appearance that we were 'profiting off the office'...Frankly, it was a big sacrifice, costing us millions and millions of dollars annually...of course we didn't get any credit from the mainstream media, which now doesn't surprise me at all."
Veterans weren't happy with the comparison.
Eight men I served with are buried in Section 60 of Arlington. I visit them monthly. Even if Donald JR. lived a 1,0… https://t.co/IDT9bIIOtk— Ruben Gallego (@Ruben Gallego) 1573162268.0
Imagine going to Arlington ... and being moved to think about money. You are a soup sandwich, @DonaldJTrumpJr, and… https://t.co/YTD5iZ48LT— Matt Gallagher (@Matt Gallagher) 1573165482.0
I have more friends & people I served with buried in Arlington National Cemetery than @DonaldJTrumpJr has brain cel… https://t.co/kLtnpgY6Ea— Travis Akers (@Travis Akers) 1573222704.0
Despite a family tradition of debasing honorable institutions, Junior's reaction to Arlington infuriated others as well.
.@DonaldJTrumpJr you offensive little worm, don't you dare compare your "sacrifices" to the soldiers buried at Arli… https://t.co/KQRzQdILRO— Gabi McCauley🌈 (@Gabi McCauley🌈) 1573160959.0
Donald Trump Jr., as he went through Arlington Cemetery, couldn't help but be reminded of all the sacrifices his fa… https://t.co/TxZgNTwePl— Allen McDuffee (@Allen McDuffee) 1573162977.0
What's more, his family doesn't avoid the appearance of profiting off the office, because they actively continue to profit off the office.
And while comparing himself to soldiers who died fighting for their country, Don Jr. lies saying that they would be… https://t.co/xjo6xWaTJD— Robert Maguire (@Robert Maguire) 1573160072.0
It's barely been a week since the company that Don Jr runs, and his father still profits from, made this announceme… https://t.co/PWi1WLmvNN— Robert Maguire (@Robert Maguire) 1573160190.0
And far from avoiding the appearance of "profiting off the office," President Trump has racked up well over twice a… https://t.co/brkivEXBbq— Robert Maguire (@Robert Maguire) 1573161397.0
The President of the United States is also promoting Junior's book, which will almost certainly boost sales. Sounds a lot like profiting off the office.