Former president Donald Trump and wife Melania paid tribute to Americans who have paid the 'supreme sacrifice' as millions mar...
Former president Donald Trump and wife Melania paid tribute to Americans who have paid the 'supreme sacrifice' as millions marked Memorial Day across the country.
Trump posted a statement from Bedminster, New Jersey, honoring the fallen heroes 'who took their last breaths in defense of our Nation, our families, our citizens, and our sacred freedoms.'
Melania then posted a photo of a Star-Spangled banner at half-staff and wrote: 'Today we honor courageous fallen heroes who fought for our freedom!' The image, which the former first lady posted on Twitter, showed palm trees in the foreground, a likely indication that she was still at Mar-a-Lago.
Trump issued the statement under his familiar 'From the Office of Donald J. Trump logo.' Unlike Melania, he is currently under a ban by the Twitter platform.
The former first couple paid their respects as thousands of MAGA fans took to the water in Jupiter, Florida, for a boat parade.
Crowds lined the banks as vessels with American and MAGA flags sailed across the water. Staunch Trump ally Roger Stone – the recipient of a Trump pardon – posed with his trademark peace sign as boaters drifted by.
He hugged his wife Nydia on the back of their boat, days after she was reportedly diagnosed with stage three cancer, in his first public appearance since Trump pardoned him in December last year.
There were also banners saying 'Trump is My President', 'This Area is a Liberal-Free Zone' and 'Trump 2024', as speculation builds over whether he will take a second run at the White House.
After seeing the boat parade, Trump released another statement saying: 'Wow! I hear they have thousands and thousands of boats parading in Jupiter, despite the fact that they tried to cancel us. Everyone is having an incredible time. On this day, we especially appreciate everyone who served and fought for our great Country. I love you all!'
Former president Donald Trump and wife Melania paid tribute to Americans who have paid the 'supreme sacrifice' as millions marked Memorial Day across the country. The former first couple are pictured standing over a grave at Arlington National Cemetery in May, 2019
The former first couple paid their respects as MAGA fans took to the water in Jupiter, Florida , for a boat parade
The former first couple paid their respects as MAGA fans took to the water in Jupiter, Florida , for a boat parade
The huge flotilla of boats with a sea of Trump flags takes part of the parade in Jupiter, Florida
Staunch Trump ally Roger Stone posed with his trademark peace sign alongside wife Nydia as boaters drifted by. Nydia was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer last week
Trump revealed earlier this month that he will be continuing campaign-style rallies in states including Florida, Ohio, Georgia and North Carolina
The former president said in his Memorial Day post that the 'gallantry' of American servicemen and women was the reason why 'we can together, as one people, continue our pursuit of America’s glorious destiny'.
'We owe all that we are, and everything we ever hope to be, to these unrivaled heroes. Their memory and their legacy is immortal,' he added.
'Our loyalty to them and to their families is eternal and everlasting.
'America’s warriors are the single greatest force for justice, peace, liberty, and security among all the nations ever to exist on earth.
'God bless our fallen Soldiers, Sailors, Coast Guardsmen, Airmen, and Marines. We honor them today, forever, and always.'
President Biden also made a stirring Memorial Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery, paying tribute to his veteran son Beau and calling on Americans to fight for democracy – which he described as under threat.
Trump supporters relax on a boat during the MAGA parade in Jupiter, Florida
Trump supporters unfurled huge flags on the water and enjoyed refreshments to mark the holiday
. Crowds lined the banks as vessels with American and MAGA flags sailed across the water
Many Trump supporters were passionate about their political affiliations during the parade. After seeing the boat parade, Trump released another statement saying: 'Wow! I hear they have thousands and thousands of boats parading in Jupiter, despite the fact that they tried to cancel us. Everyone is having an incredible time. On this day, we especially appreciate everyone who served and fought for our great Country. I love you all!'
The Trump parades that were hugely popular during the summer and in the build-up to the election have continued despite Biden's victory in November
There were also banners saying 'Trump is My President', 'This Area is a Liberal-Free Zone' and 'Trump 2024', as speculation builds over whether he will take a second run at the White House
'Democracy itself is in peril – here at home and around the world,' Biden cautioned.
'A struggle for democracy is taking place around the world,' Biden said in a 23 minute speech at Arlington. 'Democracy means the rule of the people. The rule of the people. Not the rule of monarchs. Not the rule of the money,' he continued.
He called the nation's travails a 'struggle for the soul of America itself' – a recurring theme of his campaign and administration. And he called for 'truth, founded on facts, not propaganda.'
'Empathy is the fuel of democracy,' Biden said, at times weaving in remarks that alluded to the political clashes that preceded his speech.
He referenced the recent tumultuous times in American politics – which have featured a violent riot inside the Capitol, and a vote in the Senate Friday where a bipartisan to investigate Jan. 6th failed to advance. Early Monday, Democrats in the Texas legislature walked out to prevent a vote on new election restrictions.
And within days, Biden will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose actions in Ukraine kicked off a years-long standoff with the U.S. A military coup in Burma has once again brought U.S. sanctions in response – and former Trump National Security Advisor Mike Flynn was under scrutiny for saying it 'should happen here' in response to a question at a Dallas QAnon conference.
'The soul of America is animated by the perennial battle between our worst instincts, which we’ve seen of late and our better angels. Between "me first," and "we the people." Between greed and generosity,' Biden said. Between 'cruelty and kindness, captivity and freedom.'
Biden linked past battles in military and historical memory to recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
'They weren't fighting for dictators. They were fighting for democracy,' he said. 'They weren't fighting to exclude or to enslave. They were fighting to build and broaden and liberate. They weren't fighting for self, they were fighting for the soul of the nation. For liberty and simple fair play. Simple fair play and decency.'
'Democracy is more than a form of government. It's a way of being. It's a way of seeing the world. Democracy means the rule of the people ... Not the rule of monarchs. Not the rule of the money. Not the rule of the mighty.'
He said since times of antiquity there has been a battle between 'the aspirations of the many and the greed of the few' – between a right to self-determination and 'the self-seeking of the dictator.'
He contrast dreams of democracy with the 'appetites for autocracy, which we're seeing around the world.'
Trump revealed earlier this month that he will be continuing campaign-style rallies in states including Florida, Ohio, Georgia and North Carolina
A woman in a patriotic swimsuit takes photos of the flags on the boats surrounding her
Trump supporters also showed their support for Israel after the recent violence with Hamas. The flags came in various colors - including the Back the Blue stripes
A MAGA fan holds a megaphone and another checks his phone on their boat
Trump supporters on the Team Deplorable take photos above them
The DeeQueen II, with Make America Great Again and Women for Trump flags, sails in the parade
No comments