U.S. NewsMilitary

Actions

The Mother Of A Deceased Military Veteran Has Some Words For Trump

Stephanie Keegan penned a powerful op-ed in response to Donald Trump's comments about military veterans and PTSD.
Posted
and last updated

The mother of U.S. military veteran who died after battling post-traumatic stress disorder has something to say to Donald Trump.

"When people come back from war and combat and they see things that maybe a lot of the folks in this room have seen many times over, and you're strong and you can handle it, but a lot of people can't handle it," Donald Trump said.

Almost immediately after Trump said that Monday at an event hosted by a retired veterans group, many accused him of suggesting soldiers with PTSD "couldn't handle" combat.

But Stephanie Keegan took it a step further with a powerful op-ed about her son, Daniel, who died earlier this year.

She wrote, in part: "The grace and courage that he showed in his service and after returning home while fighting the demons of war should not be belittled by those who do not understand. ... For Donald Trump to say that PTSD is an indication of weakness is absurd and ignorant."

She went on to say, "I would love to meet him [Trump] and show him the face of a brave and beautiful young man who died way too soon because he tried to make the world a better place."

SEE MORE: Los Angeles Plans To Turn Motels Into Housing For Homeless Veterans

Vice President Joe Biden echoed that sentiment in an interview Tuesday morning.

His son, Beau, served in Iraq with the Army National Guard.

"This is an ignorant man. This guy says things he has no idea about. He's not a bad man. But his ignorance is so profound. So profound," Biden told CNN.

But the Marine staff sergeant who asked Trump the question says he feels differently.

According to a press release on Trump's campaign website, he said, "I took his comments to be thoughtful and understanding of the struggles many veterans have, and I believe he is committed to helping them."