Trump’s war with Iran puts servicemembers’ lives at risk as veterans back home see benefits rolled back 

Today, the DNC released a new mini-documentary featuring Vietnam War veteran William Mitchell Ellerby, who shares his personal story about fighting in the Vietnam War and his perspective on Donald Trump’s war with Iran. Trump’s war with Iran has already claimed the lives of 14 U.S. servicemembers and injured hundreds of others — and with no end in sight, servicemembers are still being put in harm’s way. 

While our brave servicemembers are putting their lives on the line, Trump and Republicans are decimating programs veterans rely on. In the documentary, William discusses how this administration is failing to honor its veterans by rolling back critical veteran services, such as healthcare and housing.

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“Right now, today, I’m 79 years old. I can’t enjoy life like I want to because of the dramatic burden it puts on a soldier’s mind,” said Vietnam War veteran William Mitchell Ellerby. “When you put your country at war, you put your children, your grandchildren, you put them at risk, and believe me, I don’t want to see another war like Vietnam. That’s why I’m not in favor of going to war in any shape, form, or fashion.”

Trump and Republicans’ devastating cuts have decimated VA programs that veterans depend on to secure a place to live, receive lifesaving health services, and run small businesses. To make matters worse, because of Trump and Republicans’ refusal to extend the ACA premium tax credits, an estimated 267,000 non-senior veterans will lose their healthcare coverage. 

Trump has a long record of disparaging servicemembers and veterans, from calling fallen soldiers “suckers” and “losers” to downplaying the traumatic brain injuries suffered by servicemembers in Iran as “not very serious.”

Under Trump, morale among servicemembers has been taking a deep dive, especially since the breakout of Trump’s war with Iran, with active duty members choosing to retire early or not reenlist after the expiration of their contracts.