President Donald Trump, marking Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, waded into politics during remarks to pay tribute to those who died in America’s wars.
Trump took a swipe at the previous administration after speaking about the first soldiers who died at Bunker Hill.
“Those young men could never have known what their sacrifice would mean to us, but we certainly know what we owe to them. That valor gave us the freest, greatest and most noble Republic ever to exist on the face of the earth. A republic that I am fixing after a long and hard four years. That was a hard four years we went through,” Trump said, prompting some applause from the audience.
“Who would let that happen? People pouring through our borders unchecked,” he continued, though he did not explicitly mention former President Joe Biden by name. “People doing things that are indescribable and not for today to discuss.”
Still, Trump continued: “We will do better than we’ve ever done as a nation, better than ever before. I promise you that.”
During an overcast morning, Trump took part in the traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns before delivering his speech.
“These warriors picked up the mantle of duty and service, knowing that to live for others meant always that they might die for others. They asked nothing. They gave everything. And we owe them everything and more,” Trump said in his remarks.
“The greatest monument to their courage is not carved in marble or cast in bronze — it’s all around us, an American nation 325 million strong, which will soon be greater than it has ever before,” Trump said. “It will be.”
