Military veterans are slamming President Biden for leaving a Medal of Honor ceremony early on Tuesday. According to The New York Post, Biden quickly left the room after fastening the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration, around the neck of Vietnam War veteran and retired Army Capt. Larry Taylor. Many on X are calling Biden out for his disrespect, and some reminded others of the President’s history of a lack of respect for U.S. military members.
According to the New York Post, “Taylor was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroics during a June 1968 battle in Vietnam. The distinguished helicopter pilot braved intense ground fire for 45 minutes while making low-level attack runs, strafing the enemy with bullets and aerial rockets as they surrounded US forces on the ground. Running low on fuel and ammunition, Taylor decided to extract the US patrol group. He used his two-man Cobra helicopter, something that had never been accomplished or even attempted over the course of the war, with complete disregard for his personal safety — all while braving enemy gunfire.”
Biden left the ceremony before the closing benediction was read by Chaplain Brig. Gen. William Green Jr. The White House video of the ceremony also cuts off their feed before the closing benediction.
Calling Biden out on X, Navy SEAL and podcast host Shawn Ryan tweeted, “The continuous lack of respect Biden has for anyone is appalling. Hawaii, Service members, active shooter victims, the list goes on.”
Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), an Army veteran, recalled Biden’s disrespect for service members when he checked the time when the deceased service members returned home from Afghanistan after the attack on Kabul airport. Hunt tweeted “at least he didn’t check his watch this time.”
Still, some have tried giving Biden an excuse to say that his leaving the ceremony was another blunder of his aging mind. They wonder whether it was pre-planned for him to leave then, or just Biden being unsure of where to go again.