'No one should ever want one of these': Purple Heart recipients condemn Donald Trump's 'flippant' comments about the award that almost cost them their lives

Congresswoman and Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth blasted Donald Trump on Twitter for his remarks about receiving a Purple Heart

Trump said at a rally that he's always wanted a Purple Heart and after receiving it from a veteran he said: 'This was much easier'

Duckworth, who lost both legs and partial use of her arm, said there's 'nothing easy about it' under a photo of herself in the hospital

Democratic congressional candidate from Delaware, Sean Barney, who was shot in the neck in Iraq also joined Duckworth in blasting Trump

He posted a picture of himself with caption 'no one should ever "want" one of these' adding that Trump's remarks were 'flippant and repugnant'

Donald Trump's controversial remarks about receiving a Purple Heart as a gift Tuesday at a rally in Virginia have been met with powerful messages from veterans who received the decorated award.

Congresswoman and Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth shared a photo of herself in a hospital bed on Twitter,ABC News reported.

She wrote: 'This is how one usually looks when you are awarded the Purple Heart. Nothing easy about it.'




Duckworth served in the Army and lost both legs and partial use of her arm in Iraq while flying Operation Iraqi Freedom combat missions. Her helicopter was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade in 2004.

Her Twitter post was in response to remarks made by the GOP nominee in Ashburn, Virginia.

While telling the story of a lieutenant colonel who presented him with his Purple Heart medal as a vote of confidence, Trump quipped: 'I always wanted to get the purple heart. This was much easier.'

Lt Col Louis Dorfman came on stage and posed with Trump for photos before telling him that he didn't want to speak to the crowd.


The Purple Heart is awarded to servicemen and women who are wounded in combat, and to surviving family members of those who are killed in action.

Duckworth joined other veterans who have received the Purple Heart, including Democratic congressional candidate from Delaware Sean Barney.



Barney issued a blistering message for Trump on Facebook as he posted a photo of himself holding his Purple Heart.

'No one should ever "want" one of these,' he wrote.

Barney also said Trump's comments were 'flippant and repugnant'.

'As Khizr Khan poignantly argued, Donald Trump has not sacrificed for this country and he does not understand duty to any cause other than himself,' Barney wrote.

Barney served in the Marine Corps from 2002 to 2007.

He was shot in the neck by a sniper while on patrol in Iraq in 2006.
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