At Arlington National Cemetery for Memorial Day, President Donald Trump joked that “not too many” of the fallen were named Donald—then laughed while reading his own name—while also drawing attention to his record on the wars he has pursued.
President Donald Trump stood at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, May 25, as a Memorial Day ceremony honored fallen soldiers. He talked about “four hundred thousand souls” resting on the grounds, then began listing the names of some of those who died.
During the remarks, Trump reached a point where he paused over his own name. “Over 20,000 named John, over 13,000 named James… Joined over time by Isaacs, Elijahs, Earls, Hanks, Helens, Juans, Margarets, Marius, Donald s— not too many – and others,” he said, before laughing as he read “Donald’s.”
The moment landed oddly for many in the audience. On a day meant for solemn remembrance, the joke about war deaths was hard to miss.
Trump later appeared to fall asleep during the ceremony while other speakers were talking about service members dying for their country.
The laughter and the dozing timing brought his own history with war back into focus. Trump infamously dodged the Vietnam War draft five times with what was described as a dubious diagnosis of “bone spurs.” During his first term. he reportedly called American soldiers who die in war “suckers” and “losers.”.
In 2026, Trump also pushed the country further into conflict with Iran, a war he has said has left Americans facing high gas prices that are “peanuts.” Public reaction has been sharply divided, with roughly three in five Americans disapproving of the conflict.
During his Arlington speech, Trump also bragged that only 13 Americans have been killed in “wars” he said he has pursued in 2026. “In Operation Epic Fury, we lost 13,” he said.
In a separate remark. Trump said: “In two wars recently we’ve lost a total of 13 service members. in Venezuela — which was a complete and total victory. where we’re working very closely with the Venezuelan government right now. We took that over in one day. Lost no one. In Operation Epic Fury we lost 13…”.
Trump’s appearance at Arlington came after he said he could not attend his son Don Jr.’s wedding over the weekend because he was focused on the war in Iran. In a Truth Social post on Friday. May 22. he wrote: “While I very much wanted to be with my son. Don Jr. and the newest member of the Trump Family. his soon to be wife. Bettina. circumstances pertaining to Government. and my love for the United States of America. do not allow me to do so.”.
Donald Trump Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Day war deaths Operation Epic Fury Nicolás Maduro Venezuela Iran Truth Social Don Jr. Bettina