Donald Trump's Veterans Day Message Was Very Different to Joe Biden's

President Joe Biden and Donald Trump took to social media on Saturday to mark Veterans Day with very different messages.

November 11, once known as Armistice Day, is the anniversary of the ceasefire that ended World War I in 1918.

"Today, we honor the story of our veterans—the story of our nation at its best," Biden wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "On Veterans Day, let's recommit to fulfilling our one sacred obligation as a nation: to prepare those we send into harm's way and care for them and their families when they come home."

Biden also delivered a Veterans Day address at the Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington National Cemetery, where he paid tribute to "those who have always, always kept the light of liberty shining bright across the world."

"We come together today to once again honor the generations of Americans who stood on the front lines of freedom," he said. "To once again bear witness to the great deeds of a noble few who risked everything, everything, to give us a better future."

Biden added that as commander in chief, "I have no higher honor. As the father of a son who served, I have no greater privilege.''

Trump, on the other hand, first marked Veterans Day with a message on his Truth Social platform that said: "To our heroic veterans, I am grateful for your service to our country and honored to wish you a Happy Veterans Day!"

He added that there "is no greater act of selfless service than defending America's God-given freedoms and liberty."

In another post, he shared a graphic that featured a quote from Trump saying the nation's veterans "will never stop fighting for the America we cherish," and that the "full measure of your sacrifice and your family's dedication in support of your service may not be fully understood and appreciated, but it will never be forgotten."

Several hours later, Trump returned to Truth Social with a more polarizing message.

"In honor of our great veterans on Veteran's Day, we pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists, and radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country. Lie, steal, and cheat on elections, and will do anything possible, whether legally or illegally, to destroy America, and the American dream," he wrote.

"The threat from outside forces is far less sinister, dangerous, and grave, than the threat from within. Despite the hatred and anger of the radical left lunatics who want to destroy our country, we will make America great again!"

The message prompted some to take to social media to say that Trump's words were reminiscent of Adolf Hitler.

The liberal outlet Meidas Touch wrote that Trump was "casually channeling Adolf Hitler on Veterans Day as news breaks that he is planning to force people in this country into camps," referencing a report from The New York Times that said Trump, if reelected, is planning to expand his first-term immigration crackdown to include sweeping roundups of people who would be detained in large camps to await deportation.

Journalist Bill Grueskin wrote that it was a paragraph for readers who can't handle the subtle nuances" of Hitler's Mein Kampf.

Prem Thakker, a reporter with The Intercept, wrote that Trump "echoed Hitler, who said communists and Jews were Germany's 'enemies within.'"

And presidential historian Michael Beschloss wrote: "Today, 'in honor of our great veterans,' ex-president demands on social media to 'root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country.' Please tell us if this reminds you of any earlier historical figure."

Trump spokesman Steven Cheung told Newsweek that "these liberal idiots who are making this disgusting claim are racist and despicable."

The Biden campaign also brought up statements that Trump has reportedly made, disparaging veterans and soldiers killed in battle.

"If you don't respect our troops, you can't lead them," Biden posted on his personal X account.

Update 11/12/23, 9 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to add comment from Steven Cheung.