President Donald Trump gave a speech to thousands of Navy service members where he insulted Democrats by calling them “a little gnat on our shoulder” that “we have to take care of.” While saying this, he made a flicking gesture as if brushing something off. The comment sounded casual, but many people saw it as a serious and troubling message — especially because he was speaking directly to members of the U.S. military.
Critics have accused Trump of using dangerous language by referring to a large group of Americans — nearly half the country — as something annoying and unwanted. A recent poll showed that about 45% of American adults identify with or lean toward the Democratic Party, which is about the same percentage as those who lean Republican. So when Trump says “we have to take care of” Democrats, he’s talking about almost half the country.
This isn’t the first time Trump has spoken harshly about political opponents, but people are especially alarmed that he made these comments during what was supposed to be a non-political event — the celebration of the Navy’s 250th anniversary. Instead of sticking to honoring the military, he turned the event into something more like a political rally. He even admitted it himself, saying out loud, “Let’s face it, this is a rally.”
Many public figures and commentators strongly criticized his speech. They said that telling the military to “take care of” fellow Americans who simply have different political views crosses a dangerous line. Some said it felt like he was trying to use the military against political opponents, something that’s not only un-American but also authoritarian.
People pointed out that past presidents — whether Republican or Democrat — would never have said something like this in front of the military. They warned that allowing this kind of language to go unchallenged could weaken the foundations of American democracy. Others said it was outrageous, disgusting, and dangerous — not just because of what was said, but because of how casually and publicly it was done.
Some veterans and national security experts reminded everyone that the military is supposed to stay out of politics. They said this kind of speech violates the values that the country and the armed forces are meant to uphold.
In summary, Trump’s comments were seen by many as encouraging division and hatred. Instead of uniting the country, he seemed to be pitting Americans against each other — and doing so in front of the military only made it more alarming.
