Trump called it ‘appropriate’ to fundraise off fallen soldiers’ coffins, then went after the reporter who had the audacity to ask him about it

President Donald Trump defended a fundraising email that used a photo from a dignified transfer ceremony for fallen U.S. servicemembers. The email, sent by a Trump-linked PAC called Never Surrender Inc., showed Trump saluting a deceased soldier’s casket. The image was originally shared by the White House on social media and was taken at a ceremony for six U.S. servicemembers who died in an Iranian drone attack in Kuwait.

According to Mediaite, the email advertised a “National Security Briefing Membership,” promising “private national security briefings, unfiltered updates on the threats facing America,” and “the straight truth on border invasions, foreign adversaries, deep state sabotage, and every danger the fake news hides.” It included donation links ranging from $26 to $3,300.

When an ABC News reporter aboard Air Force One asked Trump if he thought it was appropriate to use official White House photos from a dignified transfer for fundraising, he said, “I do.” He then turned on the reporter and her outlet.

Trump’s use of military imagery for fundraising raises serious concerns about respect for fallen servicemembers

“Well, I was at the dignified transfer, unlike a lot of other people,” Trump said. When the reporter tried to follow up by saying, “your critics are saying you’re fundraising off–,” Trump cut her off, saying, “I didn’t see it. I mean, somebody puts it out. We have a lot of people working for us.” He added, “There’s nobody that’s better to the military than me.”

After learning the reporter was from ABC News, Trump called it “one of the worst, most fake, most corrupt–” and “maybe the most corrupt news organizations on the planet,” before ending the exchange with, “Okay, I don’t want any more from ABC.”

The email drew quick backlash. California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office called Trump a “deeply SICK and DISGUSTING MAN” and accused him of “fundraising off of dead soldiers.” Illinois Representative Mike Quigley said Trump was “profiting off” the deaths of servicemembers. Army veteran Naveed Shah, political director for veterans’ group Common Defense, wrote that there wasn’t “a shred of dignity to be found anywhere in this administration.”

Democratic Senator Andy Kim also responded, saying, “I hope the donors’ national security briefing doesn’t skip the ‘Iran will close the Strait of Hormuz’ section that Trump and Hegseth missed.” This appeared to reference reports that administration officials underestimated the Iran conflict’s impact on the strait, though White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called that report “100% FAKE NEWS.”

This is not an isolated case. Trump-connected fundraising groups have sent over a dozen emails and texts referencing Iran since U.S.-Israeli strikes began. One message from March 5 read, “Right now, I’m asking everyone who approves of Operation Epic Fury to rally behind me with incredible messages of support.”

Another from Saturday said, “NOW THAT DEMOCRATS SIDED WITH THE RADICAL REGIME IN IRAN… IT HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT TO HOLD OUR MAGA MAJORITY DURING THE MIDTERMS!”

At least 13 U.S. servicemembers have been killed since the conflict began on February 28. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said at least 140 others were injured in the first 10 days, with 108 returning to duty and eight still listed as “severely injured.” Trump has also refused to state the terms that would end the war with Iran, and when asked how he would know when it was over, he replied, “When I feel it, feel it in my bones.”