{"id":50671,"date":"2018-07-18T21:23:57","date_gmt":"2018-07-18T21:23:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/07\/18\/these-us-military-veterans-are-divided-over-trumps-russia-comments\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T08:24:46","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T08:24:46","slug":"these-us-military-veterans-are-divided-over-trumps-russia-comments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2018\/07\/18\/these-us-military-veterans-are-divided-over-trumps-russia-comments\/","title":{"rendered":"These US military veterans are divided over Trump\u2019s Russia comments"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Iraq War veteran Chris Sheppard fumed as he watched <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2018\/07\/16\/trump-questions-us-intel-not-putin-on-russia-2016-meddling\/\" target=_blank>President Trump\u2019s joint news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin<\/a> in Helsinki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The former combat engineer with the U.S. Marine Corps sat glued to his cellphone screen in his downtown Seattle office, watching live on Monday as the American president suggested he believed Putin&#8217;s denial that his agents interfered in the 2016 U.S. elections. Trump also declined to say whether he believed the U.S. intelligence community&#8217;s conclusion that Russia interfered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sheppard, who left the military after 13 years in 2005 and is now a tax attorney, couldn&#8217;t believe his ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;It&#8217;s like I&#8217;m watching somebody commit treason,&#8221; he said of Trump.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2018\/07\/16\/us-intel-chief-stands-by-assessment-of-russian-meddling\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18197712053916.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">US intel chief stands by assessment of Russian meddling<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The top U.S. intelligence official on Monday stood by what he called \u201cclear\u201d assessments of Russian meddling in the 2016 election after President Donald Trump cast doubt on that conclusion following a summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But former U.S. Marine Boe Bostjancic, a 61-year-old Virginia Beach resident, said while he didn&#8217;t particularly care for Trump&#8217;s performance in Helsinki, the president was acting like the same politically incorrect leader he voted for and still supports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;At least I can respect the fact that he was honest with us,&#8221; Bostjancic said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18199640584159.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89723\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18199640584159.jpg.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18199640584159.jpg.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18199640584159.jpg.jpg?resize=768,576 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In this Tuesday July 17, 2018, photo, James Flaskey, 74, an U.S. Army veteran, discusses President Donald Trump\u2019s recent comments about Russian meddling in American elections at a barbershop in Norfolk, Va. (Ben Finley\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sheppard and Bostjancic represent the mixed views among former members of the U.S. military to Trump\u2019s comments: Some say they are a betrayal, with the commander in chief giving more credence to Putin\u2019s word than to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2018\/07\/15\/intel-official-cyber-threat-warnings-blinking-red\/\" target=\"_blank\">conclusions of U.S. intelligence agencies<\/a> and creating a hardship for those who serve and put their lives on the line. Others say Trump\u2019s relationship with Putin, whatever it may be, is positive for the U.S., and won\u2019t change their minds about their president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump on Tuesday said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2018\/07\/18\/trump-backs-down-under-fire-clarifies-on-russia-meddling\/\" target=_blank>he simply misspoke in Helsinki<\/a> and accepted the conclusions by U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia was behind the election hacking, but then on Wednesday he appeared to defend his original remarks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those who spoke with The Associated Press largely didn&#8217;t buy his change in tone \u2014 or said it didn&#8217;t matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/07\/17\/russian-military-offers-to-cooperate-with-us-in-syria\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"210\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18197860989659.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Russian military offers to cooperate with US in Syria<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Russia\u2019s Defense Ministry says it\u2019s ready to boost cooperation with the U.S. military in Syria, following talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sheppard, 43, a self-described reluctant Democrat who became disenfranchised with the Republican Party during the Iraq War, characterized Trump\u2019s performance in Helsinki as \u201ca national tragedy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I honestly felt like Trump wasn&#8217;t representing the collective interests of Americans. He looked like he was representing the interests of Vladimir Putin.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kate Handley, a 22-year Navy veteran whose husband is still on active duty, said Trump&#8217;s reluctance to fully support American intelligence agencies also undermines the U.S. military.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;He&#8217;s throwing the military under the bus when he throws the intelligence community under the bus,&#8221; said Handley, 52, of Chesapeake, Virginia. &#8220;Everything we do \u2014 every deployment \u2014 is based on a reason. And it&#8217;s often based on (information) the intelligence community has.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Handley, who retired as a chief petty officer, said she started serving under President Ronald Reagan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Just because the Soviet Union broke apart, doesn&#8217;t mean they stopped being our enemy,&#8221; she said of Russia. &#8220;What has Russia done to advance the U.S.&#8217;s interest? They go against U.S. interests.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2018\/07\/19\/dont-come-back-army-veteran-lawmaker-in-north-carolina-slams-trump-after-putin-summit\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP_071012026101.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">\u2018Don\u2019t come back\u2019: North Carolina lawmaker, an Army vet, slams Trump after Putin summit<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">A North Carolina state lawmaker and veteran has told President Donald Trump that he\u2019s \u201cnot worthy to stand on American soil\u201d in the wake of the president\u2019s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But James Flaskey, a 74-year-old Norfolk, Virginia, veteran who served in the U.S. Army during the height of the Cold War with Russia, sees it a bit differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Back then it seemed like they were our enemy. We couldn&#8217;t trust them,&#8221; Flaskey said as he sat in a Norfolk barbershop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But now the dynamic with the former Soviet Union is different, he said, and because of that he trusts that Trump is doing the right thing, even if the end game isn&#8217;t exactly clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I think he&#8217;s got a reason to be friends with Putin,&#8221; Flaskey said. &#8220;And I think it&#8217;ll be to our advantage, just like with North Korea.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18198768207292.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89725\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18198768207292.jpg.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18198768207292.jpg.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18198768207292.jpg.jpg?resize=768,576 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Veteran Aron Axe, a combat-decorated Marine infantry officer and U.S. Naval Academy graduate, stands outside the academy on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 in Annapolis, Md., after describing Trump&#8217;s comments in Helsinki about Russian meddling in the 2016 elections as &#8220;a disservice to the office of commander in chief.&#8221; (Brian Witte\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aron Axe, a combat-decorated Marine infantry officer with 25 years in uniform, feels anything but trust for his president after witnessing his performance in Helsinki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I felt like I&#8217;d spent a career defending the principles and the freedoms of this country,&#8221; said Axe, 44, who lives in Annapolis, Maryland. &#8220;And in just a few moments I watched a president hand over any semblance of pride or respect for what so many people like me in uniform have been fighting for and potentially been dying for over the last several decades.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Axe, who recently made an unsuccessful bid in a Democratic primary for a Maryland state House seat, said the issue has little to do with political party and &#8220;everything to do with the person who is in the office of commander in chief.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kim Samoyoa, a research operations manager at a biotech firm in South San Francisco who served as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy for three years, said Trump&#8217;s words and actions make her and her active-duty friends nervous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;All this backtracking is frustrating because we&#8217;ve seen with Trump that if a button gets pushed, he really doubles down and escalates things,&#8221; the 41-year-old mother of two said. &#8220;If we do end up needing to support a conflict, what this means for some people in the military \u2014 these are life and death matters.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>Myers reported from Los Angeles and Finley from Norfolk, Virginia. Associated Press Writer Brian Witte in Annapolis, Maryland, contributed to this report.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Iraq War veteran Chris Sheppard fumed as he watched President Trump&#8217;s joint news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin in 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