Donald Trump’s history of disrespect towards both fallen military personnel and immigrants has resurfaced in a shocking new report. According to a bombshell exposé by The Atlantic, the former president used a deeply offensive slur, calling U.S. Army soldier Vanessa Guillén a “fucking Mexican” when he was informed about the cost of her funeral. This incident starkly highlights Trump’s disdain, as Guillén, the daughter of Mexican immigrants, was an American citizen and a soldier who tragically lost her life.
Vanessa Guillén, a 20-year-old soldier, was murdered in 2020 at Fort Hood, Texas, by a fellow soldier. Her death ignited widespread outrage and triggered multiple investigations into sexual harassment and mistreatment of women in the military at the base. Despite being the daughter of Mexican immigrants, Guillén was born in Houston, Texas, making her a U.S. citizen. Following the extensive media coverage of her case, Guillén’s parents were invited to the White House for a televised meeting with Trump. During this public appearance, Trump offered his condolences and promised to assist “financially” with the funeral arrangements. A public memorial service and a subsequent burial in Houston, attended by city officials, were held to honor Guillén’s life and service.
However, behind the veneer of public sympathy, a contrasting narrative unfolded. The Atlantic‘s report, based on contemporaneous notes and interviews, reveals a disturbing private exchange. On December 4, 2020, Trump inquired about the funeral expenses for Vanessa Guillén. “What did it cost?” he demanded to know from his staff. Upon being informed that the total cost amounted to $60,000, Trump reportedly flew into a rage. According to the report, he exclaimed to his then Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, “It doesn’t cost 60,000 bucks to bury a fucking Mexican! Don’t pay it!” Trump allegedly continued his tirade later that day, complaining that “these fucking people” were “trying to rip me off.”
A spokesperson for the former president has vehemently denied these allegations, dismissing the story as an “outrageous lie from The Atlantic two weeks before the election.” However, an attorney representing the Guillén family confirmed to The Atlantic that while a bill was indeed sent to the White House, no reimbursement was ever received. Ultimately, donations and Army funds covered portions of the burial expenses.
This reported incident is not isolated but rather fits into a pattern of behavior exhibited by the former president. Trump has a documented history of disparaging military personnel, particularly when angered. More concerning is the underlying implication of Trump’s remarks: a belief that the armed forces owe him unwavering and unquestioning loyalty, regardless of their background or sacrifice.
Recently, Trump has even suggested deploying the military against American citizens who oppose him, labeling them as “the enemy within.” In 2022, former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly recounted in his memoir Trump’s disturbing fascination with Nazi Germany’s military leadership. Trump reportedly expressed a desire for generals as loyal to him as “the German generals in World War II.” When Kelly pointed out that Hitler’s generals actually attempted to assassinate him multiple times, Trump dismissed this historical fact, insisting that they were “totally loyal.”
Kelly further elaborated on this unsettling exchange with The Atlantic, detailing his attempts to clarify which German generals Trump was referencing – those of Otto Von Bismarck or the Franco-Prussian War. “I said, ‘Do you mean the kaiser’s generals? Surely you can’t mean Hitler’s generals?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, yeah, Hitler’s generals.’ I explained to him that Rommel had to commit suicide after taking part in a plot against Hitler,” Kelly recalled. It became clear that Trump was unfamiliar with Erwin Rommel and the 1944 assassination plot against Hitler, the genocidal dictator he appeared to admire. According to two sources who spoke to The Atlantic, Trump explicitly stated, “I need the kind of generals that Hitler had… People who were totally loyal to him, that follow orders.”
These revelations paint a troubling picture of a former president who not only used a racist slur like “fucking Mexican” to demean a fallen soldier but also seemingly admires authoritarian figures and expects blind loyalty from the military. The implications of such attitudes are deeply concerning for the future of American democracy and the respect owed to those who serve the nation.
