Donald Trump has long tried to portray himself as a tough guy. He’s attracted that kind of voter, as well.

But for all of his rhetoric and posturing, his actual policy and attitudes of the United States military has been anything but tough at all. He’s been plenty offensive toward veterans, and Biden’s new ad simply lets Trump do the talking.

Some of his greatest hits that made it into the Biden video:

• “Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s full of losers.”
• “Suckers.”
• “That guy is smart. Why did he join the military?”
• “I don’t get it. What was in it for them?

Released on Veterans’ Day, the ad places the burden squarely on Trump to prove that he has any concept of what our military even does. That’s something he’s never been able to articulate better than some variation on “they go kick people’s asses.”

In fact, the ad comes back to something no one can forget, and Biden doesn’t want you to: Trump’s utterly classless treatment of John McCain and the memory of him.

“We’re not going to support that loser’s funeral,” says Trump. “He’s not a war hero. He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren’t captured, okay? I hate to tell you.”

Biden knows that the President’s other title is commander in chief of the US military. Trump has always focused on the “command” part of that phrase, unfortunately.

Biden’s ad closes with a simple message:

“If you don’t respect our troops, you can’t lead them.”

As the video shows over and over, Trump has no sympathy or respect for American soldiers, even those who have supported his candidacy and presidency.

I wonder what they’ll think when they see this ad. Will it change military minds? Will the members of the legislative branch who would have to work with Trump if he wins again hold him to account for these awful things he’s said?

None of this should be surprising to someone who reads articles like the one you’re reading now. But for the political right, it has to get a little harder every time we find out some new heinous thing he’s done or said.

Something tells me they won’t hold him to account. But I’ll bet the rest of America will, at the ballot box.

If you don’t respect our troops, you can’t lead them. pic.twitter.com/vmE2i0TLla

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) November 11, 2023