Do we know how frequently Trump called military people "losers" or "suckers"?

 The exact frequency of Donald Trump using the words "losers" and "suckers" to describe military service members is unknown, as the alleged comments were made in private conversations and are not part of any public tally or recording. [1, 2]

However, multiple firsthand accounts and leaked reports highlight two specific, highly publicized instances from a single trip to France in November 2018 where he reportedly used these exact terms:

• "Losers": According to a 2020 report by The Atlantic, Trump canceled a scheduled visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris, telling senior staff members, "Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers." [1, 2]
• "Suckers": On the same 2018 trip, Trump reportedly referred to the 1,800 American Marines who died at the Battle of Belleau Wood as "suckers" because they were killed in action. [1, 2]

Corroboration and Scope

While The Atlantic initially relied on anonymous senior administration officials, the accounts were later publicly confirmed on the record by Trump's former White House Chief of Staff, retired Gen. John Kelly. In a 2023 statement to NBC News, Kelly validated the reporting and noted that Trump frequently launched into "rants" that service members who gave their lives were "losers," showing a broader pattern of private disparagement rather than an isolated remark. [1, 2, 3]

Other outlets, including the Associated Press, Fox News, and The Washington Post, also independently corroborated aspects of the report through their own administration sources. [1, 2]

Public Statements

While Trump's alleged use of "losers" and "suckers" for the broader military occurred behind closed doors, he did famously make a similar derogatory comment in public regarding military captivity. During the 2015 Family Leadership Summit, Trump publicly attacked the late Senator John McCain's military record, stating: "He’s not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured." [1]

Trump's Denial

Trump and his allies have vehemently denied all allegations regarding the "losers" and "suckers" comments. Trump has repeatedly called the reports a "fake story" and "made-up disinformation," maintaining that the 2018 cemetery visit was canceled strictly because bad weather grounded his helicopter. [1, 2, 3]