Two progressive members of the ‘Squad’ were quick to remove posts about Memorial Day that highlighted how little lawmakers know about the long-standing U.S. holiday.
Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Cori Bush of Missouri posted tributes to soldiers on X Monday, but quickly worked to delete their own posts after acknowledging a fatal error in their tweets.
Both progressive members of the ‘Squad’ used the holiday to advocate for housing and healthcare reform, demanding that veterans receive the treatment they deserve.
But unbeknownst to them (or at least their inept communications teams), Memorial Day celebrates the lives of fallen soldiers, not those still alive.
‘Squad’ members Ilhan Omar and Cori Bush appeared to celebrate Veterans Day on Memorial Day in now-deleted social media posts.
The federal holiday for veterans is, well, Veterans Day, celebrated on November 11 each year.
“On #MemorialDay, we honor the heroic men and women who served our country,” Omar posted before quickly deleting the statement from her X account.
“We owe them more than our gratitude: they have more than earned access to quality mental health services, employment opportunities, housing assistance, and the benefits they were promised.”
His advocacy for reforms to soldiers’ benefits is meaningless since those who celebrate the holiday Monday are no longer alive and would therefore no longer need jobs, housing, healthcare or other benefits.
And the same mistake was made by his ‘Squad’ colleague Bush.
“This #MemorialDay and every day, we honor our veterans in St. Louis,” Bush wrote on X before quickly deleting the post.
In the post, she even went so far as to say that she honors “our veterans,” clearly indicating that she or her team believed Memorial Day was for soldiers who were still alive.
His publication continued to advocate for progressive goals.
“We must invest in universal health care, affordable housing, comprehensive mental health services, and education and economic opportunities for our veterans as we work to build a world free of war and violence.”
However, it is unclear how universal healthcare, education, and economic opportunities would benefit the best Americans who have died.
Visitors rest near headstones at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day in Arlington, Virginia, USA, May 27, 2024
Sarah Schumann rests at the grave of her husband, Army Specialist Jordan Schumann, at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., May 27, 2024
Headstones adorned with American flags are seen at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day in Arlington, Virginia, USA, May 27, 2024.
Admittedly, his celebration of American veterans is a gentleness not typically expressed by anti-war lawmakers.
Typically, the progressive couple speaks openly about the “genocide” Israel is perpetrating against the Palestinians or the brave determination of pro-Gaza protesters who recently set up illegal camps on university campuses across the country.
Omar and Bush’s offices did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
