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^^^^^.NY Post-Biden blasted for walking out before end of Medal of Honor ceremony: ‘Lack of respect’
By
Victor Nava
Published Sep. 5, 2023, 9:00 p.m. ET
President Biden was accused of being disrespectful after he quickly exited the East Room of the White House before the conclusion of a Medal of Honor ceremony honoring a Vietnam War veteran on Tuesday.
Biden, 80, abruptly left the ceremony after fastening the nation’s highest military decoration around the neck of retired Army Capt. Larry Taylor, 81, before the closing benediction was read by Chaplain Brig. Gen. William Green Jr.
Military veterans slammed Biden afterward, arguing that the commander-in-chief showed a startling lack of respect.
“Pardon my French…But what a f—ing idiot. The continuous lack of respect Biden has for anyone is appalling. Hawaii, Service members, active shooter victims, the list goes on,” former Navy SEAL and podcast host Shawn Ryan tweeted after the president’s hasty exit.
“At least he didn’t check his watch this time,” Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), an Army veteran, snarked on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Biden left the East Room of the White House on Tuesday before the conclusion of a Medal of Honor ceremony honoring a Vietnam War veteran.AP
He was referencing when Biden appeared to glance at his timepiece during a solemn ceremony for the 13 US troops killed in an August 2021 terror attack near the Kabul airport in Afghanistan.
Some questioned whether Biden’s sudden departure was pre-planned or another case of the doddering leader being unsure of where to go after giving public remarks.
“Do you think this was done on purpose or just is it more senile moments? I think the guy is so self-absorbed he makes blunders like this. God this man is a massive embarrassment to our nation,” Gun Owners of America state director for Indiana Tim Harmsen mused in a tweet.
Some military veterans on social media blasted Biden for leaving the ceremony before the benediction.AP
In the White House’s official video of the ceremony, the feed cuts just after Biden leaves the East Room, also ignoring the chaplain’s benediction.
The White House did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
Taylor was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroics during a June 1968 battle in Vietnam.
Taylor’s heroics as a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War earned him the Medal of Honor on Tuesday.Samuel Corum – Pool via CNP / MEGA
The distinguished helicopter pilot braved intense ground fire for 45 minutes while making low-level attack runs, strafing the enemy with bullets and aerial rockets as they surrounded US forces on the ground.
Running low on fuel and ammunition, Taylor decided to extract the US patrol group
He used his two-man Cobra helicopter, something that had never been accomplished or even attempted over the course of the war, with complete disregard for his personal safety — all while braving enemy gunfire.