By Sandy Fitzgerald | Tuesday, May 26, 2026 08:38 AM EDT
A Memorial Day social media post from the Democratic National Committee that memorialized 13 soldiers killed in what it described as the U.S.-Iran military conflict and blamed President Donald Trump for their deaths was removed after two combat veteran lawmakers from the party criticized its politicization.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-IL, condemned the post on X, stating it was “incredibly distasteful to use our heroic dead for a political attack on Memorial Day.” A Black Hawk helicopter pilot during the Iraq War, Duckworth was shot down by Iraqi insurgents in 2004 and sustained injuries that resulted in the loss of both legs and an injury to her right arm. She served in the U.S. Army from 1992 to 2014.
Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., a former Army Ranger with three tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, also criticized the post on X, saying: “If we want the moral high ground, we have to be better.” He added that it was wrong to politicize Memorial Day.
The DNC’s graphic included photographs of the deceased soldiers and stated: “Today, we honor the American heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in Trump’s war with Iran.”
Duckworth and Crow both posted on Memorial Day recognizing the sacrifices of fallen soldiers throughout U.S. history. Duckworth wrote: “On Memorial Day, we remember our fallen heroes who answered the call—not for themselves, but for democracy. In their names, it’s on each of us to live our lives in a way that honors their sacrifice.”
The DNC deleted its graphic after the lawmakers’ posts.
