Memorial Day is a solemn occasion—an opportunity for Americans to pause and remember the men and women who gave their lives in military service to our country. It's a day rooted in honor, unity, and reflection. Unfortunately, public discourse around this sacred holiday can sometimes be overtaken by inflammatory rhetoric, as seen in a recent post by President Donald Trump.

In his statement, Mr. Trump launched into a broadside against political opponents, judges, and immigrants, weaving together accusations of national betrayal and a distorted picture of our immigration system. While political opinions will always vary in a democracy, facts matter—especially when the stakes are as high as national unity and public trust.

Setting the Record Straight

1. On the Claim of “21,000,000 Million” Illegal Entries

Let’s begin with the math. “21,000,000 million” equates to 21 trillion—an impossible figure considering the U.S. population itself is roughly 335 million. Based on U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data, there were approximately 6.3 million encounters at the southwest border from 2021 to 2024. While immigration enforcement remains a pressing issue, it’s crucial to rely on accurate data rather than hyperbole.

2. The Reality of Crime and Immigrants

Claims that immigrants are primarily “criminals” or “mentally insane” are not only misleading—they're harmful. Multiple peer-reviewed studies, including those by the Cato Institute and the American Immigration Council, consistently show that immigrants (both documented and undocumented) are less likely to commit crimes than native-born citizens. Spreading false narratives only serves to divide communities and fuel xenophobia.

3. Mental Health Shouldn’t Be a Weapon

Referring to any group of people as “mentally insane” is both dehumanizing and dismissive of genuine mental health challenges. It's not political correctness to say this—it’s human decency. Stigmatizing mental illness contributes nothing productive to national policy discussions.

4. Understanding the Role of Judges

Our judicial system is designed to function independently of political pressure. Judges are appointed by Presidents and confirmed by the Senate—often with bipartisan support. To accuse an entire branch of government of "hating the USA" simply for making rulings one disagrees with is an affront to the principle of separation of powers. If we abandon faith in our institutions based on partisanship alone, democracy itself becomes endangered.

5. What Memorial Day Is—and Isn’t

Memorial Day is not a day for political mudslinging. It’s not a time to label fellow Americans as "scum" or “monsters.” It’s a day to remember those who laid down their lives for the freedom we all enjoy—regardless of political affiliation. To exploit this moment of national mourning for division dilutes its true purpose.

A Better Way Forward

This Memorial Day, we honor sacrifice by living up to the ideals that those brave men and women died to protect: truth, integrity, and unity. It's easy to score points with outrage, but it's harder—and far more meaningful—to build bridges, listen to each other, and work toward solutions rooted in reality.

Let us choose remembrance over rage, and facts over fear. That’s how we truly honor our heroes.