“Miracle on the Hudson” Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III is slamming President Donald Trump after a report alleged the president called fallen U.S. soldiers “losers.”
Sullenberger — who is best known for a successful emergency crash landing of a damaged plane on the Hudson River in January 2009 — made known his thoughts about the president after The Atlanticreported that Trump previously called American war dead “losers” and “suckers.”
Trump has denied the report and U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper sought to defend to the president, saying on Friday that “Trump has the highest respect and admiration for our nation’s Military members, veterans and families.” However, it sparked outrage from many.
As Mediaite reports, The Atlantic report was confirmed by three other news outlets.
In a series of tweets on Friday evening, Sullenberger noted that he had volunteered to serve in the Military during wartime.
“I have long known that serving a cause greater than oneself is the highest calling, whether in the Military or in civilian life,” he wrote. “And I have always tried to be a voice of reason and to speak in a measured way.”
He then added, “But this situation calls for a much more direct approach. It is time to call out egregious behavior for what it is.”
“For the first time in American history, a president has repeatedly shown utter and vulgar contempt and disrespect for those who have served and died serving our country.”
Sullenberger, a now-retired pilot, went on to say he is “disgusted” by Trump, who he calls “unfit for and to have no respect for the office he holds.”
“We owe it not only to those who have served and sacrificed for our nation, but to ourselves and to succeeding generations to vote him out,” Sullenberger said.
Sullenberger has endorsed 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ahead of the upcoming 2020 presidential election.