In a powerful and emotional statement, Iraq war veteran Eric Rodriguez has publicly condemned Donald Trump for his administration’s alleged betrayal of veterans, accusing him of gutting the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fund tax cuts for billionaires.
“Veterans, We Are Under Attack”
Rodriguez, who served in the U.S. military and later worked at the Hines VA Hospital, did not hold back during a press conference where he exposed the devastating impact of Trump’s policies on veterans’ healthcare.
“Veterans, we are under attack. Last week, 1,400 workers were fired illegally. Twenty-two of them were my colleagues at Hines VA Hospital,” he said, visibly emotional.
He held up a document as proof of the cold and impersonal nature of the layoffs. “Some of them didn’t even get a real notice. All they got was this—an email with Xs where the date should be and no name. That’s how little they think of people and of veterans in this country and that serve this country.”
Rodriguez accused Trump of deliberately crippling the VA to push for privatization, warning that veterans will suffer as a result. “They’re slashing staff, crushing unions, and selling out the VA for what? So billionaires can make more money while veterans sit on waitlists or, worse, get no treatment.”
A Broken Promise to Veterans
Veterans have long been considered a core constituency of Republican politics, but Rodriguez’s remarks highlight a growing distrust within the military community toward Trump’s leadership.
“Our president was asleep while Moscow’s at the wheel,” he said, in a direct critique of Trump’s foreign policy failures. “Do you know what happens to a service member when they’re on duty? Veterans don’t trust him. He’s not one of us.”
Trump, who has often boasted about his support for the military, is now facing serious backlash for policies that appear to contradict his pro-veteran rhetoric. Reports have surfaced that the Trump administration is planning to cut a staggering 70,000 VA employees, a move that could severely limit healthcare services for millions of veterans.
Rodriguez made it clear that he and other veterans are not backing down. “We’re not about to sit back and take the SEIU. We’re fighting back. We’re organizing, and we’re taking action. We’re not going to back down.”
A Plan to Gut Veterans’ Healthcare
A leaked memo from the Trump administration revealed plans to aggressively downsize the VA, a move that many see as an attempt to push privatization. Critics argue that this would benefit wealthy investors while leaving veterans with fewer healthcare options and higher costs.
For years, Trump and his allies have painted themselves as champions of the military. But as Rodriguez and countless other veterans are now pointing out, the reality tells a different story. This is not support for the troops—it’s abandonment.
As Trump pushes forward with these devastating cuts, one thing has become painfully clear: his administration is not pro-military—it’s pro-greed.
