President Trump thanked members of the military in a video teleconference on Thursday, saying this Thanksgiving he was grateful for their “tremendous courage.”
“You’re very, very special people to me, and to everyone in this country, that I can tell you,” Trump said in the video conference from his Mar-a-Lago luxury resort.
“Surrounding me is a lot of press, better me than you, believe me fellas, better me than you,” he continued, according to pool reports. “It’s an honor to speak with you all, to give God thanks for the blessing of freedom, heroes, tremendous courage. Very, very special people. It doesn’t get more special.” {mosads}
Trump specifically addressed the first brigade combat team of the 82nd Airborne in Kandahar, Afghanistan, praising a man named Toby.
“Toby – where is Toby? Raise your hand, Toby. I hear so many good things about you Toby. That’s good news,” Trump said before addressing the entire unit, praising the soldiers as “brave, incredible fighters.”
Trump also addressed the Marine Corps, praising his chief of staff John Kelly.
“Semper Fi. I have a great Marine who’s the chief of staff, as you know, John Kelly. Doing an incredible job just like any Marine would. And Major, to you and to all the Marines doing this great work,” Trump said. “We’re being talked about again as an armed forces. We’re really winning. We know how to win. But we have to let you win. They weren’t letting you win before. They were letting you play even. We’re letting you win.”