President Donald Trump has publicly called for an investigation into Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) following a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform. Trump revived allegations from over a decade ago, claiming Blumenthal “lied” about his military service during the Vietnam War. In a post made late on a Tuesday evening, Trump characterized Blumenthal as “perhaps the greatest phony in the history of the United States Senate” and asserted that “it should be investigated, and Justice should be sought.” He concluded his post by stating that Blumenthal “should be allowed to speak no longer!”
Shortly thereafter, Blumenthal responded during a live appearance on CNN’s “The Source.” He described Trump’s claims as “completely deceptive and distorted.” Blumenthal expressed disbelief at the accusations, stating, “It really is absurd.” He emphasized that the voters in Connecticut have “overwhelmingly” reelected him multiple times, indicating their rejection of Trump’s narrative.
Blumenthal defended his military service, noting he was honorably discharged as a sergeant from the United States Marine Corps. He acknowledged past misstatements regarding his service, explaining, “I referred to my service ‘in Vietnam’ on a handful of occasions, rather than ‘during Vietnam.’” Blumenthal pointed to his ongoing commitment to veterans as a member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services and as the ranking member on the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. He stated, “I fight for veterans and the strongest, greatest military in the world.”
The controversy surrounding Blumenthal dates back to a New York Times article published in 2010, where he admitted to misrepresenting aspects of his military service. He explained that he mistakenly stated he served “in Vietnam” when he was actually stationed in Washington during the Vietnam War. At that time, he acknowledged the errors as “totally unintentional” and took full responsibility for his words.
Trump’s post coincided with a tense exchange at a Senate hearing, where Pam Bondi, the Attorney General, accused Blumenthal of lying about his military record. During this confrontation, Bondi stated, “Sen. Blumenthal, I cannot believe that you would accuse me of impropriety when you lied about your military service. You lied — you admitted you lied to be elected a U.S. senator.” She emphasized her professional integrity, saying, “How dare you? I’m a career prosecutor. Don’t you ever challenge my integrity.”
As the political landscape continues to be charged, both Trump and Blumenthal’s exchanges highlight the ongoing tension within American politics, particularly around issues of credibility and military service.
