Fact check: Did Donald Trump refuse to cover the funeral costs of slain Texan soldier Vanessa Guillen?

WASHINGTON, DC: Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor-in-Chief Atlanticpublished a sensational article containing serious accusations against the former president Donald Trump October 22.

The article recounts a series of disturbing, albeit anonymous, anecdotes about the Republican candidate, including controversial remarks he allegedly made about the funeral of a U.S. Army soldier. Vanessa Guillen.

In the article, Goldberg claims that Trump initially promised to help cover the funeral costs of Vanessa, a soldier killed at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas in April 2020.

However, according to unnamed sources, he later reacted furiously to receiving a $60,000 bill, allegedly declaring, “It doesn’t cost $60,000 to bury a (******) Mexican” and ordering his employees not to pay. .

The released statement is based on testimony from two anonymous witnesses and purported contemporaneous notes from a White House aide.

Donald Trump has been closely involved in the Guillen family’s campaign for justice and reform.

Due to polarized reactions in the media and social platforms, the story has become a major flashpoint of the current election season, prompting greater scrutiny of the facts surrounding Donald Trump’s involvement in the Vanessa Guillen case and the validity of Jeffrey Goldberg’s claims.

On April 22, 2020, Vanessa, a soldier with the 3rd Cavalry Regiment stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, went missing. Two months later, after an intense search and national media attention, her remains were discovered in a remote location.

According to criminal charges filed in the Western District of Texas, her fellow soldier Aaron David Robinson was involved in her brutal murder. He allegedly disposed of her body along the Leon River with the help of accomplice Cecily Aguilar.

Vanessa’s family said she told them she experienced sexual harassment on base, but was uncomfortable reporting the incidents for fear of retaliation. Her tragic death has become a call for justice, especially regarding the issue of sexual harassment and assault in the military.

Her story led to the passage of the I Am Vanessa Guillen Act, which sought to reform how the military handles sexual assault cases by removing such investigations from the chain of command.

Trump became closely involved in the family’s campaign for justice and reform after inviting them to the White House on July 30, 2020.

He met with her sister Mayra Guillen, her mother Gloria Guillen and the family’s lawyer, Natalie Khawam.

During the meeting, he expressed shock at the unresolved investigation and offered financial support for the funeral, according to the transcript.

Verification of the claims remains elusive given the anonymity of Jeffrey Goldberg’s sources.

In his article, Jeffrey Goldberg recalls an alleged incident that occurred on December 4, 2020, during a White House national security meeting.

Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller and his chief of staff, Kash Patel, were reportedly present at the meeting.

According to Goldberg’s anonymous sources, Trump became visibly agitated after learning details of the Army’s internal investigation into institutional failures related to Vanessa’s death.

In this context, the issue of her funeral expenses allegedly arose, leading to sharp criticism from Trump over the cost.

Goldberg claims the information came from two unnamed participants and contemporaneous recordings by another participant. However, the allegations remain unverified and key figures named in the report dispute its contents.

For example, Trump’s representatives have denied the alleged statement attributed to him.

However, the family’s lawyer, Gillen Khawam, confirmed to Goldberg that no money was received from Trump, although the army covered some expenses and offered Vanessa a burial place in Arlington National Cemetery.

Guillen’s family objected to The Atlantic’s article, saying it misrepresented their interactions with Trump.

Myra, Vanessa’s sister, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her disappointment, writing: “Wow, I don’t understand how you’re using my sister’s death for political gain – it’s offensive and disrespectful to the important changes she’s making.” contributed for military personnel. President. President Donald Trump has done nothing but show respect to my family and Vanessa. In fact, today I voted for President Trump.”

Khawam also reacted sharply, accusing Goldberg of misrepresenting the facts. While she didn’t specify which parts she considered false, her statement on X criticized The Atlantic’s reporting of her conversation with Goldberg, suggesting his narrative was politically motivated and inaccurate.

Strong denials from Guillen’s family have led some conservative media outlets to label Goldberg’s report “debunked.”

However, given the anonymous nature of the journalist’s sources, verification remains elusive, with both sides claiming the story is either fabricated or taken out of context, according to Snopes.