Vice President Kamala Harris was slammed Saturday for tweeting “enjoy the long weekend” without any acknowledgment of Memorial Day, a federal holiday dedicated to fallen troops who died while serving the United States and their gold star families.
Responses to the vice president’s tweet on social media were overwhelmingly negative. Retired Marine Joey Jones mocked the tweet that included an image of Harris, writing, “hey @KamalaHarris my buddies wanted me to post our selfie to tell you to ‘enjoy the long weekend’ too!” Jones’ post included an image of himself standing in front of a wall filled with photos of fallen service members.
Country music star Travis Tritt also commented on the post, tweeting, “No matter what Kamala Harris says, #MemorialDayWeekend is much more than just a ‘long weekend’. Disgusting trivialization of what so many American fought and died for.”
Another Twitter user responded to Harris’ tweet with an image of troops storming the beaches at Normandy in World War II, writing, “These guys had the ‘Long Weekend.”
“Here lies one of the reasons for the ‘long weekend.’ My great-great Uncle John Frank KIA during WWII during the Battle of Driniumor River in New Guinea. Never forget for the love of country some accept death,” one man posted on Twitter, along with an image of a military headstone.
Florida Senator Rick Scott also responded to the vice president, writing that her “failure to recognize our fallen soldiers and Gold Star families is insulting.”
“On Memorial Day, we reflect on and honor the service and sacrifice of the American heroes who have given their lives to defend our freedoms,” he tweeted.
“Apparently your handlers forgot to tell you this is not a long weekend for picnics when you address the military,” Veteran and congressional candidate Aja Smith tweeted. “But a price was paid for you free to be ignorant.”
While many blasted the vice president for the “trivializing” tweet, some users offered their support for Harris’ message.
“Love all the trolls pretending they’re outraged at a tweet from @VP wishing everyone to enjoy the long weekend. Performative bulls–t,” one Twitter user wrote.
Another user on Twitter said Mrs. Harris’ message was “correct” and that the weekend is “a time for us to [enjoy] our freedom and liberty.”
“Correctly stated, Enjoyed the long weekend. Yes. It is a time to reflect and remember the men and women that served in our military. Yet, it is also a time for us to enjoyed our Freedom and Liberty that we would not have with the brave soldiers. They will always be remembered,” he wrote.
After thousands of users responded to her first post, Harris tweeted once again early Sunday, this time calling on Americans to honor fallen troops on Memorial Day.
“Throughout our history our service men and women have risked everything to defend our freedoms and our country,” she wrote. “As we prepare to honor them on Memorial Day, we remember their service and their sacrifice.”
On Friday, President Joe Biden issued a proclamation calling for peace on Memorial Day.
“On Memorial Day, we honor and reflect upon the courage, integrity, and selfless dedication of the members of our Armed Forces who have made the greatest sacrifice in service to our Nation,” the president’s statement read. “Whether in the waters of the Pacific, on the beachheads of Europe, in the deserts of the Middle East, or in the mountains of Afghanistan, American service members have given their lives to uphold our Constitution and to defend the safety and freedoms of our citizens.”
“These patriots embody the best of the American spirit. They put themselves on the line for our shared values — for duty, honor, country — and they paid the ultimate price,” his statement continued. “Our Nation can never fully repay the debt we owe to our fallen heroes and their families.”
