Denies Atlantic report that he called fallen troops 'losers' and 'suckers,' attacks it as 'fake news'

After The Atlantic reported that Trump had privately disparaged U.S. war dead and wounded as 'losers' and 'suckers,' Trump publicly denied the account and attacked the reporting rather than address the substance. He called the story 'made up fake news' and portrayed himself as uniquely supportive of the military, dismissing criticism as partisan media smears. The denial fits Trump’s recurring gaslighting tactic: when confronted with detailed reporting and multiple sources about his conduct, he insists it never happened and reframes scrutiny as an illegitimate press attack.

"It is a disgraceful situation by a magazine that's a terrible magazine." — Trump’s response to questions about The Atlantic report, 2020-09-04