At the Hampton Veterans Hospital, a complex of red brick buildings and a white chapel in Virginia, Donald Trump's official portrait adorned the hall, bearing a dark expression and a defiant look in his eye. Veterans passed by the Commander-in-Chief of the United States with indifference. One of them, an African American with a delicate, stooped silhouette, was Charles Wynder, 84 years old. "We veterans know he's an idiot. He's disrespectful to us, he looks down on us," said the former colonel who lost a brother in the Vietnam War.

On Friday, April 4, financial markets were in turmoil. The bodies of four American soldiers killed in an accident in Lithuania were repatriated. Trump was not at Dover (Delaware) to welcome them. He was playing golf under the Florida sun.

The city of Hampton is located on a narrow strip of land facing Norfolk, home to the world's largest naval base. From there, cargo ships used to depart to supply Europe during its war against Nazi Germany. White caps of US Navy officers, Army fatigues and sand-colored uniforms can be seen everywhere on the docks. Virginia is one of the states with the highest number of military personnel in the country and it has the largest veteran population – over 700,000, which equates to about 9% of its population. This is a significant voting bloc as the governorship, held by Republicans, is up for grabs in November.

'Trump dodged service'

Devoted to the flag and the military, the 16 million former military personnel traditionally vote for the Grand Old Party (GOP): Two thirds chose Donald Trump in November 2024, according to the Edison Research institute, a proportion that has remained stable since the 1980s. But the relationship between the President and veterans has never been simple. "He didn't serve," they always say bluntly. Trump dodged service by claiming a bone spur in his foot, a lie to avoid fighting in Vietnam.

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