In the most emotional moment of the night, President Donald Trump in his joint address to Congress on Tuesday honored the U.S. Navy SEAL who died late last month during a now-controversial military raid in Yemen.
“We are blessed to be joined tonight by Carryn Owens, the widow of a U.S. Navy Special Operator, Senior Chief William ‘Ryan’ Owens,” Trump said to heartfelt applause. “Ryan died as he lived: a warrior, and a hero—battling against terrorism and securing our Nation.”
Owens was killed on Jan. 29 during a U.S. special forces raid against Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the faction of the terrorist group in Yemen and surrounding areas. He was 36 years old.
Trump continued with what he said was a quote from Defense Secretary Gen. James Mattis that counters earlier reports that the raid, in which 29 civilians including nine children were also killed, resulted in no new intelligence.
“I just spoke to General Mattis, who reconfirmed that, and I quote, ‘Ryan was a part of a highly successful raid that generated large amounts of vital intelligence that will lead to many more victories in the future against our enemy.’ Ryan’s legacy is etched into eternity. Thank you,” Trump said.
The crowd then honored Owens’ widow with a lengthy standing ovation.
Quite a moment. Trump honors Carryn Owens, widow of slain Navy SEAL William “Ryan” Owens. https://t.co/XLccbx9eRq pic.twitter.com/enlBbzEBh0
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) March 1, 2017
Trump responded to the applause for Owens with the largest off-script comment of the night: “Ryan is looking down right now, you know that, and he’s very happy, because you know what? I think he just broke a record,” Trump said. The crowd laughed.
Trump’s highest compliment to a fallen warrior is that HE BROKE AN APPLAUSE RECORD. That was fucking grotesque.
— Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) March 1, 2017
The fury I feel seeing Trump pander to Ryan's widow when he didn't even skip dinner to order the raid that killed her husband is blinding.
— shauna (@goldengateblond) March 1, 2017
https://twitter.com/PAPPADEMAS/status/836773292891480064
Did…did Trump just say a slain Navy SEAL is looking down happily from heaven because his mention broke an applause record?
— Eric Geller (@ericgeller) March 1, 2017
The negative response to Trump was by no means universal, however, and many Twitter users, who also tweeted pro-military messages, appeared to embrace the sentiment.
Trump’s response to the Yemen raid has become a flashpoint as new details have emerged. In an interview that aired on Fox News earlier on Tuesday, Trump appeared to blame military leadership for Owens’ death.
“This was something that was, you know, just— they wanted to do,” Trump said. “And they came to see me, and they explained what they wanted to do, the generals, who are very respected.”
“And they lost Ryan,” Trump added.
Overall, Trump’s speech garnered instant praise from both supporters and critics who recognized the address as the most “presidential” moment of the nascent Trump presidency. Whether it changes the entire conversation around the controversial commander-in-chief remains the key question as we head into the next phase of this administration.