Vanessa Guillen Speaks Out After report

The family of slain soldier Vanessa Guillén is standing by former President Donald Trump amid media reports claiming he made an offensive comment regarding the cost of her funeral. The reports, led by The Atlantic, allege that Trump, upon learning the $60,000 cost of Guillén’s funeral, responded, “It doesn’t cost 60,000 bucks to bury a f***ing Mexican.” These claims have been vehemently denied by Trump’s team and those close to the former president.

Mayra Guillén, Vanessa’s sister, took to social media to express her gratitude for Trump’s support during her family’s time of grief, dismissing the allegations outright. “I am beyond grateful for all the support President Donald Trump showed our family during a trying time,” Mayra stated. She further praised Trump, saying, “I witnessed firsthand how President Trump honors our nation’s heroes’ service.”

Trump spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer also issued a strong denial, labeling The Atlantic’s report as “an outrageous lie” designed to damage Trump’s reputation two weeks before the 2024 election. Similarly, Kash Patel, the acting Secretary of Defense at the time of the meeting with the Guillén family, confirmed Trump’s concern for the family, stating that the former president had personally offered to cover the funeral expenses if necessary.

The controversy stems from an account published by The Atlantic, which claims Trump made the slur in a White House meeting after being told the cost of Guillén’s funeral. Multiple people at the meeting allegedly heard Trump’s crude remark, followed by an order to his Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, not to pay the bill. Meadows has also denied the report, stating that Trump was respectful toward the Guillén family at all times and wanted to ensure they received the support they needed.

The story of Vanessa Guillén’s tragic death sparked a national movement when she was murdered by fellow soldier Aaron Robinson near Fort Hood in 2020. Her death led to widespread calls for reform within the U.S. military, especially regarding how cases of sexual harassment and violence are handled. Guillén’s family, particularly her sister Mayra and mother Gloria, became prominent voices advocating for justice for Vanessa and other service members who faced abuse within the military.

Although Trump was accused of failing to follow through on his promise to cover Guillén’s funeral expenses, records show that the Army and charitable donations helped pay for the service. Attorney Natalie Khawam, representing the family, confirmed that the bill had been sent to the White House but stated that no money was received directly from Trump.

Trump’s meeting with the Guillén family in 2020 came as he expressed outrage over her death, offering assistance to the family and promising to honor her memory. During the meeting, he reportedly assured the family that he would help facilitate the funeral arrangements and cover the costs if needed.

The new allegations from The Atlantic follow a familiar pattern, as Trump was previously accused by the magazine of making disparaging remarks about fallen American soldiers, referring to them as “losers” and “suckers” during a 2018 visit to France. That story, too, was denied by multiple individuals present during the trip, including officials who cited weather and security concerns as the reason for canceling a visit to a military cemetery.

Despite the accusations, Trump’s supporters and the Guillén family have continued to defend him, insisting that his actions were in line with his respect for the military and his commitment to honoring the service of fallen soldiers. Mayra Guillén’s public statements highlight the gap between media reports and the family’s personal experience with the former president.

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