President Donald Trump sharply criticized the Democratic National Committee on Wednesday after the party faced intense backlash for a Memorial Day social media post that featured photos of 13 U.S. service members killed during the recent Iran conflict and blamed “Trump’s war with Iran.”

The DNC’s original graphic, which explicitly tied the deaths to Trump, triggered widespread outrage across social media, with critics accusing Democrats of exploiting the holiday and using fallen troops as political props.

The party quickly deleted the post and replaced it with a generic tribute featuring an American flag.

Democrat Leadership is absolutely repulsive for doing this!

The Democratic Party under fire for using Memorial Day to take a political swipe at President Trump after the DNC posted a tribute to Americans “who have died in Trump’s war with Iran.”

The post featured photos of… pic.twitter.com/sIWuyDBY1u

— Michelle Maxwell ™ (@MichelleMaxwell) May 25, 2026

Trump addressed the controversy while speaking to reporters, expressing sorrow over the loss of life.

“We lost 13 souls, 13 great people,” Trump said. “Met the parents, great people. And it’s a terrible thing.” He noted that while he hates losing even one American, U.S. forces have performed effectively in the region compared to past conflicts that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.

The post drew condemnation not only from Republicans but also from prominent Democrats and veterans. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), an Iraq War veteran who lost both legs in combat, called the graphic “incredibly distasteful.” Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO), a former Army Ranger, stated it was “wrong to politicize this day.”

The controversy unfolded as the U.S. and Iran continue fragile ceasefire negotiations following months of military escalation centered on the Strait of Hormuz.