Military honors school shooting heroes as Trump allies smear survivors

In recognition of their bravery during the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, the Army announced that three of the students killed in the massacre will be given the Medal of Heroism.

But at the same time, allies of the supposed commander in chief are busy orchestrating a smear campaign against the slain students’ classmates who are now leading the fight against gun violence.

Alaina Petty, Peter Wang, and Martin Duque were cadets in Stoneman Douglas’ Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program. The medal they are receiving posthumously is described by the Army as being reserved for “an accomplishment so exceptional and outstanding that it clearly sets the individual apart from fellow students or from other persons in similar circumstances.”

Wang was killed as he held a door open, helping his fellow students to escape. One of his classmates, Kelsey Friend, told CNN, “He died a gentleman holding the door for other students.”

The U.S. Military Academy at West Point also awarded Wang a 2025 letter of acceptance, where he had hoped to attend.

But while these young men and women are being honored for their bravery, several of Trump’s closest allies are busy engineering cowardly smear campaigns against the other children.

Conservatives allied with Trump are upset that the teens from Stoneman Douglas are being outspoken about the need for gun laws and are trying to silence them.

Jack Kingston, who was a senior adviser to Trump’s presidential campaign and is now a pundit employed by CNN, complained that the Florida teens are pawns of “political operatives.”

He also claimed, “I would say to you very plainly that organized groups that are out there, like George Soros, are always ready to take the charge and it’s kind of like instant rally, instant protest.”

Gateway Pundit, a conservative blog that was granted White House credentials by the Trump administration, went after student David Hogg.

Lucian Wintrich, one of the site’s lead writers, complained that Hogg couldn’t possibly be as clear and articulate on the issue of gun violence unless he is being secretly “coached on anti-Trump lines.” Wintrich once headlined a speech called “It’s OK to be white.”

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who was praised by Trump for his “amazing” reputation, is now arguing that the shooting was a “false flag” operation designed to “bring in gun control.”

The students speaking out for gun reform have America backing them, and they even have the military in their corner. But the current commander in chief has a phalanx of allies who insist on smearing and tearing them down.

It is nothing less than utterly shameful.