It comes as no surprise to me that President Trump would choose to attend a golf dinner instead of paying his respect to four fallen U.S. soldiers.
The soldiers were engaged in a training exercise in Lithuania when they and their vehicle disappeared. They were found submerged in a swamp. The four soldiers found dead were identified as Staff Sgt. Jose Duenez, Jr., Staff Sgt. Edvin F. Franco, Pfc. Dante D. Taitano and Staff Sgt. Troy S. Knutson-Collins. All four soldiers were part of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division based at Fort Stewart, Georgia.
Under the circumstances, I can see three reasons why Trump did not pay them his respects.
First and foremost, let us never forget Trump believes that fallen U.S. soldiers are "losers and suckers", a fact confirmed by former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly. While Trump has denied making the remarks, the notoriously litigious President has never seen fit to sue anyone regarding the incident. There would be depositions and nothing good would come of it for Trump.
Second, the incident took place in Lithuania, a former Soviet republic and now a NATO member. We all know what contempt Trump has for NATO and Vladimir Putin would very much like to have Lithuania and the Baltic states back under the Russian fold. Given what has happened in Ukraine, Lithuania is preparing for a Russian invasion. Had Trump saw fit to honor the fallen soldiers he would have validated both NATO and Lithuania's presence within which would not have pleased Russia. The fact that Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and thousands of Lithuanians have expressed more sorrow at the deaths of American soldiers than our own government is quite telling.
Third, there is Trump's financial self-interest. The dinner he attended took place at his Dorval resort in Miami where a LIV sponsored golf tournament is taking place this weekend. Trump will be making money with this golf tournament. Honoring our fallen soldiers will not line his pockets. Of course, LIV is sponsored by Saudi Arabia where Trump will make his first foreign trip of his second term next month. Needless to say, the Trump family has profited handsomely from their ties with Saudi Arabia.
All things considered, perhaps it is best that Trump didn't honor these four fallen soldiers. Trump would have likely sullied such a ceremony and found a way to make it about himself as he invariably does.