Trump Reignites Controversy over Calling Troops' Brain Injuries 'Headaches'

Donald Trump on Tuesday revived the controversy over his downplaying of brain injuries suffered by U.S. service members while he was president, again brushing off the potentially devastating condition as "a headache."

At a news conference after Iran fired a barrage of missiles at Israel, the current Republican presidential nominee was asked by a reporter whether he regrets not being tougher on Tehran after Iran struck an air base in Iraq in 2020 and injured about 100 troops.

"What does 'injured' mean? Injured means because they had a headache because the bombs never hit the fort," Trump replied.

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"None of those very accurate missiles hit our fort," Trump added. "They all hit outside. And there was nobody hurt, other than the sound was loud. And some people said that hurt, and I accept that."

The remarks are not the first time Trump has dismissed traumatic brain injuries as minor headaches, but they renewed focus on the struggle that service members in the 2020 attack and in general have faced to get recognition for their invisible wounds.

At issue is Iran's strike on al-Asad Air Base in Iraq in retaliation for the U.S. drone strike that Trump ordered to kill Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who commanded the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force.

U.S. troops who were at the base have described a three-hour bombardment that likely would have killed service members had most not been evacuated ahead of the attack.

In the weeks following the attack, Pentagon officials said at least 109 U.S. troops suffered traumatic brain injuries, or TBI, and an inspector general report released in November 2021 suggested the number of wounded troops was likely higher since military officials did not properly track the injuries.

The U.S. did not launch its own retaliatory strike after the al-Asad attack, as Trump at first claimed there were no casualties and then, once the injuries came to light, dismissed them as minor.

"I heard they had headaches and a couple of other things," Trump said in 2020. "But I would say, and I can report, it is not very serious. Not very serious."

But the service members who suffered the brain injuries have described crippling symptoms, including memory loss, partial vision loss and chronic migraines.

There is also a growing body of evidence that TBI is linked to an increased risk of suicide, as reported on extensively by Military.com, as well as other devastating symptoms such as hallucinations and seizures.

Nearly 80 service members received Purple Hearts for injuries suffered in the al-Asad attack. For many, the recognition did not come until after Trump left office.

Trump's latest comments downplaying the injuries provided immediate fodder for his political rivals. Hours after the news conference, Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz alluded to Trump's remarks during his debate against GOP vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance.

"Iran is closer to a nuclear weapon than they were before because of Donald Trump's fickle leadership," Walz said. "And when Iranian missiles did fall near U.S. troops and they received traumatic brain injuries, Donald Trump wrote it off as headaches."

Related: Two Years Later, Guardsmen Finally Receive Purple Hearts for Brain Injuries Suffered in Iran Missile Strike