President Trump recognized the widow of Navy SEAL William "Ryan" Owens during his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night.
Owens was killed last month during an anti-terrorism operation in Yemen, which some have characterized as a failure. Senior U.S. officials have said no significant intelligence was recovered from the raid, although Secretary of Defense James Mattis has, according to the president, described the operation as "highly successful," generating "large amounts of vital intelligence."
When Trump acknowledged Owen's widow, Carryn Owens, the room gave her a standing ovation that lasted nearly two minutes. It was the most emotional part of the president's speech.
But some did not find it unifying and took the opportunity to castigate the president–and Owens herself in at least one case.
I cannot STAND draft-dodgers sending men to their deaths and then exploiting the grieving aftermath. Fuck you, Donald. #JointAddress
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) March 1, 2017
The use of this poor woman as a political prop by Trump to relitigate a botch raid is absolutely repulsive.
— Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) March 1, 2017
reminder. SEAL father called Trump's Yemen raid "stupid"
— Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) March 1, 2017
Donald Trump ordered the Yemen mission that killed Officer William "Ryan" Owens (a.k.a. the man he is currently collecting applause for)
— Lauren Duca (@laurenduca) March 1, 2017
Reminder: it is now the second time *this week* Trump has used this slain Navy SEAL as a political prop. It's gross and offensive. https://t.co/17ILrhZYXg
— Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) March 1, 2017
Mark Shields on PBS just called Trump's invocation of Ryan Owens in his address "incredibly self-serving."
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) March 1, 2017
I'm still troubled by Trump's exploitation of the death of Ryan Owens. Especially when family members of US soldiers can be deported.
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) March 1, 2017
One woman on @TheView said Trump exploited Owen's widow last night. pic.twitter.com/yrfc0J7lGC
— Andrew Kugle (@AndrewJKugle) March 1, 2017
MSNBC reporter Katy Tur tweeted at first that honoring Owens was the most "extraordinary" moment she has seen from Trump, but in later tweets, Tur said it was "anything but presidential."
What the President did w Owen's widow was capital P Presidential. It was the single most extraordinary moment I've seen from Trump - by far.
— Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) March 1, 2017
*BUT* remember that moment came after Trump seemed to blame his generals/Obama for Owen's death this morning.
— Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) March 1, 2017
And NBC News exclusive reporting: senior intelligence sources dispute WH characterization of raid as success. No significant intel *yet.*
— Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) March 1, 2017
... Which would mean that Trump isn't being honest with a grieving wife. And that is anything BUT presidential.
— Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) March 1, 2017
A former volunteer for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama's presidential campaigns, Dan Grilo, attacked Carryn Owens personally but later deleted the tweet.
.@grilodan deleted this tweet and locked his account. pic.twitter.com/I6Pmd0ADOc
— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) March 1, 2017
But one reporter from the New York Times Maggie Haberman came to Owens' defense, saying it was a "strong moment" and she thought that the president "handled it correctly."
She said it was the widow's choice to participate in the speech, and that was how Owens "wanted to honor her husband."