Critics mocked Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) after she invented a military title while defending her decision to speak up during President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address.
In a video posted to Twitter, Boebert shared a message sent to her by a mother who thanked her for recognizing the soldiers that died in Afghanistan.
“I called out Joe Biden during the State of the Union because I thought the heroic members of our military deserved to be recognized. Two things happened after, but only one was really reported,” Boebert said.
She continued, “Nancy Pelosi literally told me to shut up — that got reported, along with plenty of other stories about triggered liberals who were deeply offended about me speaking up. You and I know none of these radical libs had anything to say when Nancy Pelosi tore up President Trump’s speech at the State of the Union.”
Boebert explained it is “the unreported part that I want you to hear loud and clear. After I spoke up, a few of the parents of our fallen soldiers reached out to me, and one of the moms encouraged me to share her thoughts with you.”
She began reading the message, saying, “Hello Mrs. Boebert. I am Shana Chappell, the mother of Lieutenant Corporal Kareem Nikoui, he was one of the 13 killed in Kabul.”
Chappell allegedly told Boebert she “was so happy to hear that someone in your position thought about our 13 kids at that very moment.”
Watch the video below:
After I spoke up for our 13 fallen military heroes at the State of the Union address a few of their parents reached out to thank me for recognizing them.
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) March 15, 2022
One of the parents encouraged me to share her message. Here it is. pic.twitter.com/Eu0IKn2FG0
Concluding her message, Boebert said, “Our military deserves so much better than this administration. I promised you, when you sent me to Washington I would be your voice. Nancy Pelosi can tell me to shut up all she wants. It’s never going to happen.”
Critics were quick to point out Boebert’s mistake.
Alexander Vindman tweeted, “The U.S. military doesn’t have a rank of ‘lieutenant corporal’ so what was the nationality of the mother who thanked her.”
The U.S. military doesn’t have a rank of “lieutenant corporal” so what was the nationality of the mother who thanked her? https://t.co/nuKGtFTOKF
— Alexander S. Vindman ❎ (@AVindman) March 15, 2022
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) added, “I’m a Lt Colonel, but I’m doing all my PME in hopes of attaining the elusive Lt Corporal. The pay ain’t great but you’re one of a kind!”
I’m a Lt Colonel, but I’m doing all my PME in hopes of attaining the elusive Lt Corporal. The pay ain’t great but you’re one of a kind! https://t.co/TvdOYlOFG1
— Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇮🇱 (@AdamKinzinger) March 15, 2022
Check out other reactions below:
Sergeant Private! Get Major Captain on the phone! Let him know Lieutenant Corporal is making inappropriate comments to civilians. https://t.co/s649wGokeQ
— Richard Jeter (@MilesToGo13) March 15, 2022
Maybe there's a "lieutenant corporal" in whatever Q army she's in, but not in the actual U.S. military. https://t.co/yaY88kDx9b
— VoteVets (@votevets) March 15, 2022
https://twitter.com/davidmweissman/status/1503802567066886150
Boebert later made an apology for her remark, saying, “The proper military rank is Lance Corporal.”