Trump Supporter Claims Army Discharge Over Trump Photo Sparks Viral Controversy
(Jeenah Moon for The Washington Post)
A Donald Trump supporter recently made headlines after appearing on Lindell TV, claiming that he was discharged from the U.S. Army for having a photo of the former president on his phone. Piero Maranon-Velazco, who spoke at the Force Multipliers Conference in Las Vegas alongside Steve Bannon and Mike Lindell, shared his story on Lindell’s Frank Speech TV platform.
According to Mediaite, The clip of his claims quickly went viral, drawing both support and skepticism. Maranon’s assertions have been embraced by some Trump supporters, but his story has also prompted further investigation into the incidents that led to his discharge. According to reports, Maranon clarified that one particular event during his time in the military sparked significant complaints.
The controversy began when Maranon, during a training session, corrected a fellow trainee who made a joke comparing a military formation procedure to a Nazi salute. “There is a procedure called ‘covering,’ where soldiers space themselves by raising their left hand,” explained Maranon. “One trainee joked that it looked like a Nazi salute,” Maranon responded by demonstrating the actual Nazi salute, which uses the right hand.
This demonstration, however, offended a Jewish trainee, who subsequently reported him for promoting Nazi imagery. Maranon claims this report marked the beginning of targeted harassment, which he believes eventually led to his dismissal from the Army. He also referenced another incident involving his phone. During his training, his phone, which had a screensaver featuring Donald Trump, was handled by fellow trainees at a charging station while he attended religious services.
Maranon alleges that female trainees saw the Trump image and labeled him a racist, Nazi, and white supremacist. He further claimed he received insults about his wife being white from some of the black female trainees. Maranon believes these incidents fueled the animosity that resulted in his military discharge.
While his claims of mistreatment have resonated with some Trump supporters, the broader public remains divided. Trump has continued to draw strong support at rallies and events, despite the controversies surrounding him. According to Politico, Trump’s supporters have consistently shown up in large numbers for rallies and pivotal moments, such as his criminal trials.
At a recent rally, while some supporters chanted, “Donald Trump did nothing wrong,” others countered with, “No one is above the law. Trump is not above the law.” Maranon’s story has added to the ongoing debate about the treatment of Trump supporters in various institutions and has further polarized opinions on the former president’s influence.
