'Vulgar contempt for those who served': Captain Sully criticises Trump for reportedly calling fallen soldiers 'suckers'

'He cannot understand selflessness because he is selfish,' the Air Force veteran and 'Miracle on the Hudson' pilot says about the president

Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger has joined other veterans and military families reacting to the reports Donald Trump allegedly called fallen soldiers "suckers" and "losers".

Captain Sullenberger, who saved 155 passengers in 2009 when he landed a damaged plane in what's become known as the "Miracle on the Hudson", slammed the president in a series of tweets.

At the start of the tweets, Captain Sullenberger mentioned how he served in the military while also honouring his father who, like himself, was a war veteran.

"In our travels, my wife Lorrie and I have always made it a point to visit military bases, hospitals and cemeteries, to meet and honour those who serve and have served our nation," he wrote.

He added: "I have long known that serving a cause greater than oneself is the highest calling, whether in the military or in civilian life. And I have always tried to be a voice of reason and to speak in a measured way."

His tone then changed, as he said it was time to call out the "egregious behaviour" being displayed by the sitting president.

"For the first time in American history, a president has repeatedly shown utter and vulgar contempt and disrespect for those who have served and died serving our country," Mr Sullenberger's thread continued.

Though it was a first, according to the former pilot, he said he was not "surprised". Instead, Mr Sullenberger said he was "disgusted" by Mr Trump and his behaviour.

"He took an oath of office that is similar to the one that each person takes who enters the US Military. But he has completely failed to uphold his oath," he said. "Now we know why. He has admitted that he cannot comprehend the concept of service above self."

"He cannot understand selflessness because he is selfish. He cannot conceive of courage because he is a coward. He cannot feel duty because he is disloyal," Mr Sullenberger added at the end of his thread before sharing The Atlantic's story.

This was not the only backlash that's sparked since the bombshell report.

Retired Lieutenant General Mark Hertling told CNN that he's spoken with several active military officials who are "furious" about the alleged rhetoric Mr Trump used against military troops.

"The military, the veterans I've talked to tonight, they are furious about this and they can't understand why people are still supporting this individual who is doing these kinds of things," he said.

Twitter users have also used hashtags like #veteransagainstTrump following the report, with several sharing images of themselves or their family members previously serving in the military.

Mr Trump has vehemently denied the report by The Atlantic, calling it a "hoax".

"It was a totally fake story, and that was confirmed by many people that were actually there," Mr Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday. "It was a terrible thing that somebody could say the kind of things – especially to me because I have done more for the military than almost anybody else."

In the report, Mr Trump allegedly objected to visiting the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris in 2018 because he did not see the point in honouring the soldiers who died, according to multiple anonymous sources who were on the trip.

"Why should I go to that cemetery? It's filled with losers," Mr Trump allegedly said. It was reported at the time that the trip was cancelled because his helicopter couldn't fly in the rain that day and the Secret Service was unable to drive him to the cemetery.

The White House has denied the reports by releasing a 2018 email stating the weather conditions were too poor that day to fly.

Another incident from the same trip involved Mr Trump allegedly calling the Marines who died at Belleau Wood, one of the toughest battles for the Marines during the First World War, "suckers".

Other allegations in The Atlantic's report included Mr Trump questioning a young Marine's sacrifice during a 2017 Memorial Day visit to Arlington Cemetery with General John Kelly, citing multiple sources. The man in question was Mr Kelly's son 1st Lieutenant Robert Kelly who was killed in Afghanistan in 2010.

Mr Trump and General Kelly, who was serving as the president's secretary of homeland security at the time, stopped at the son's grave when visiting the cemetery. Mr Trump reportedly turned to General Kelly and said: "I don't get it. What was in it for them?"

Although the White House has denied all aspects of the report, reporters from The Washington Post, Associated Press, and Fox News have independently confirmed key details.