Tuesday night during his first address to a joint session of Congress President Donald Trump honored Carryn Owens, the widow of fallen Navy SEAL Ryan Owens. Owens was killed in a January raid against an Al Qaeda stronghold in Yemen.
Watch the tribute and extensive applause from the audience below. It was no doubt the most powerful moment of the night:
Unfortunately, the ladies of The View took a difference position and accused Carryn of allowing herself to be exploited.
"Was this a tribute or was this damage control?" Whoopi Goldberg asked.
"I thought that was so exploitative. I thought he [Trump] exploited that widow. It was so hurtful to me," Sunny Hostin added.
Over to you, Mary Katharine Ham:
For those lamenting Carryn Owens' "exploitation," let me offer some thoughts. I'm not asking you to like Trump or credit him for that moment
— Mary Katharine Ham (@mkhammer) March 1, 2017
But what you can & should do is credit her. Maybe a SEAL wife who's been through, God willing, worst life will give her, can handle Trump.
— Mary Katharine Ham (@mkhammer) March 1, 2017
Maybe a SEAL wife knows exactly what she's doing & doesn't need you to explain it to her. Maybe she needs things you don't know much about.
— Mary Katharine Ham (@mkhammer) March 1, 2017
Maybe a widow raising 3 children knows how important it is to keep his name & memory alive, & that this moment is bigger than Trump or you.
— Mary Katharine Ham (@mkhammer) March 1, 2017
Maybe she knows one day she will show them this video & tell them the President of the United States & all the nation honored him.
— Mary Katharine Ham (@mkhammer) March 1, 2017
Maybe all that is more important than your angst about which president is involved & how. Just bc she's crying doesn't mean she's a victim.
— Mary Katharine Ham (@mkhammer) March 1, 2017
Maybe, probably, very likely, she's a badass. You and your kids are in my prayers, Carryn. Do what you gotta do. Proverbs 31:25
— Mary Katharine Ham (@mkhammer) March 1, 2017