After these troops protected Biden during his inauguration, they were forced to sleep on the concrete floor of an unheated parking garage. Trump has just offered them free hotel rooms.

https://www.bizpacreview.com/2021/01/22/trump-comes-through-for-the-troops-offers-up-trump-hotel-after-banishment-to-parking-garage-1020053/

Trump comes through for the troops, offers up Trump Hotel after banishment to parking garage

By Terresa Monroe-Hamilton

January 22, 2021

Following President Biden’s inauguration, 5,000 National Guard troops were moved to a parking garage to rest and sleep. This drew the outrage of several states when they saw their troops having to sleep on the garage floor. The troops have now been allowed back into the Capitol and former President Trump has offered them rooms at the Trump Hotel D.C.

The Guard will now reportedly be allowed to rest in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. The change comes after thousands of National Guardsmen were moved to a parking garage after they were told they could no longer use space within the U.S. Capitol Complex, including areas such as the cafeteria of a Senate office building, as a rest area, multiple Guardsmen told CNN.

One Guardsman told Politico that on the day of the inauguration dozens of lawmakers had taken photos with them, shook their hands, and thanked them for their service. He added, “Within 24 hours, they had no further use for us and banished us to the corner of a parking garage. We feel incredibly betrayed.”

Enter former President Trump who has now offered his Trump Hotel D.C. to the National Guardsmen so they will have a comfortable place to stay and rest. Even after leaving office, he has not forgotten those who serve this nation. Many found the gesture to be very touching and selfless, not to mention patriotic.

The garage where the 5,000 troops were banished to had one restroom with two stalls. There was also only one power outlet. That doesn’t even address the cold concrete floor the troops were forced to sleep on in January while politicians nestled all comfy in their soft, warm beds.

The Guardsmen, who had been resting inside the Capitol between 12-hour shifts, were moved to a nearby parking garage where photos obtained by Politico and other outlets showed members crowded together on the ground. Some of them resting their heads against cement pillars.

Governor Abbott (R-TX) was furious when he saw the pictures. “I have instructed General Norris to order the return of the Texas National Guard to our state,” the Republican governor wrote on Twitter, referring to Major Gen. Tracy Norris of the Texas National Guard. He had already taken great offense to the fact that the Guard was being vetted over a possible “inside” attack during the Biden inauguration.

Even Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) pretended outrage and tweeted about the parking garage reports, “If this is true, it’s outrageous. I will get to the bottom of this.”

Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) visited the troops and tweeted that he brought them pizza. “No soldier will ever, ever sleep on a garage floor in the US Capitol while I work in Congress.”

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) also voiced her anger via Twitter, “This is absolutely unacceptable and despicable treatment of our brave and dedicated National Guard who answered the call to serve. We need to demand answers now and this needs to be fixed immediately.”

Sen. Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, wrote, “Very upset by this story but I have been in touch with the Utah National Guard and they are taken care of. My staff and I are investigating what happened here and will continue working to fix this situation.”

A number of lawmakers offered their offices to the Guardsmen after hearing of the garage incident.

Politico reported the unit that had been using space in the Dirksen Senate Office building were asked to move to the garage by the Capitol Police.

CBS reporter Kris Van Cleave reported early Friday the National Guard said the troops are out of the garage and will take their breaks in Emancipation Hall at the Capitol Visitors Center from now on.

“After significant outcry, it seems like there is movement right now to get Guard members back inside the Capitol, into the visitors center,” Politico reporter Natasha Bertrand, tweeted.

Politico reporter Lara Seligman said a Guard source told her “all units at the Thurgood Marshall parking garage are ordered to relocate to the CVC (Capitol Visitors Center) immediately.”