Am I the only person (apart from my wife) who writhed in acute embarrassment at the point in Trump’s speech to Congress last week, when the cameras played upon the poor, grieving, widow of the dead soldier, Ryan Owens, killed in Yemen on an assault on Al Queda?

For years Presidents on this type of occasion have used individuals in the audience as political props, but this was particular bad taste. A brief glimpse of the tearful lady might have been one thing, but we had to watch her for about three excruciating minutes. Poor Mrs. Owens! Democrats joined Republicans in lapping up the scene, like gruesome vampires.

Then the story gets worse. We discover that Mr Owens Sr. refused to meet the President or attend the speech with his wife, and has demanded an enquiry. We learn that the raid was not “rewarding”, and that 32 innocent Yemeni civilians, including a small child, were killed. 32 people! No mention of them by the President, and little or no discussion of them in the media at all (that I saw). This type of uncaring treatment of civilians further alienates the moslem population. (Why does one even have to point that out?)

To cap it all Trump refused to take responsibility for this event, the first of its kind since he became President. It was planned by Obama ( he explained) …..”the generals wanted to do it, so I went along….the generals are great guys”. Disgraceful! Every military operation from day one is Trump’s military operation.

The outcome of all the above? “A complete change in tone”. “The bit about Owens and his widow was so touching” etc. etc. What, I asked myself, has gone wrong with people’s judgment?