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Aside from Donald Trump himself, one of the most talked-about people from the president's first congressional address was Carryn Owens.
Owens is a widow whose husband, 36-year-old Navy SEAL William "Ryan" Owens, was killed in a raid on an al-Qaeda-held village in Yemen [1] in late January under Trump's administration. During the address, Trump praised the Navy SEAL, saying his "legacy is etched into eternity," and the crowd gave Carryn an almost-two-minute standing ovation as she stood with tears running down her cheeks next to first daughter Ivanka Trump. According to the White House, she is the mother of three of their children [2].
Pres. Trump praises Navy SEAL killed during Yemen raid: "Ryan's legacy is etched into eternity." https://t.co/kGvWehnWHS [3] #Jointsession [4] pic.twitter.com/dPghXajsqT [5]
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) March 1, 2017 [6]
Despite hailing the raid as a success during his address, Trump had just hours earlier blamed the raid on his generals [7] in an interview with Fox News. "This was something that was, you know, just — they wanted to do . . . and they lost Ryan." He also said the Obama administration had approved the raid, despite denials [8] from an Obama administration official, according to The Washington Post. What's more, CNN reports that Bill Owens, father of the Navy SEAL, slammed Trump [9], calling for an investigation into his son's death and refusing to meet with the president.
On Tuesday night, Carryn's appearance started trending online.
These are the top Tweeted moments from President Trump's address to a #JointSession [10] of Congress: pic.twitter.com/F0Ihhm0cCu [11]
— Twitter Government (@gov) March 1, 2017 [12]
Here are the top Tweeted about people from President Trump's address to a #JointSession [13] of Congress: pic.twitter.com/kpIBbv1xNJ [14]
— Twitter Government (@gov) March 1, 2017 [15]
While many were touched by her appearance . . .
#PresidentTrump [16]'s moment with the widow of #RyanOwens [17] will go down as one of the greatest political moments in US History#CarrynOwens [18] #MAGA [19] pic.twitter.com/TBKwa2JP3h [20]
— HAINES™ (@toddwhaines) March 1, 2017 [21]
Beautiful extended tribute to Navy SEAL Ryan Owens. The hall at its finest. God bless you Carryn and children. https://t.co/iZCditVAYN [22]
— Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) March 1, 2017 [23]
Carryn Owens Moment Was Powerful And Moving...
God Bless Your Family.#Jointsession [24] #MAGA [25] pic.twitter.com/YKFQmLwbOd [26]— Deplorable😡Rāzərbak (@MediaJuggernaut) March 1, 2017 [27]
That moment with Carryn Owens was the first time an address to Congress has ever brought tears to my eyes. wow.......
— John Roberts (@johnrobertsFox) March 1, 2017 [28]
Others thought it was in poor taste and "shameless."
Trump sent a soldier off to die in a half-baked raid and then used his grieving widow as a prop. I'm still processing this.
— Jordan Weissmann (@JHWeissmann) March 1, 2017 [29]
Using soldier's death + grieving widow is shameless. Especially when father is calling for full investigation into son's death #jointaddress [30]
— Caroline C. Larsen (@carolinecology) March 1, 2017 [31]
@TheFix [32] @ABCPolitics [33] Yeah, he killed a SEAL and blamed it on Obama then used the widow as a prop.
— Reverse123 (@Reverse_123) March 1, 2017 [34]
The other takeaway: the Commander-in-Chief blamed everyone else for Ryan's death, then puppetized his widow. I find that shameless.
— Mark Waid (@MarkWaid) March 1, 2017 [35]