NEWARK - Veterans have been rather dependable backers of Donald Trump going back to 2016.

Andy Kim says that's changing, and perhaps in a big way.

The senator says the Trump Administration is on its way to firing the most veterans in history. Granted, that may be hard to prove, but you get the point.

Kim said he detects many vets are "outraged" at not only the firings, but cuts, or planned cuts, to the Veterans Administration.

Kim spoke Tuesday at a sidewalk rally to condemn how Trump and Elon Musk are dismantling the federal government. The senator was joined by local Reps. Robert Menendez Jr. and LaMonica McIver.

Backers and recipients of various social service programs highlighted their fears.

Darlene Jackson said she lives in a HUD-supported senior citizen building and that without it, she would be out in the street.
A fired HUD worker said his job was ensuring that HUD housing was safe and clean. He said he gave up a higher paying job at Amazon, because he wanted to serve society directly. Now, he's out of a job.

Kim argued that the administration's firing spree is not motivated by economics alone.

He said Trump is "demonizing" public workers, because they take an oath to serve the government, not whoever may be president.

McIver offered some good news.

"We are beginning to see the tide turn." she said, optimistically.

She referenced court rulings halting some of the firings. That, of course, brings up another issue - the administration's compliance with court orders.

Another speaker was Adam Cartagena, a VA employee.

He had geography in mind. Cartagena works at the Lyons VA hospital, adding:

"The guy has a golf course 10 minutes away."

Everyone knew who "the guy" was. And what Cartagena was saying.

Why doesn't the president visit Lyons and see first hand what at least one VA hospital is about?

Just for the record, news reports say Trump plans to visit his Bedminster golf course this weekend.