Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) blasted a since-deleted social media post by the Democratic National Committee for politicizing the deaths of 13 soldiers killed during the military conflict with Iran. It featured the images and names of the deceased under the words “Remembering the Americans who have died in Trump’s war with Iran.” Duckworth criticized the “political attack on Memorial Day” as “distasteful.”

“It is incredibly distasteful to use our heroic dead for a political attack on Memorial Day,” said Duckworth. “I’m a Democrat and I condemn this post by the DNC.”

Duckworth served in the Army from 1992 to 2014. She was in the Army Reserve from 1992 to 1996, before transferring to the Army National Guard in 1996. She was a helicopter pilot during the Iraq War. During one mission in 2004, her Black Hawk helicopter was shot down by Iraqi insurgents. As a result of the combat wounds, Duckworth lost both legs and suffered an additional injury to her right arm.

The DNC’s social media post was made around 11 a.m. Duckworth made her post on Monday at 6:25 p.m. At some point after her post, the DNC account deleted the controversial image on all of its social media platforms. 

Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO), who also served in the military as an Army Ranger, serving three tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, also posted on X criticizing the DNC post, echoing Duckworth’s sentiments. 

“If we want the moral high ground, we have to be better,” Crow said in a post. “I fought for our country and served with those who made the ultimate sacrifice.” 

“It’s wrong to politicize this day. I won’t hesitate to call out my own team when we fall short,” he added.

Earlier on Memorial Day, Crow and Duckworth posted social media messages recognizing the sacrifices of fallen soldiers in our nation’s history.

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“On this Memorial Day, we remember all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” Crow said in a video recorded by the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C.

“Our freedoms, our liberties, and our way of life is because of them,” he said.

“On Memorial Day, we remember our fallen heroes who answered the call—not for themselves, but for democracy,” read Duckworth’s message.

“In their names, it’s on each of us to live our lives in a way that honors their sacrifice,” said the senator.