U.S. Representative Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), who is running for reelection, criticized his Democratic opponent Rebecca Cooke for posting photos from her visit with the Coon Valley American Legion.
Cooke wrote: “I come from a long line of veterans and in Congress, I’ll fight to make sure our servicemembers receive the benefits they deserve and are honored for their sacrifices.”
Van Orden responded: “‘I come from a long line of veterans’, I served as a Senior Enlisted Navy SEAL for over 26 years. We are not your political props, and are sick and tired of people like you trying to use us. Gross.”
[NOTE: The Pierce County Journal reported Cooke’s family members served in the American Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. Her grandfather was a Marine who served in Korea; her father served as a medic at Walter Reed Hospital, caring for wounded soldiers returning from Vietnam, and her brother served in the U.S. Navy.]
“I come from a long line of veterans”
I served as a Senior Enlisted Navy SEAL for over 26 years.
We are not your political props, and are sick and tired of people like you trying to use us.
Gross. https://t.co/q4xhVpmphm
— Derrick Van Orden (@derrickvanorden) August 30, 2026
Wisconsin resident and former editor of RightWisconsin, James Wigderson, criticized Van Orden for his comment, writing: “your personal conduct in seeking and attaining office has become a betrayal of your enlistment oath. You are no patriot. You are no hero.”
Van Orden replied to Wigderson: “Hey Tubby, I would love to sit down with you and have you call me that in person. I will meet you at any of the all-you-can eat buffets you are destroying on the regular. Real offer. Derrick Van Orden Senior Chief Ret. (SEAL)”
Hey Tubby,
I would love to sit down with you and have you call me that in person.
I will meet you at any of the all-you-can eat buffets you are destroying on the regular.
Real offer.
Derrick Van Orden
Senior Chief Ret. (SEAL) https://t.co/ei7PKHKLVn
— Derrick Van Orden (@derrickvanorden) August 31, 2026
Democratic U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) replied to Van Orden: “This is an insurrectionist that got elected to Congress. And you wonder why we can’t afford groceries & other things, & are in a war raising our gas prices. And we still can’t get the Epstein Files. @derrickvanorden is the personification of the problem in Congress now.”