Fact check: What were Donald Trump's actual military service records?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, Donald Trump received five military draft deferments during the Vietnam War era ^{[1] [2]}. The breakdown was four student deferments for college attendance and one medical deferment for bone spurs in both heels ^[1]. This medical condition disqualified him from military service except in times of war or national emergency ^[1].

However, the legitimacy of Trump's medical deferment has been called into question. Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, testified that Trump made up the bone spur injury to avoid Vietnam service ^[3]. According to Cohen's testimony, Trump provided no medical records to support his claim and told Cohen not to answer specific questions from reporters about the matter ^[3]. Cohen further stated that Trump explicitly said he wasn't going to Vietnam and that there was no surgery related to the alleged bone spurs ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The analyses reveal important contextual information often missing from discussions of Trump's military service:

• Draft avoidance was common practice among affluent families during the Vietnam era. Young men from influential families frequently obtained deferments through college attendance or favorable medical diagnoses ^[2].
• Trump's bone spur diagnosis may have been given as a courtesy to his father, suggesting potential family influence in obtaining the medical deferment ^[2].
• The analyses note that draft deferment was particularly accessible to those who could afford college education or obtain favorable medical evaluations ^[2], highlighting the socioeconomic disparities in military service during this period.

Alternative viewpoints that benefit different parties:

• Trump and his supporters benefit from framing the deferments as legitimate medical and educational exemptions that were legally obtained
• Trump's political opponents benefit from promoting the narrative that he fraudulently avoided military service while others served and died in Vietnam
• The military establishment might benefit from either narrative depending on their political alignment

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question asking about Trump's "actual military service records" contains an implicit assumption that may be misleading. Trump has no military service records because he never served in the military - he received deferments that prevented his service entirely ^[1].

The question's framing could be interpreted as seeking objective documentation, but the available information shows a significant dispute between official records (showing legitimate medical deferment) and testimony alleging fraud ^[3]. The analyses present conflicting narratives about whether Trump's medical deferment was legitimate or fabricated, making it impossible to definitively establish the "actual" circumstances without additional evidence beyond the testimony of Michael Cohen.