Donald Trump

Chicago Man Loses Job After Tweet Bashing SEAL's Widow

"Trump just used you," the tweet read

A Chicago man lost his job after an "offensive and inappropriate tweet" was sent from his account Tuesday night berating the widow of a fallen Navy SEAL honored during a speech by President Donald Trump, the man's former employer says.

The tweet was aimed at Carryn Owens, whose husband, Chief Petty Officer William "Ryan" Owens, 36, of Peoria, was killed in a gun battle with al-Qaeda fighters during a raid in Yemen last January. 

"Sorry Owens' wife, you're not helping yourself or your husband's memory by standing there and clapping like an idiot. Trump just used you," the tweet sent from Daniel Grilo's account read.

The account has since been deleted, but many users circulated screenshots of the comment, including Donald Trump Jr.

The critical comment from Grilo's account was made during Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress in which Carryn Owens was given a sustained ovation after the president thanked her and lauded her slain husband as a heroic warrior.

A visibly emotional Owens, seated next to Ivanka Trump during the speech, clapped, clasped her hands and looked upward with tears streaming down her face.

Grilo was a principal at Liberty Advisor Group—but his profile page on his employer’s website has since been deleted, and the financial firm has issued a statement about the tweet.

“Although the message and subsequent apologies were sent from an individual’s personal account, and bore no connection to his work with Liberty, his comments were inconsistent with the Company’s values and the unyielding respect it has for the members of our Nation’s Armed Forces,” the firm said. “Regardless of whether the comments in the tweet were intended to cause the hurt and anger that they ultimately generated, they were unacceptable to us, and the individual who issued the tweet is no longer affiliated with Liberty.”

[NATL] Top News Photos: Pope Visits Japan, and More

Grilo received public backlash despite several apologies he made about his "poorly worded" tweet.

"I apologize, I believe parading Ryan's wife's pain like that was shameful after his morning comments," one of Grilo's tweets read, adding that he was happy to see his critics "inspired to protect Gold Star families."

Grilo's Twitter account reportedly said he volunteered for Hillary Clinton's campaign. 

Efforts to reach Grilo by telephone were not successful.

“We want to express our sincere condolences to Mrs. Owens,” Liberty Advisor Group said. “We also apologize to all those who have served this nation, including those Liberty employees who have themselves served, and anyone else who was offended by these comments.”

The raid Ryan Owens was killed in has been surrounded by other controversies, such as civilian deaths and Owens' father refusing to meet with Trump, as well as conflicting reports on the planning and results of the raid itself.

Hong Kong action film star Jackie Chan said he feels shame for his son, who has been indicted by Beijing prosecutors on a drug charge and could be jailed for up to three years.
Contact Us