I'm thinking the military provides the beneficiary with a low six-figure payment. So what's this supposed to be? Hush money? Did he think money would make the father feel the loss any less intensely?

Strange situation, that trump would offer up $25000.

for vets) but then doesn't follow through unless someone checks and publicizes his failure to keep the promise.

On The Apprentice NBC paid out the promises he made of personal charity, and the money distributed by the Trump Foundation comes from outside donors, not him.

I think he has Alzheimer's. He makes a promise to provoke gratitude and admiration in the moment, because he needs that like he needs air. But his dementia exacerbates a lifelong habit of disconnecting from reality and creating his own fantasy life. In his fantasy life he is admired for his generosity, but he has already collected that admiration at the moment he makes the promise, so there is no further payoff for following through, so he just loses track of the obligation in the murky recesses of his deteriorating mind.

and they used the occasion to excoriate the media for interfering in the situation.

So much bullshit.