I can’t imagine what reasons they might have had for not applying. I think Trump’s action is good, since of course disabled vets should actually have been spared the whole process.
And of course it’s theater, but this is a good kind of theater, because it shows who Trump and all of us support....not the unemployable soy boy who ran up hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loan debt because he never really had any interest in anything and also never really thought he’d have to support himself, but the guy who has actually done something with his life and has ended up paying a price for it.
Your second point is true,and an important message. As for it being “theater”, I guess that can be said about most anything. Trump’s intention is sincere and changes the discussion to “You want free stuff? Serve your country first. You prefer to lay on your ass and suck down lattes for 4 years? Pay for your own college then”.