Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump sank to a new low at a campaign rally in North Carolina last night where he accused Iraq War veterans of "living well" off the reconstruction funds (taxpayer dollars) they stole.
TRUMP: How about bringing baskets of money, millions and millions of dollars, and handing it out? I want to know who are the soldiers who had that job, 'cause I think they're living very well right now whoever they may be.
A Trump campaign spokesperson claims Trump was referring to Iraqi soldiers, but this is not the first time he has claimed American troops stole taxpayer money. Trump said something a little more explicit last September.
TRUMP: Remember when they were handing 50 million dollars of cash -- cash!-- they were going through Afghanistan paying off; I want to know who are the soldiers that are carrying cash, 50 million dollars, cash! How stupid are we? I wouldn't be surprised, if those soldiers, I wouldn't be surprised if that cash didn't get there I have to be honest.
Retired Major General Paul Eaton, who served in Iraq, issued a statement today blasting Trump for all of his various embarrassments, not just this one.
via VoteVets:
"From saying he doesn't like POWs because they were captured, to trying to get disabled veterans kicked out from in front of Trump Tower, to belittling service by calling his sexual exploits in the 80s his "personal Vietnam," it is clear Trump has no respect for military service, or the people who serve.
"For him to smear our troops and veterans as he has, it is disqualifying, as far as I am concerned."
Of all the things I imagined we would see from the Republican presidential nominee this year, accusing Iraq War veterans of "living well" off stolen money wasn't one of them.
This could be seen as particularly insulting given Trump's shady record of claiming he raises and donates money for veterans but only making an actual donation when he gets caught for not doing so.