Ahead of Donald Trump’s Virginia Beach event today, Virginia veterans highlighted the danger that Trump’s divisive candidacy poses for veterans and military families.
Local veterans criticized Trump for making remarks that are “so utterly insulting to the men and women who serve our country,” including insulting prisoners of war and continuing to praise Saddam Hussein, and for his campaign signaling he wants to privatize the VA, which would deprive our veterans of the unique support they need and deserve. Simply put, Virginia veterans agree a “Trump presidency would be dangerous for veterans.”
“Donald Trump has said so many things over the years that are just so utterly insulting to the men and women who serve our country,” said Colonel Dave Belote. “He calls our military ‘a disaster.’ In Hampton Roads – where we’re so deeply connected to veterans and the military – saying the military is a disaster is a slap in the face to the people I served with and I grew up with, the many men and women right here in Virginia Beach who continue to sacrifice for our country.”
“Trump’s actions have shown that he will not, has not taken care of veterans like myself,” said Retired Navy Lieutenant Linwood Fisher. “And his campaign has told the Wall Street Journal that they were considering moving toward privatization of the VA. There’s no doubt that the VA needs to be fixed – and Hillary has outlined serious proposals to do just that – but privatizing the VA is exactly the wrong way to go. The vast majority of veterans do not support privatization because they know it would undermine their ability to get the unique care they deserve and leave them vulnerable to a health care market poorly suited to their needs.”
“I mention my service because its through that lens that I observe Donald Trump’s rhetoric, his policies, and his behavior. And as they all show, that a Trump presidency would be dangerous for veterans,” said General David McGinnis. “He actually praised Saddam Hussein for – and continues to praise him for — being quote, ‘so good’ at killing terrorists. Our service members put their lives on the line for our country every day. Making these kinds of comments is just so unbelievable and so unbelievably insulting to so many people – to the soldiers who lost their lives in Iraq and the families who lost their sons and daughters, their brothers and sisters, their best friends.”
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