[ad_1]
- US President Donald Trump has denied insulting American war dead buried in Europe.
- He refused to visit the American cemetery near Paris during a visit to France in 2018.
- His rival Joe Biden promised to help military families if elected.
US President Donald Trump on Thursday vigorously denied a magazine report that said he had spoken dismissively about fallen American military personnel buried in Europe and refused to visit an American cemetery during a trip to France because of it. considered unimportant.
“The Atlantic” reported that Trump, a Republican running for re-election who has touted his record of helping American veterans, had referred to the Marines buried in an American cemetery near Paris as “losers” and refused. to visit in 2018 due to concerns that the rain that day would ruin her hair.
READ | Trump called US soldiers who died during WWI ‘losers’ and ‘fools,’ report says
Trump told reporters Thursday that the story was false.
“To think that I would make negative statements to our military and fallen heroes when nobody has done what I did,” for the United States armed forces, Trump said. “It’s a total lie … It’s a shame.”
The president said he did not go to the cemetery because the weather prevented a helicopter flight. The alternative, a long drive, would have meant passing through busy areas of Paris and the Secret Service objected, he said.
“The Secret Service told me, ‘You can’t do it.’ I said, “I have to. I want to be there.” They said, ‘You can’t do it,’ “Trump said.
“The Atlantic” did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment outside of normal business hours.
Joe Biden’s answer
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, who leads Trump in national polls ahead of the Nov.3 election, emphasized his own commitment to helping members of the military in response to the report.
“If the revelations in today’s Atlantic article are true, then they are another indicator of how deeply President Trump and I disagree on the role of the President of the United States,” Biden said in a statement issued by his campaign.
“And if I have the honor to serve as the next commander-in-chief, I will make sure our American heroes know that I will stand behind them and honor their sacrifice, always.”
As a presidential candidate, Trump made negative comments about the now-late Senator John McCain for being captured during the Vietnam War.
“He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who were not captured,” Trump said in 2015 when he was running for the Republican presidential nomination.
Trump said Thursday that he disagreed with McCain, but still respected him.
“I was never a fanatic. I will admit it openly,” Trump said.
“He didn’t agree with John McCain. But he still respected him.”
Did you know that you can comment on this article? Subscribe to News24 and add your voice to the conversation.
