Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is coming to President Donald Trump’s defense after The Atlantic released a report that alleges he previously called fallen soldiers “losers” and “suckers.”
Appearing on Fox News on Friday, Pompeo claimed he was on the same trip as Trump when he was scheduled to visit the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris in 2018.
According to The Atlantic, Trump blamed the weather for the decision to cancel the trip.
He also said “the helicopter couldn’t fly” and the Secret Service was not willing to drive him there.
Trump reportedly said, “Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers.”
On the same trip, Trump called the more than 1,800 marines who died at Belleau Wood “suckers,” the publication reported.
Pompeo denied Trump ever made these comments.
“I’ve never heard the president use the language that assertively is said in that article about him calling the military ‘suckers’ and ‘losers,'” Pompeo said.
He added, “He has always had the deepest respect. I’m a veteran too. I care deeply about these young men and women. I’ve watched the president honor them in every situation that I’ve been in with him as well.”
Check out his remarks below:
Pompeo offers a weird denial of report that Trump disparaged fallen troops: "I've never heard the president use the language that assertively is said in that article about him calling the military 'suckers' and 'losers.'" pic.twitter.com/aReVInmZiL
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 4, 2020
Trump denied the report on the way back to Washington, D.C., from a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Thursday, as IJR previously reported.
He called the allegations a “disgraceful attempt to influence the 2020 election.”
Vice President Mike Pence dismissed the report during an appearance on CNBC on Friday, as IJR previously reported. He said the report is “just one more anonymous smear job with an election just a couple of months away.”
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden criticized Trump for his alleged remarks. He promised if he is elected president, he will support the nation’s troops and always “honor their sacrifice.”
