Veteran swiftly fact-checks Trump’s military claims

During this election cycle's first presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden Thursday in Atlanta, the president noted that his opponent once blatantly disrespected military service members by calling them "suckers" and "losers."

In his response, Trump shot back claiming that "was a made-up quote" reported by "a third-rate magazine."

The MAGA hopeful then said that Biden should apologize to him for asserting that he ever called military members names.

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"A four-star general who was on your staff said you said it, that's number one," Biden shot back. "And number two, the idea that I have to apologize to you for anything along the line — we've done more for veterans than any president has in American history."

NBC News reported in October:

In a statement to CNN published Monday, [former Trump White House chief of staff John] Kelly delivered a scathing criticism of former President Donald Trump while confirming reporting in The Atlantic in 2020 that detailed the comments he made during his presidency.

'A person that thinks those who defend their country in uniform, or are shot down or seriously wounded in combat, or spend years being tortured as POWs are all ‘suckers’ because ‘there is nothing in it for them,' Kelly said of Trump. 'A person that did not want to be seen in the presence of military amputees because ‘it doesn’t look good for me.’ A person who demonstrated open contempt for a Gold Star family — for all Gold Star families — on TV during the 2016 campaign, and rants that our most precious heroes who gave their lives in America’s defense are ‘losers’ and wouldn’t visit their graves in France.'

Former Human Rights Campaign press secretary Charlotte Clymer — who is also a veteran — offered commentary via X (formerly Twitter) following the MAGA hopeful's comments, writing, "Trump literally called American service members who died in war 'losers' and 'suckers.' As a veteran, I can tell you: President Biden has been extraordinary for veterans. The PACT Act, the improvement of the VA, etc."

Clymer continued, "Biden is getting pissed, and I am absolutely here for it. Five different news organizations all independently corroborated that Trump called American war dead 'losers' and 'suckers' Trump called them that. He did it. He insulted our fallen women and men in uniform."

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