Ahead of Obama’s remarks Tuesday, GOP Rep. Richard Hanna of NY said he would be voting for Clinton.
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“If you are repeatedly having to say, in very strong terms, that what he has said is unacceptable, why are you still endorsing him?”
President Barack Obama’s 12th state dinner is being held Tuesday night for the prime minister of Singapore, a city-state Obama refers to as an anchor for the US presence in Southeast Asia.
Trump’s criticism of the Khans is part of a familiar pattern for the Republican nominee: He can’t let go of a perceived slight, no matter the potential damage to his presidential campaign or political reputation.
The president said anxiety over globalization is “legitimate”, but argued that the USA must find a way “to make sure that globalization and trade is working for us, not against us”. Rep. Mike Coffman, a vulnerable Republican in a competitive Colorado district, said he was “deeply offended when Donald Trump fails to honor the sacrifices of all of our courageous soldiers who were lost in that war”.
Obama and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong stressed that while concerns about the fate of workers in the increasingly global economy are well founded, the United States can not turn its back on trade.
After Mr Khan spoke out against Trump, the Republican candidate said that the father of US Army Captain Humayun Khan hadn’t allowed his wife to speak.
“It’s not possible to cut ourselves off, given how integrated our economies are, and trying to pull up a draw bridge on trade would only hurt us and hurt our workers”, he said.
U.S. -Asia relations and the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal involving both Singapore and the United States are on the agenda. Obama asked during a White House news conference. He said that Obama’s decision to place greater emphasis on building ties with Asia has “won America new friends and strengthened old partnerships, including in Singapore”. He says the US and Singapore share a common vision for a peaceful and prosperous Asia.
Obama is welcoming Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the White House for a state visit.
Lee says the world has changed dramatically since the USA and Singapore opened diplomatic relations 50 years ago.
Lee on Monday called the trade pact an “economic game changer” that adds “substance to America’s engagement in the Asia Pacific” region.
Although Obama may be able to offer few assurances to Lee regarding the TPP, other issues, the two leaders reinforced their commitment to the 2015 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, under which 1,000 Singaporean security personnel are trained or stationed in the United States each year. The color symbolizes the friendship between the two countries.
Obama and the prime minister plan to meet in the Oval Office before taking questions from reporters.
The allies share close economic and security ties, with more than 3,500 US companies having a presence in Singapore.
Calling Singapore a “rock solid” partner, Obama welcomed Lee after an elaborate ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, where hundreds of USA military members in blue and white uniforms formed an honor guard. Both Republican contender Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, who are competing to succeed Obama as president, are against it.
The pact is created to counter growing Chinese economic power, and the 12 countries involved, including Singapore, account for 40 percent of the world’s gross domestic product and a market of 800 million people.
Lee cast the deal as pivotal to the United States’ relationship with Asia.
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The state dinner included a mix of Washington officials and celebrities.
