Prior to the event, Joel Arends, who heads Veterans for a Strong America, announced the group’s endorsement of Trump’s candidacy, despite refraining from endorsing a candidate until well into the primary season in the 2012 presidential cycle.
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Billionaire Donald Trump stood beneath three towering 16-inch guns aboard a battleship in a show of political and military strength in advance of Wednesday night’s big GOP presidential debate – and said his competitors aren’t tough enough to take on our rivals.
He once again denounced the Iran nuclear deal as “one of the weakest contracts of any kind”, proclaiming that John Kerry might have surpassed Hillary Clinton as, in Trump’s mind, “the worst secretary of state in the history of this country“.
In a speech aimed at America’s current and retired military personnel, Trump claimed that there is no greater travesty than the Veterans Administration’s healthcare system. “They don’t have it. Believe me, they don’t have it. It’s going to be more of the same”.
Fred Malek, a longtime Republican presidential fundraiser who isn’t aligned with a specific candidate, said the approach of many has been to “let Trump beat Trump“.
And sometimes, it was also very good for Donald Trump.
“I don’t agree with what Donald Trump says about immigration because immigrants are hard-working and they collaborate with the United States”, Moreno said.
After his speech, Trump, wearing his signature navy blue blazer, white shirt and red baseball cap, shook hands and signed a copy of Rolling Stone magazine with him on the cover.
“I used to be in the construction business and we lost a lot of jobs to illegals coming up”, said Towe.
Roberto Centeno shrugs off Donald Trump’s controversial remarks on Latinos – including suggestions that America should build a frontier wall to keep out the “rapists” he alleges Mexico sends across the border. “Trump blames everything negative that happens in this country on immigrants”. “Our number one goal is to be a community platform, and freedom of speech is a great thing, whether that’s from Trump or from protestors”. The Club for Growth says it was Trump who offered to make the donation.
“He’s entertaining, outspoken and totally refreshing”, Bugenhagen said.
“That was him, all the way”, Schooley said.
Tickets for the event cost $100 for general admission, $250 for preferred seating and up to $1,000 for a seat in front of the podium, although veterans with valid identification were allowed in for free.
The media included worldwide , national and more local outlets, crowding the ship’s stern with a bank of cameras and reporters.
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The anti-tax group Club for Growth – ironically, known for taking down establishment insiders in favor of more conservative outsiders in Senate and House races – is now turning on Trump, who it sees as a closet Democrat. “We fought for their right to be there”.
