Trump pledges better veterans health care, bashes Clinton at VFW meeting
CHARLOTTE — Donald Trump turned his VFW speech into something of a political rally Tuesday, blaming career politicians for problems with the veterans health care system and attacking Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton.
"Our veterans are the bravest and the finest people on Earth," Trump told the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in North Carolina. "Our debt to you is eternal — yet our politicians have totally failed you."
Members of the crowd cheered when Trump bashed his opponent as "crooked Hillary," and some picked up the chant that Republicans used at their convention in Cleveland last week: "Lock her up! Lock her up!
"And to think she was here yesterday," Trump told the VFW delegates. "I guess she didn't do very well."
While Trump accused Clinton of downplaying problems with the VA health care system, Clinton told the VFW on Monday that it is one of her highest priorities.
"We are not going to privatize the VA — we are going to reform it and make it work for every single veteran in America," the Democratic candidate said. "We will ensure access to timely quality care (and) improve the coordination of care."
Clinton did not mention Trump by name during her VFW speech but did suggest her opponent's aggressive style would be ineffective in the White House: "I'm not interested in talking provocatively. I'm not interested in insulting people, including our military. I'm interested in bringing our country together. I'm interested in healing the divisions."
Trump's speech to the VFW — a frequent stop for most presidential candidates — was part of a weeklong series of events designed in part to counter-program the Democratic convention in Philadelphia. The Republican nominee spent two days in North Carolina, a pivotal southern state.
The GOP candidate criticized Democrats for not mentioning the threats of the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, during the first night of their convention Monday, but added there may have been a reason: Obama administration policies helped give rise to the militant group.
"They don't want to talk about it. Because in a very true way, they really established ISIS because of weakness," Trump said.
Trump, whose proposals include an anti-immigration wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and demands that NATO allies pay more money for the alliance, discussed little foreign policy before the VFW, though he did blame current politicians for "one calamity after another overseas."
Trump said: "Things have to change, and they have to change right now."
The New York businessman drew loud applause when he again pledged to stop the flow of Syrian refugees into the United States. He also protested "terrible" trade deals and said economic competitors are taking advantage of the United States.
In outlining plans to improve veterans health care, the Republican nominee said the country must "never again break our sacred commitment" to those who have fought for the United States.
One plan is a new White House "hotline" that veterans can use to file complaints against the health care system, and that he will personally handle valid complaints that are not acted upon. "This could keep me very busy at night, folks," Trump joked. "This will take the place of Twitter."
VFW delegates punctuated Trump's speech with applause, standing ovations, and shout-outs that included the candidate's "Make America Great Again" slogan.
"We love you!" a woman shouted at the start of Trump's remarks.
"I love you, too," he said.