Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said he regrets that he never served in the military Tuesday, but felt fortunate that he did not have to go fight in Vietnam.
When asked about his views of the Vietnam War during an interview with Kellie Meyer of Gray TV and why he did not serve, Trump responded that he was fortunate to not to have to fight in the war. Trump was criticized during the Democratic National Convention by Khzir Khan, the father of a Muslim U.S. soldier who died in battle, for not having to sacrifice anything.
“I was fortunate really to not have to go to Vietnam we were in a highly contested and unpopular war,” Trump said.
He explained, “Yeah, I was lucky in two ways but I was also, it is something I always missed. I mean I helped build the Vietnam memorial in downtown Manhattan. To me that was a very important thing to do but I’ve regretted not serving in many ways.”
He went further saying, “So many of the greatest people I know have served, and you saw that today where the gentleman got up and gave me his purple heart which is right here. We’ve had such a tremendous relationship with the vets.”
So why did Trump avoid going to Vietnam? Although Trump went to New York Military Academy for secondary school, he attended Fordham University for two years and later entered the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania.
“It was a very long time ago, and I was in school, I had college deferments, like the VP of the United States [Joe Biden], and like many other people,” Trump said.
“We have deferments for education so by the time we got out it was, I guess, for the most part I wouldn’t have had to go, but I got college deferments, I had one medical deferments for feet. But it all worked out.”
Ultimately, Trump received five deferments for education. Trump also responded to President Obama’s slight calling him “unfit” for the presidency.
“He’s been one of the worst presidents in the history of our country. He may go down as the worst, we’ll see how all this comes out but he’s been one of the worst presidents in the history of our country,” he said. ”For him to be calling me out is almost an honor because he truly doesn’t know what he’s doing. He’s truly a weak president.”