Hillary Clinton argued Monday that Donald Trump is talking “trash” by saying America isn’t already the greatest country on Earth.
“I don’t understand people who trash talk about America,” she said in a reference to Donald Trump at the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., on Monday. “Who talk about us as being in decline, who act as though we are not yet the greatest country that has ever been created on the face of the Earth for all of history.
“If you want somebody who will scapegoat other people, peddle fear and smear, I’m not your candidate,” she said.
Clinton cast the Democratic ticket as a better choice for veterans by noting that her new running mate, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., has a son who is deploying today to “help defend our NATO allies in Europe.” Trump, in contrast, has drawn criticism from many Democrats by saying he would not necessarily come to the defense of NATO allies if they fell under attack.
“That’s how committed he is, and many others are, to our alliances. And we should be too. After all, America’s word has to mean something,” said Clinton.
Clinton also asserted “you will never hear me say that I only listen to myself on national security,” a reference to Trump’s claim in March that he mostly consults with himself on foreign policy.
Clinton’s campaign released a series of ads this month critiquing Trump’s cozy relationship with potential threats to national security, and Clinton said Monday that “one thing for certain you will not ever hear from me is praise for dictators and strong men who have no love for America.”
