A veterans group is going after Donald Trump for his stance on the Iran nuclear deal, criticizing rhetoric in the New York businessman’s record that pre-dates his tough talk about the agreement.
An advertisement from Veterans Against the Deal, headed by Iraq War veteran Michael Pregent, highlights comments Trump made praising Hillary Clinton as a potentially capable negotiator with Iran and positioning himself against “ripping up” the deal currently in place.
“Hillary’s always surrounded herself with very good people. I think Hillary would do a good job,” Trump said in 2007, in response to a question from Wolf Blitzer about who he would like to see negotiating with the Iranian regime. He also listed then-presidential candidates Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney, ultimately pivoting to a line that’s become familiar this election: No matter who it is, the United States has cruddy diplomats.
The ad also points out Trump’s hesitancy to abandon the agreement the Obama administration cut with Iran, which, for all his criticism of the deal as “one of the worst” of his lifetime, puts him in a unique position among 2016 Republicans. The Washington Examiner summarizes an interview Trump did with Chuck Todd on Meet the Press in August:
“America’s veterans want clear and consistent judgment on Iran, not someone who agrees with Clinton, Kerry and Obama,” the ad states.
Pregent, the group’s executive director, appeared on FOX News Wednesday evening to discuss the ad campaign.
“As a deal-maker, Trump should know that the Iran deal should be torn up on day one, because Iran’s already violating it,” he said.
