Donald Trump raised eyebrows Monday afternoon when he seemed to suggest that American troops have no reason to fear improvised explosive devices so long as they’re riding in an armored vehicle.
His comments, which were made during a campaign rally in Iowa, centered on reports that America’s best military equipment has been captured by enemies in the Middle East.
“You know, I have a friend. He has got a young son, who is a great, great young man. He was over for two tours of duty, and I said, ‘How is the Middle East? How is it over there?’ He said, ‘It’s so sad, Mr. Trump. We have old equipment. The enemy has the good stuff,'” the billionaire businessman said.
“‘We give equipment to people who we think are on our side. Our bullets are fired in the air, they run, the enemy goes, takes the equipment,” he continued, quoting his friend’s son.
His remarks were in reference to reports claiming U.S.-backed and equipped allies in the Middle East reportedly fled when they first encountered militants fighting for the Islamic State, abandoning top-of-the-line military equipment behind for capture.
“And I talk about it all the time, 2,300, brand-new, armored-plated Humvees,” Trump said, continuing to explain why these vehicles are so important to U.S. efforts in the Middle East. “The best in the world, armor-plated, top, bottom, all over. If a bomb goes off, our wounded warriors, instead of losing their legs, their arms, worse, they’re okay. They go for a little ride upward, and they come down.”
Wonder how veterans feel about Trump calling being hit by an IED “just going for a little ride.” #iacaucus
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) February 1, 2016
“The best stuff, all gone,” he added. “Taken by the enemy. Taken by the enemy.”
His comments, which were first flagged by the Wall Street Journal’s Ben Kesling, did not go over well with certain right-leaning commentators.
He really gets vets and what they’ve been through. https://t.co/Lylj6RCtxg
— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) February 1, 2016
Trump and other GOP contenders spent most of Monday making their final sales pitches to Iowans as the Hawkeye States geared up for the first in a series of crucial caucus votes.
