Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is promising to make rebuilding the military a key focus in the months ahead, saying that the armed forces right now "are being held together by a shoestring."
In an interview with conservative columnist Cal Thomas released Wednesday, Trump said he’ll talk more about military readiness and shortfalls as his campaign shifts from the Republican primary contests to a showdown with presumed Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
"Our military has been so badly depleted," he said. "Who would think the United States is raiding plane graveyards to pick up parts and equipment? … Other countries have brand-new stuff they have bought from us. It's insane."
The comments reference concerns voiced by congressional Republicans in recent weeks about readiness reports from military commanders. Members of the House Armed Services Committee first reported the problem in March, noting that Marine aviation squadrons have reported salvaging aircraft parts from museums in order to keep planes flying.
Trump blamed the shortfalls on President Barack Obama’s policies, although lawmakers have sparred over who is to blame for the fiscal issues. Many stem from budget spending caps, approved by both parties in 2011, which have limited not just military spending but non-defense programs.
The business mogul said that if he is elected president, among his first executive orders would be to "immediately start working on the military," describing the current force as in need of help right away.
He also again criticized Clinton for her past votes as a New York senator supporting the invasion of war in Iraq in 2003, claiming again he has always been opposed the war the conflict despite conflicting reports about his stance in mid-2000s.
Last week, in a national security speech, Clinton blasted Trump as unfit to serve as commander in chief, calling his policies "dangerously incoherent" and his temperament erratic. Trump fired back on that during the interview with Thomas.
"(Clinton) "is the one who has a terrible temperament," he said. "Number one, she’s weak. Number two, she has a hair trigger and it’s just the opposite with me. I have a strong temperament, but our country needs a strong temperament."
Leo Shane III covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He can be reached at lshane@militarytimes.com.
Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.
