Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois), an Iraq War veteran who lost her leg fighting overseas, recently sharply criticized former President Trump for disparaging the Medal of Honor.
“Donald Trump is despicable. He’s not fit to be commander in chief. And certainly that’s consistent with where he’s always been, which is that he thinks we’re idiots and losers, and frankly, he’s not fit to be commander in chief,” Duckworth, who received a Purple Heart, told ABC News’ “This Week” in an interview Sunday.
Duckworth drew a stark contrast between the Republican field led by Trump and Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and the Democratic field led by Vice President Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minnesota).
“American voters have a choice. Do they want as their next commander in chief a five-time draft dodger who disrespects our service members, our women, our veterans, calling us idiots and losers? Someone who doesn’t want to be photographed with veterans who were mutilated in various conflicts?” Duckworth said.
“Or would you bring in Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, who care deeply about veterans? Tim Walz has been leading on a lot of issues for veterans, especially the stove issue,” she continued.
The interview comes as the former president faces fierce criticism for comparing the civilian award favorably to the Medal of Honor at an event Thursday that also featured Republican megadonor Miriam Adelson.
Trump noted in his speech that he had awarded Adelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, in 2018, saying, “That’s the highest award you can receive as a civilian. It’s the civilian equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor.”
“Actually, it’s much better. All the people who get the Congressional Medal of Honor, the soldiers, they’ve been shot so many times that they’re either in really bad shape or they’re dead. She got it and she’s a healthy, beautiful woman,” Trump said, drawing applause from the crowd. “And they got equal credit.”
Video of Trump’s remarks quickly spread on social media, with Democrats and Harris using them to attack the former president’s views on veterans and wounded Americans.
“Like he has previously attacked Gold Star families, mocked prisoners of war, and called those who gave their lives for our country ‘idiots’ and ‘losers,’ insulting Medal of Honor recipients should be a reminder to all Americans that for the sake of our soldiers, our country, and our future, we must ensure that Donald Trump is never again our nation’s commander in chief,” Harris campaign spokeswoman Sarafina Citika said in a statement.
Contributed by Brett Samuels.
