At his rally Tuesday night in Greensboro, N.C., Donald Trump, seemed to suggest that U.S. soldiers in charge of distributing cash during the Iraq war had stolen the money and were “living very well right now, whoever they may be”:
Trump suggested tonight that American soldiers in Iraq stole cash intended for reconstruction of Iraq, are "living very well" now
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) June 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/BraddJaffy/status/742906657441775616
Here’s the video, although it’s not clear if he’s talking about Iraqi or U.S. soldiers:
A presidential candidate just accused me and thousands of other troops of embezzlement while in a combat zone. https://t.co/Seiu5P0KcB
— Ben Kesling (@bkesling) June 15, 2016
The Trump campaign insists he meant Iraqi soldiers (but why would U.S. soldiers hand cash over to Iraqi soldiers?):
Trump spox Hope Hicks tells me "Mr. Trump was referring to Iraqi soldiers." https://t.co/Mt7nefN462
— Alexandra Jaffe (@ajjaffe) June 15, 2016
Trump has made similar comments in the past about cash distributions in Afghanistan:
VIDEO of Trump previously accusing US soldiers of embezzling https://t.co/FxF4heDU5I
— Eddie Vale (@evale72) June 15, 2016
Donald Trump just accused American soldiers of dealing money from Iraqi government. "I wouldn't be surprised if the cash didn't get there."
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) September 30, 2015
My transcription of Trump talking about soldiers embezzling cash last year https://t.co/JNCRbWpdqM pic.twitter.com/CkG84S44Lt
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) June 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/EWErickson/status/742914978152353792
Anyway, what Trump said — although jarring — does have some basis in fact. There were allegations that some U.S. soldiers and officers were stealing money earmarked for Iraqi rebuilding:
Recommended
https://twitter.com/Bencjacobs/status/742897427527565312
Via James Risen, “the stealing in Iraq reached epic proportions”:
https://twitter.com/BuzzFeedAndrew/status/742890251102920710
And from the Chicago Tribune in 2009:
Army officer who oversaw Iraq cash accused of stealing more than $690,000
Capt. Michael Nguyen allegedly mailed home boxes stacked with cash
Trump supporters are claiming victory, no matter which version is true!
Trump defenders in my TL spilt between "he meant Iraqi soldiers!" and "maybe our soldiers *did* steal lots of $!"
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 15, 2016
We gather we’ll be hearing more about it today:
Today, Republicans will be asked about Trump's slander of US soldiers in Iraq. Will some not only repudiate the comment but repudiate Trump?
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) June 15, 2016
Trump denigrated POWs in Vietnam & now defames US soldiers in Iraq. Decent Republicans should repudiate him, and the party should dump him.
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) June 15, 2016
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