‘I have a pretty dim view of his decision to use his privileged status to fake a disability in order to avoid serving in Vietnam.’
That’s how Democratic presidential hopeful and Afghanistan war veteran Pete Buttigieg responded Thursday when asked by the Washington Post whether President Trump should have served in Vietnam.
Buttigieg, who’s been climbing the polls but still trails the favorites, was referring to Trump’s infamous claim that bone spurs kept him from being drafted.
Buttigieg drew audience laughter when, in response to reporter Robert Costa’s question, “Do you believe he faked a disability?“ the candidate turned the question around, asking in turn, “Do you believe he has a disability?”
“At least,” Buttigieg continued, “not that one.” He then added: “I don’t mean to trivialize disability, but I think that’s exactly what he did.”
Read: Abrams breaks from Buttigieg over identity politics
Buttigieg, of course, isn’t the first Democrat to raise questions over the claim. Trump, for his part, defended himself in 2016, saying a doctor “gave me a letter — a very strong letter on the heels” to give to draft officials, according to the New York Times. Reports later surfaced that the diagnosis may have been faked.
“I don’t have a problem standing up to someone who was working on Season 7 of ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ when I was packing my bags for Afghanistan,” Buttigieg said of Trump.
Watch the wide-ranging interview here:
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