Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is taking aim at President Donald Trump over his reported inability to comprehend the idea of self-sacrifice.
During a campaign event in Tampa, Florida, on veterans, Biden took aim at Trump over a report in The Atlantic that alleged the president did not comprehend heroism or the idea of self-sacrifice — especially when it comes to the Military.
Biden brought up a portion of the report that centered on Trump’s 2017 Memorial Day visit to Arlington National Cemetery, where he reportedly asked then-secretary of homeland security John Kelly — whose son was killed in Afghanistan — “I don’t get it. What was in it for them?”
He said, “It was reported from a very reliable source and confirmed by many major outlets that [Trump] said. … to the father of a fallen soldier who was himself a member of the service while standing by the gravesite, he allegedly said, ‘I don’t get it. What was in it for them?'”
“What was in it for them? Donald Trump doesn’t seem to be able to conceive the idea of selfless service and being part of a cause that’s bigger than yourself,” he added.
Watch the video below:
Joe Biden: "It was reported from a very reliable source & confirmed by many major outlets that [Trump] said… to the father of a fallen soldier who was himself a member of the service while standing by the gravesite, he allegedly said, 'I don't get it. What was in it for them?'" pic.twitter.com/MmiEIFEe5o
— The Hill (@thehill) September 15, 2020
Biden has increasingly sharpened his attacks on Trump and his respect for the Military.
His comments come as a new ABC News/Ipsos poll finds that 61% of respondents said they believe Biden has more respect for the Military than Trump, while 37% say they believe Trump has more respect.
Trump has forcefully pushed back on that report by The Atlantic, as IJR reported. He told reporters, “I would be willing to swear on anything that I never said that about our fallen heroes. There is nobody that respects them more.”
“So, I just think it’s a horrible, horrible thing… no animal, nobody, what animal would say such a thing,” he added.
He also suggested the report was “a disgraceful attempt to influence the 2020 election.”
Despite his denial, both the Associated Press and Fox News say there were able to corroborate portions of the report by The Atlantic.