Updated at 11:47 a.m.
Donald Trump on Wednesday said that he told Sarah Palin to talk about her son, Track Palin, during a Wednesday rally in Oklahoma and that he felt it was fair for her to link her son’s issues following service in the U.S. military to President Obama.
While speaking at an event for Trump, Palin brought up her son, who served in the Iraq War and was recently arrested on a domestic violence charge. The former Republican vice presidential nominee appeared to link Track Palin’s arrest to post-traumatic stress disorder. She mentioned the “elephant in the room,” referring to her son, before railing against President Obama for not properly caring for veterans when they return from combat.
During an interview on CNN, host Don Lemon asked Trump if he asked Palin to talk about her son’s arrest.
“I told her it would be absolutely fine. I thought it would be appropriate,” Trump responded.
“There was tremendous press, and I think it’s something that’s very important to discuss, not even for her son, but for so many other sons and daughters coming back from the Middle East, where they have traumatic problems,” he continued. “They have tremendous problems. And I told her — I actually suggested it — I said I think it would be a great forum. And I know she started the dialogue. I think it’s a very important dialogue.”
Lemon then asked, “Do you think it’s fair to link the President with her son’s issues?”
“Oh, I think so,” Trump said in response. “Look, you know, everything starts at the top. He’s the president.”
Trump said that Obama is responsible for the “horrible” care veterans receive in the U.S.
“One of the many things I’m going to do is I’m going to straighten that mess out. You take a look at the Phoenix Veterans Administration in Phoenix, Arizona. It’s a disgrace. It’s a cesspool. It’s dishonest. It’s corrupt in every way. it’s incompetent,” Trump said. “And you have to say ultimately, it’s the president’s charge, it’s the president’s responsibility. He has to make sure that Veterans Administration works, and it doesn’t. Our vets are being treated horribly.”
Watch Lemon’s interview with Trump. Lemon asks about Track Palin at the 19:20 mark.
H/t Mediaite
