Donald Trump's 'crooked' comments were about Iraqi soldiers, not U.S., campaign says

Donald Trump's spokeswoman said Tuesday night the presumptive Republican nominee was not referring to U.S. troops when he said the soldiers who handed out "millions and millions of dollars" in Iraq are "living very well right now."

During a rally in North Carolina on Tuesday, Trump declared that Iraq is "crooked as hell. How about bringing baskets of money, millions and millions of dollars, and handing it out. I want to know, who were the soldiers that had that job, because I think they're living very well right now." After people began to blast Trump on social media, saying he was accusing U.S. troops of stealing money meant to rebuild Iraq, spokeswoman Hope Hicks told Bloomberg Politics Trump "was referring to Iraqi soldiers."

In October, The Guardian reported that during a speech in New Hampshire, Trump suggested that some U.S. soldiers embezzled funds meant to be distributed to the Afghan and Iraqi governments, stating: "I want to know, who are the soldiers carrying suitcases with $50 million? How stupid are we ? I wouldn't be surprised if those soldiers, if the cash didn't get there." Catherine Garcia

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