Trump says 'a lot of people can't handle' war

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 3 October 2016

Donald Trump's word-jumble during a Q&A session at the Retired American Warriors PAC on Monday made for an awkward interpretation of his comments on mental health care for veterans. In answering a question about post-traumatic stress disorder and other residual health effects of war, Trump seemed to divide soldiers into those who are "strong" and those who "can't handle it."

After saying there are around 22 veteran suicides a day, Trump explained to the room of veterans what PTSD was."When people come back from war and combat and they see maybe what the people in this room have seen many times over, and you're strong and you can handle it, but a lot of people can't handle it," Trump said.There was a silence in the room after his statement, and people on social media were quick to express anger toward his comments. [BuzzFeed]

The comments from Trump provoked particular rage from some, as the GOP nominee deferred from the Vietnam War draft four times before being officially deemed medically disqualified in 1968. Earlier in the election season, Trump also received heavy criticism for claiming former prisoner of war John McCain is "not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured."

Watch Trump's comments, below. Jeva Lange

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.