HERNDON, Va. — While speaking to a group of United States military veterans on Monday, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump made a comment that critics say implied that veterans who kill themselves "can't handle" what they've seen in combat.
"When people come back from war and combat and they see things that maybe a lot of the folks 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.
Trump's latest comment provoked a lot of unflattering social media reaction.
Trump just told veterans that PTSD sufferers "aren't strong" & "can't handle it." Meanwhile Trump can't handle a former beauty pageant queen
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) October 3, 2016
Such irony in draft-dodger @realDonaldTrump, a deeply fragile man, asserting that vets with PTSD aren't strong.https://t.co/L6htzVC1lA via
— Evan McMullin (@EvanMcMullin) October 3, 2016
Oh, and he dodged the draft a bunch of times then said soldiers with PTSD aren't strong enough.
— Mike Drucker (@MikeDrucker) October 3, 2016
Still, many pointed out Trump's remark was part of a larger comment on how the U.S. needs stronger mental health initiatives for veterans to help those with post-traumatic stress disorder and other serious issues.
"We're going to have a very, very robust, very, very robust, level of performance having to do with mental health," Trump said.
In the past, Trump has promised to ensure that each veteran gets timely access to health care when they need it through the VA or through private care.
The Trump campaign has yet to comment on Monday's remarks.
Cox Media Group