Son's arrest

Trump: I urged Palin to talk about son's arrest

He says he wanted to lead to discussion about the fate of returning veterans.

By Hanna Trudo

Donald Trump says he urged Sarah Palin to reference her son’s recent domestic violence charge at his rally Wednesday as a way to prompt dialogue about military trauma.

Speaking to CNN’s Don Lemon in an interview Wednesday night, the Republican front-runner said, “I thought it was good for many other sons and daughters coming back from the Middle East where they have traumatic problems, and I suggested it.”

Palin, who joined Trump on the road in Tulsa, Oklahoma just hours after endorsing him for the Republican nomination for president, quickly seized an opportunity to tie her son’s arrest to the neglectful treatment of veterans in the country.

Track Palin, the former Alaska governor’s 26-year-old son, was arrested Monday night for what has been reported as a domestic violence incident. According to reports, Track’s girlfriend told officials the former Army veteran who served in Iraq had an assault rifle and she was concerned he would kill himself.

Trump cited the number of veterans who return from duty under intense strain and pressure, linking the issues back to President Barack Obama.

“Everything starts at the top and he’s the president,” Trump told CNN. “All you have to do is look at the Veterans Administration and look at the bad, the horrible care our vets get.”

“Take a look at the Phoenix Veterans Administration in Phoenix, Ariz. It’s a disgrace. It’s a cesspool. It’s dishonest and corrupt in every way and incompetent. You have to say ultimately it’s the president’s charge,” he added.

Trump echoed Palin’s statements from earlier in the day, when she used nearly identical words to describe the Obama administration’s involvement on veteran’s issues.

“It’s a shame that our military personnel even have to question, have to wonder if they’re respected anymore. It starts from the top,” Palin said in Tulsa earlier Wednesday.

Trump also touted the benefit of Palin’s endorsement, claiming every Republican candidate running for president sought her support and that it goes a long way with voters in key voting states.

“It was an amzing thing because she wanted to endorse me and she let it be known,” Trump said.

“And the fact that she picked me over all the others. Her endorsement is a powerful thing in certain areas like Iowa,” he added.

The billionaire businessman also said that although Palin will likely work with his campaign in some capacity, the two former reality television stars did not discuss any potential jobs after the election.

“She wanted nothing,” Trump said. “She loves the country and she really wants what’s good for the country, which is really nice.”

Lemon also suggested that Trump might have been uncomfortable while Palin was delivering her endorsement, but the poll leader was quick to correct him.

“I was there. I didn’t know it was going to be quite that long,” he joked. “But she made a very good speech.”