By Sarah Fortinsky - 09/03/24

Fred Trump III, former President Trump’s nephew, said in an interview Monday that his uncle “doesn’t give a s‑‑‑” about people who serve in the military.

He also recalled meeting the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) — a Vietnam War-era prisoner of war — and knocked his uncle for frequently criticizing McCain.

“‘This is a genuine hero, OK, let’s make no mistake about it,” the younger Trump said on MSNBC’s “Deadline: White House,” referring to McCain. “The fact that Donald called him, in essence, a loser, I don’t get it.”

“But anyone who is disabled or anyone who he deems lesser than him is a loser, which, OK, that’s just the way he is. That ain’t gonna change,” he continued, in remarks highlighted by Mediaiate.

Asked why he thinks people in the military support the former president, Trump’s nephew said, “I have no idea.”

“And I know many people who are in the military, and I had the pleasure of speaking on an interview with National Defense Radio, which goes out to the armed services, and I told the truth,” he added. “I basically told this story, and I said that he just doesn’t give a s‑‑‑ about them. He just doesn’t.”

“It’s the great “Godfather II,” one of the last scenes when Sonny says, ‘Country ain’t your blood, kid.’ And Michael Corleone says, ‘No, I don’t believe that,’” Fred Trump continued. “Donald believes in Donald.”

The Hill has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.

The interview comes amid backlash to the former president’s recent Arlington National Cemetery visit, photos of which were distributed by his campaign despite the ban on political activity on the cemetery grounds.