President Donald Trump said a “totally made-up story” alleging he called American military members who died at war "losers" and "suckers” is what has angered him the most during his reelection campaign.
During a Thursday interview with Fox Business’ “Mornings with Maria,” Trump blasted the “phony” story, which was published by The Atlantic last month.
"They don't even have any witnesses, they made it up,” he told host Maria Bartiromo. “And that's why they're lowlifes, because they made it up and went with a story. They know it wasn't true but they use it all the time."
The story, which referenced multiple anonymous sources, claimed that Trump also made insulting comments about wounded veterans and asked that they be kept out of military parades. Trump has called the entire story false.
"Now the gloves are off," Trump said in the interview Thursday. "Let the gloves be off."
The president's alleged comments came up during the vice presidential debate on Wednesday. Democratic nominee Sen. Kamala Harris slammed the president for comments he has made against the late Sen. John McCain, who was a Vietnam veteran and prisoner of war.
Vice President Mike Pence defended Trump and blasted The Atlantic piece, which he said was full of “slanders” against the president.
The president "respects and reveres all of us who served in the armed forces," Pence said.
During his Thursday interview, Trump called soldiers fighting overseas “fantastic” and said he is working to withdraw troops stationed in Afghanistan.
"I'll have them home by the end of the year. They're coming home, you know, as we speak," Trump said.
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