Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton sparred over his stance on the Iraq War during Monday’s presidential debate.
“Donald supported the invasion of Iraq,” Clinton said as Trump interjected, saying “wrong” multiple times. “That is absolutely proved over and over again.”
Trump has repeatedly and falsely claimed that he never supported the Iraq War. He indicated otherwise in interviews in 2002 and 2003 before the U.S. Invasion of Iraq. He has sought to use Clinton’s vote for the war as an argument against her judgment and foreign policy expertise. But in a 2006 interview, he said Clinton should get a pass for her vote. “Don’t forget that decision was based on lies given to her,” he said. “She’s very smart and has a major chance to be our next president.”
In his rebuttal on Monday night, Trump again falsely claimed that he originally opposed the war.
“I did not support the war in Iraq. That is mainstream media nonsense put out by her,” Trump said, referring to Clinton. He also referenced private conversations he had with Fox News pundit Sean Hannity in which he claims to have voiced opposition to the war.