Says receiving Purple Heart from veteran was 'much easier' than earning it in combat

At an August 2, 2016 rally in Ashburn, Virginia, retired Lt. Col. Louis Dorfman gave Trump his Purple Heart medal, which Dorfman received after being wounded in Iraq in 2007. Trump's response trivialized the sacrifice required to earn the medal, saying 'I always wanted to get the Purple Heart. This was much easier.' The comment sparked outrage from veterans and military families, especially given it came just days after his attacks on the Khan family, whose son was killed in Iraq. A spokesman for the Military Order of the Purple Heart called it 'absolutely horrible for anyone to wear or to have the Purple Heart medal who is not entitled to it.' The incident highlighted Trump's pattern of disrespecting military service and sacrifice despite having received multiple draft deferments during the Vietnam War, including a controversial medical deferment for bone spurs.

"I always wanted to get the Purple Heart. This was much easier." — August 2, 2016 rally in Ashburn, Virginia after receiving a Purple Heart from a veteran