Moulton knocks Trump for lack of military service

Rep. Seth MoultonSeth MoultonLawmakers want Pentagon, DOJ to punish current, former military members who participated in riot House chairman endorses Michele Flournoy for Biden's Pentagon chief Trump critic: I am not afraid of Trump MORE (D-Mass.) a combat veteran and 2020 presidential candidate, hit President TrumpDonald TrumpSouth Carolina Senate adds firing squad as alternative execution method Ex-Trump aide Pierson won't run for Dallas-area House seat House Oversight panel reissues subpoena for Trump's accounting firm MORE on Sunday over holding a military-focused "Salute to America" event on July 4 despite never having served himself.

 

"I think that Trump believes that by saluting the troops and saluting the flag today it makes up for his unwillingness to do so when it actually matters, his unwillingness to answer the call to go to Vietnam," Moulton said on ABC's "This Week."

 

"Real service to the country is making a sacrifice to do the right thing for others, to do the right thing for America," he added. "And Trump doesn't understand that at all."

 

Trump used his July 4 event to call for young people to join the military, which Moulton, who has made the needs of veterans a central part of his campaign, said was "quite something, coming from someone who refused to do it himself."

 

Still, Moulton said Trump could be harder to beat in 2020 than many Democrats realize.

 

"That's why I'm running a campaign based on service. On reclaiming patriotism from right-wing politicians who think they own it," he said. "On what it means from a Democratic perspective to keep America strong and safe."