Dem-NPL calls on Hoeven, Cramer, Dalrymple & Burgum to speak out on Trump’s praise for Putin, assertion that he’d replace U.S. Generals en masse

(BISMARCK,ND) – During last night’s NBC forum, Donald Trump once again demonstrated his utter lack of fitness to serve as commander-in-chief. Responding to Trump’s praise for Russian strongman Vladimir Putin, as well as Trump’s assertion that he would replace American military generals en masse, Dem-NPL Executive Director Robert Haider called on North Dakota’s Republican leaders to clarify where they stand on Trump’s remarks:

“This is no longer some kind of bad joke. In just two months, Donald Trump could be elected as our next commander-in-chief. Trump claims he knows more about ISIS than our generals, he praises America’s sworn enemies, and he denigrates our military veterans. Now, he’s suggesting that he’ll fire our military leaders en masse if he’s elected president.

“It’s long past time for North Dakota’s Republican leaders to speak out on Donald Trump’s unbelievable statements. Kevin Cramer and Gov. Dalrymple both serve in advisory capacities to Trump’s campaign, helping Trump raise money and build support for his electoral efforts. Meanwhile, Senator Hoeven and Doug Burgum say they support Donald Trump, but avoid talking about him like he’s the plague. North Dakotans deserve to know where our elected leaders stand on the question of Trump’s fitness to serve as commander-in-chief.”

-30-

Background:

Last night’s NBC Commander-in-Chief Forum: Full transcript.

Trump on Putin: “If he says great things about me, I’m going to say great things about him. I’ve already said, he is really very much of a leader. I mean, you can say, oh, isn’t that a terrible thing — the man has very strong control over a country. Now, it’s a very different system, and I don’t happen to like the system. But certainly, in that system, he’s been a leader, far more than our president has been a leader.”

Trump on our generals: “I think under the leadership of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the generals have been reduced to rubble. They have been reduced to a point where it’s embarrassing for our country.”

LAUER: “But you’re going to convene a panel of generals, and you’ve already said you know more about ISIS than those generals do.”

TRUMP: “Well, they’ll probably be different generals, to be honest with you.”