Duckworth blasts Trump as ‘coward in chief’

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) on Thursday night ripped President Trump’s handling of the U.S. military, nicknaming him the “coward in chief.” 

Americans “have a coward in chief who won’t stand up to Vladimir Putin, read his daily intelligence briefings or even publicly admonish adversaries for reportedly putting bounties on our troops heads,” Duckworth said during the virtual Democratic convention, referencing reports last month that Russia had paid Taliban-linked fighters to target U.S. troops in Afghanistan. 

Duckworth, a veteran who lost both legs in the Iraq war, contrasted Trump with former Vice President Joe Biden, the party’s presumptive nominee, saying Biden would “never let tyrants manipulate him like a puppet.”

“He would never pervert our military to stroke his own ego … or threaten them against Americans peacefully exercising their constitutional rights,” Duckworth added. 

In the midst of nationwide protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, a black man killed when a white police officer kneeled on his neck, Trump floated sending active-duty troops into U.S. cities sparking fierce backlash from Democrats as well as some Republicans. 

“Unlike Trump, Joe Biden has common decency. …Donald Trump doesn’t deserve to call himself commander-in-chief for another four minutes — let alone another four years,” Duckworth added. 

Duckworth, who was under consideration to be Biden’s vice presidential pick, has previously criticized Trump on military-related issues including calling him “Cadet Bone Spurs,” in an apparent reference to his draft deferments.