Washington, Jul 12 (IANS): The presumptive Republican candidate for the White House, Donald Trump, described himself on Monday as "the law and order candidate" compared with a "weak" Hillary Clinton.
"I am the law and order candidate," she is "weak, ineffective, pandering," and referring to her handling of classified e-mails on a private server, she is "either a liar or grossly incompetent. One or the other. Very simple. Personally, it's probably both," Trump said at a campaign event dealing with veterans' issues in Virginia Beach.
"I'm also the candidate of compassion - believe it," Trump added. "But you can't have true compassion without providing safety. Without safety, we have nothing," he said, according to EFE news agency.
Trump used the presentation of his proposals for improving conditions for veterans to also come out in defence of the "men and women in blue", the cops "who stand each day to protect us", but who, instead of receiving plenty of thanks, get incessant criticism.
He did say, however, that the whole nation mourns the five police officers who were killed in the attack in Dallas last Thursday, calling it an attack on the whole country.
Trump also had a few words about the death of two African American men at the hands of white cops last week, incidents that sparked protests across the nation.
"The senseless, tragic deaths of two motorists in Louisiana and Minnesota reminds us how much more needs to be done" so that Americans feel their security is protected. He said everyone is upset by the cell phone images of the two men slain by policemen, and slammed the nation's "epidemic of violence".
Trump went on to present his plan to provide a better life for America's "heroes", the war veterans.
"The VA scandals that have occurred on this administration's watch are widespread and inexcusable. Fixing this corruption will be one of my highest priorities - and it will happen. It will be fixed," he said.
Among Trump's promises was that all veterans will have access to the best quality healthcare, paid for by the government.