Trump discussing visit overseas to troops following criticism: report

by Michael Burke - 11/19/18 9:46 PM ET

President Trump has recently been telling advisers that he is considering visiting U.S. troops in combat zones overseas amid growing criticism for not yet doing so, according to The Washington Post.

According to the newspaper, Trump has in recent weeks begun telling advisers that a trip might need to happen. But plans to visit the troops in Iraq or Afghanistan are not concrete, the Post reported, citing several advisers to Trump.

{mosads}Trump isn’t expected to visit the troops during his Thanksgiving break, which he will instead spend at his Mar-a-Lago resort, according to the Post.

The president has faced criticism from some in the military community for not visiting troops overseas, which has previously been a tradition for American presidents.

Trump said Sunday during an interview with Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday” that he hasn’t made a visit because he has had an “unbelievable busy” schedule but added that he would ultimately visit.

“I’ve had an unbelievable busy schedule and I will be doing it. On top of which you have these phony witch hunts. On top of which — I mean, we’ve just been very busy. But I will be doing that,” he said.

The Post reported that Trump has cited security concerns, long flights and his opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as reasons he hasn’t visited.

One former senior White House official told the Post Trump has fears about going.

“He’s never been interested in going,” the unidentified official said. “He’s afraid of those situations. He’s afraid people want to kill him.”

Tags Donald Trump