Friends,

President Trump called Americans who died in war “losers” and “suckers.”

He got furious when he saw flags at half mast after John McCain died, asking “What the f*** are we doing that for? Guy was a f**** loser.”

And in a White House meeting, Trump asked that wounded Veterans be excluded from a military parade because “nobody wants to see” amputees.

He’s talking about people like me, who lost limbs while defending our country but had the audacity to come back home, have families and even (gasp!) go in public where people can see us.

Well, I’d take my wheelchair and titanium legs over Donald Trump’s supposed bone spurs any day.

He has insulted war heroes, attacked Gold Star families and tried to politicize and pervert our military to stroke his own ego.

He’s shown more respect for tyrants like Putin who manipulate him like a puppet and reportedly put bounties on our troops’ heads than for the brave men and women who wear our nation’s uniform.

Remember, this is the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces we’re talking about. This man has the power to send our troops into harm’s way. He is supposed to offer comfort to those parents whose sons and daughters don’t make it home.

He does not come close to deserving this office — because Donald Trump doesn’t understand a damn thing about the sacrifices our troops make.

That’s why when former White House chief of staff John Kelly brought President Trump to the cemetery where his son Robert, a first lieutenant in the Marine Corps, is buried, Trump asked “I don’t get it. What was in it for them?”

Of course he thinks about war selfishly. As a transactional cost — instead of in human lives and American blood spilled — because that’s how he’s viewed his whole life. He doesn’t understand other people’s courage because he's never had any of his own.

A couple of weeks ago, I said at the Democratic National Convention that Donald Trump doesn't deserve to be Commander-in-Chief for four more minutes, let alone four more years.

Comments like these remind us why.

And while Donald Trump might think “nobody wants to see” amputees like me, I can guarantee he WILL see me every single day, speaking out on behalf of our troops, Veterans and their families who deserve so much better from their Commander-in-Chief. I will make sure our servicemembers always have someone looking out for them in Washington — since our Commander-in-Chief clearly won’t.

And I will work as hard as I can to defeat Donald Trump in November. The character and the soul of our nation are truly on the ballot this November.

Yours,

Tammy Duckworth