Lara Trump celebrates Diwali
washington — US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Democrat Hillary Clinton’s plan for Syria would “lead to World War Three,” because of the potential for conflict with military forces from nuclear-armed Russia.
In an interview focused largely on foreign policy, Trump said defeating Daesh is a higher priority than persuading Syrian President Bashar Al Assad to step down, playing down a long-held goal of US policy.
Trump questioned how Clinton would negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin after demonising him; blamed President Barack Obama for a downturn in US relations with the Philippines under its new president, Rodrigo Duterte; bemoaned a lack of Republican unity behind his candidacy, and said he would easily win the election if the party leaders would support him. “If we had party unity, we couldn’t lose this election to Hillary Clinton,” he said.
On Syria’s civil war, Trump said Clinton could drag the United States into a world war with a more aggressive posture toward resolving the conflict.
Clinton has called for the establishment of a no-fly zone and “safe zones” on the ground to protect non-combatants. Some analysts fear that protecting those zones could bring the United States into direct conflict with Russian fighter jets.
“What we should do is focus on Daesh. We should not be focusing on Syria,” said Trump as he dined on fried eggs and sausage at his Trump National Doral golf resort. “You’re going to end up in World War Three over Syria if we listen to Hillary Clinton. “You’re not fight- ing Syria any more, you’re fighting Syria, Russia and Iran, all right? Russia is a nuclear country, but a country where the nukes work as opposed to other countries that talk,” he said.
Clinton’s campaign dismissed the criticism. “Once again, he is parroting Putin’s talking points and playing to Americans’ fears, all while refusing to lay out any plans of his own for defeating Daesh or alleviating humanitarian suffering in Syria,” Clinton spokesman Jesse Lehrich said in a statement. Trump said Assad is much stronger now than he was three years ago and said getting Assad to leave power was less important than defeating Daesh. “Assad is secondary, to me, to Daesh ,” he said.
On Russia, Trump again knocked Clinton’s handling of US-Russian relations while secretary of state and said her harsh criticism of Putin raised questions about “how she is going to go back and negotiate with this man who she has made to be so evil,” if she wins the presidency. — ashburn — Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law celebrated Diwali at a Hindu temple in the key swing state of Virginia as part of the Republican presidential nominee’s efforts to reach out to the Indian-American community.
Lara Trump, wife of Eric Trump, the second son of Trump, 70, said the relationship between India and the US is destined for a new height if her father-in-law is elected the next president of the US after the November 8 general elections. Lara said Donald Trump has great love and affection for India and its people.
She removed her shoes before entering the Rajdhani temple in Virginia. “I really like Hindu culture and I respect It,” she said.
Welcoming the Trump family member to the premises of the temple, Indian-American community activist Rajesh Gooty said her presence has brought in Diwali early in the Fairfax and Loudoun county of the state. “It has energised the local Indian-American Community immensely. We will continue to assist and participate with renewed energy in participating with Interfaith, Diversity events,” said Gooty, who was instrumental in inviting Lara to the Hindu Temple to celebrate Diwali.
Initially, Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump was scheduled to come to the temple but the Trump campaign asked her to go to a different event. — PTI