Foreign Policy Questions Trip Up Trump

Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt put Trump on the spot about terrorist groups
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 4, 2015 9:35 AM CDT

Donald Trump may have spent last night on Wikipedia after what the Washington Post describes as "some uncomfortable moments" during an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt yesterday. Touching upon foreign policy with the presidential candidate who's said he would be "so tough" on ISIS, Hewitt asked questions not only about ISIS, but about other terror organizations and military groups—and Trump, for the first time maybe ever, seemed unsure of himself. "Are you familiar with General Soleimani?" Hewitt asked Trump, referring to the commander of the Iranian Quds Forces, an elite military group. Trump offered a hesitant "Yes, but go ahead, give me a little, go ahead, tell me." When Hewitt continued with, "He runs the Quds Forces," Trump replied, "Yes, OK, right," before then jumping into how "the Kurds, by the way, have been horribly mistreated by us."

Hewitt had to point out he meant the Quds, not the Middle Eastern ethnic group, then pressed Trump on the names of those who run Hezbollah, al-Qaeda, the Nusra Front, and ISIS. Trump seemed dismissive, telling Hewitt, "I knew you were going to ask me things like this" and adding it didn't matter who was in charge of these groups since he'd get rid of them as president. He also said he considered these "gotcha" questions and that it would be "ridiculous" if Hewitt brings them up again when he moderates the next GOP debate later this month. Who did answer many of Hewitt's questions with more accuracy: Carly Fiorina, whom the host interviewed in the same episode, the paper notes. Trump seemed to recover his confidence midway through the spot, however, telling Hewitt that if he becomes president, "I will be so good at the military, your head will spin," the New York Times notes. (More Donald Trump stories.)

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