Veterans turn on Trump over Iran war, say they may skip midterms

Some military veterans in Virginia say they may sit out November’s midterm elections over frustration with the Iran war, The Telegraph reports.

Virginia Beach and Norfolk have one of the highest concentrations of veterans in the US. The surrounding congressional district is a key race between Republican incumbent Jen Kiggans and Democrat Elaine Luria, both navy veterans. A June Tulchin Research poll put each at 47 per cent.

Kris Kunkel, 69, a navy veteran who voted for Donald Trump in the past three presidential elections, said he will not vote for the first time. “I’m just done. I’m tired of thinking you can vote people in and things will change,” he said.

Derrick Johnson, 56, a navy veteran, said, “I think people may just not vote.”

Trump’s approval rating fell to 32 per cent in a Reuters/Ipsos poll on Sept 21, the lowest of his career. Kiggans has voted seven times against resolutions to end the war.

Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, running in Michigan, said, “The war with Iran needs to end and end quickly.”