In 2011, Trump Supported Protecting Anti-Ahmadinejad Protesters In Iran. VAN SUSTEREN: “What about Iran? Protesters in opposition to Ahmadinejad want to protest, and the U.S. is watching what is going on there.” TRUMP: “They handle it tougher. People go in the streets and they start shooting right away. I think with Iran we have a major problem. I think maybe this is a great time. If they protest, we should maybe and try and protect the protesters. And by doing that, that means harsh measures. We let him know, you are going to hurt those protesters, we are going to come after you. That way maybe they can actually protest.” [On The Record With Greta Van Susteren, Fox News, 2/14/11] TRUMP WASN’T AWARE OF THE NAME OF THE LEADER OF IRAN’S QUDS FORCE AND CONFUSED THE QUDS AND THE KURDS Donald Trump Appeared To The Quds Force, An Iranian Military Group, For The Kurds, A Middle Eastern People In An Interview With Hugh Hewitt. “Donald J. Trump revealed gaps in his mastery of international affairs during a radio interview on Thursday, appearing to mistake the Quds Force, an Iranian military group, for the Kurds, a Middle Eastern people, and growing testy over questions about foreign leaders. … At one point, according to the interview’s transcript, Mr. [Hugh] Hewitt asked Mr. Trump if he was familiar with Gen. Qassim Suleimani, the shadowy commander of Iran’s paramilitary Quds Force. ‘Yes, but go ahead, give me a little, go ahead, tell me,’ Mr. Trump replied. ‘He runs the Quds Forces,’ Mr. Hewitt said. ‘Yes, O.K., right,’ Mr. Trump said. But Mr. Trump seemed to think Mr. Hewitt was referring to the Kurds, a group with its own language and culture. Mr. Trump asserted that ‘the Kurds, by the way, have been horribly mistreated.’ Mr. Hewitt interrupted. ‘No, not the Kurds, the Quds Forces, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Quds Forces.’ Mr. Trump tried to recover from the live, on-air tutorial. ‘Yes, yes,’ he said. He added, ‘Oh, I thought you said Kurds, Kurds.’” [New York Times, 9/3/15] Donald Trump Appeared To Not Know The Difference Between The Iranian Quds Forces And The Kurds. HUGH HEWITT: “Are you familiar with General Soleimani?” DONALD TRUMP: “Yes, but go ahead, give me a little, go ahead, tell me.” HUGH HEWITT: “He runs the Quds Forces.” DONALD TRUMP: “Yes, okay, right.” HUGH HEWITT: “Do you expect his behavior…” DONALD TRUMP: “The Kurds, by the way, have been horribly mistreated by …” HUGH HEWITT: “No, not the Kurds, the Quds Forces, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Quds Forces.” DONALD TRUMP: “Yes, yes.” HUGH HEWITT: “…is the bad guys.” DONALD TRUMP: “Right.” HUGH HEWITT: “Do you expect his behavior to change as a result…” DONALD TRUMP: “Oh, I thought you said Kurds, Kurds.” HUGH HEWITT: “No, Quds.” DONALD TRUMP: “Oh, I’m sorry, I thought you said Kurds, because I think the Kurds have been poorly treated by us, Hugh. Go ahead.” HUGH HEWITT: “Agreed. So Soleimani runs the Quds Forces. Do you expect his behavior is going to change as a result of this deal with Iran?” DONALD TRUMP: “I think that Iran right now is in the driver’s seat to do whatever they want to do. I think what’s happening with Iran is, I think it’s one of the, and I covered it very well. I assume you saw the news conference. I think Iran is, it’s one of the great deals ever made for them. I think it’s one of the most incompetent contracts I’ve even seen. I’m not just talking about defense. I’m not talking about a contract with another country. I’ve never seen more of a one- sided deal, I think, in my life, absolutely.” HUGH HEWITT: “Well, Soleimani is to terrorism sort of what Trump is to real estate.” DONALD TRUMP: “Okay.” HUGH HEWITT: “Many people would say he’s the most dangerous man in the world, and he runs the Quds Forces, which is Confidential Page 89
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