Donald Trump woos bikers, veterans in Washington DC rally

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to supporters and bikers at the Rolling Thunder rally at the National Mall in Washington DC. (Photo: AP)

In a move to bolster support among veterans, Republican Donald Trump joined a leather-jacket-wearing, motorcycle-riding crowd in Washington on Sunday to honour fighters who served in foreign wars and advocate for those still missing in action.

Riders from across the country converged on the National Mall near the Lincoln Memorial for the annual “Rolling Thunder” rally and to listen to the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, who hopes to be the Commander-in-Chief next year. “We’re going to rebuild our military and we’re going to take care of our veterans,” Mr Trump told the crowd of thousands, many of whom wore leather vests, veterans’ hats and biker insignia.

Mr Trump, the billionaire businessman who has promised to build a wall along the US border with Mexico if he becomes President, said illegal imm-igrants in many cases got better care in the US than military veterans. “We’re not going to allow that to happen any longer,” he said. Mr Trump, 69, who did not serve in the military, upset veterans last year when he said Senator John McCain of Arizona was not a war hero. Supporters cheered when Mr Trump mentioned veterans and booed at the mention of Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

“I don’t know if he can fix (veterans’ issues), but he’s the only one I think will try,” said Leonard Westberry, 68, of Richmond, Virginia, a US Army veteran who served in Vietnam in 1967. Westberry said he planned to support Mr Trump in the Nov. 8 election. “It’s awesome that Trump is here... That’s a good thing,” said Ralph Giannola, 65, who said he had not decided whether to support Mr Trump in November. Meanwhile, at a rally in San Diego, Mr Trump criticised US district judge Gonzalo Curiel for his handling of the Trump University case. “I have a judge who is a hater of Donald Trump. A hater. He’s a hater,” Mr Trump said. “We’re in front of a very hostile judge. The judge was appointed by Barack Obama,” Mr Trump said, adding he believed Judge Curiel was Mexican.