Sarah Palin Blames PTSD And Obama For Son Track’s Domestic Violence Arrest

Sarah Palin addressed her son Track Palin‘s recent domestic violence arrest while stumping for Donald Trump in Tulsa, Okla., Wednesday.

Sarah Palin On Track’s Arrest

Track, a former member of the military, was arrested and charged with assault, interfering with a domestic violence report and misconduct involving weapons in Wasilla, Alaska Monday, reported the New York Daily News. Per the police report, officers arrived at the Palin household after Track’s girlfriend dialed 911, claiming that he had punched her in the face and that he was armed with an AR-15.

“I guess it’s kind of the elephant in the room because my own family going through what we’re going through today with my son, a combat vet … like so many others, they come back a bit different, they come back hardened,” Palin said during her speech, referring to the incident. “They come back wondering if there is that respect for what their fellow soldiers and airmen and every other member of the military so sacrificially have given to the country.”

Palin went on to explicitly link Track’s actions to PTSD, and to her perception of President Barack Obama‘s treatment of members of the military – before pivoting to declare that Trump would treat men like her son better.

“When my own son is going through what he goes though coming back, I can certainly relate to other families who feel these ramifications of PTSD … our soldiers do return with,” Palin said. “And it makes me realize more than ever it is now or never for the sake of America’s finest that we have a commander-in-chief who will respect them.”

After Palin’s remarks started to gain traction and backlash, Trump was asked for his thoughts on them during an interview with CNN’s Don Lemon. Trump, staying loyal to his latest endorser, said he didn’t think anything was wrong with linking the president to Track’s troubles.

“He’s the president. And I think you can certainly do that,” Trump told Lemon. “And all you have to do is look at the Veterans Administration. Look at the bad, the horrible care our vets get. One of the many things I’m going to do is I’m going to straighten that mess out.”

The non-partisan Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America group (IAVA) disagrees with Palin and Trump.

“It’s not President Obama’s fault that Sarah Palin’s son has PTSD,” said Paul Rieckhoff, who heads IAVA. “PTSD is a very serious problem, a complicated mental health injury and I would be extremely reluctant to blame any one person in particular.”