Bob McDonald right to apologize for false special forces claim, White House says

President Obama believes it was “appropriate” for VA Secretary Bob McDonald to apologize for false claims about serving in U.S. special forces, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Tuesday.

Mr. McDonald apologized Monday for wrongly telling a homeless man that he had served in special forces. The secretary, the former CEO of Procter and Gamble, did graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and served in the 82nd Airborne Division, but never served in U.S. special forces.

“Secretary McDonald went to West Point. He served in the 82nd Airborne. He’s somebody who, when he was in the military completed jungle, arctic and desert warfare training. So he is somebody who understands firsthand the sacrifice that our men and women in uniform make on a regular basis,” Mr. Earnest said. “He’s also somebody who understands firsthand about why what he said about his service was wrong and that certainly is why it was appropriate for him to apologize.”

In a statement Monday, Mr. McDonald apologized “to anyone what was offended by my misstatement.”