['< sod > trump publicly referred to the war as a " mess " within a week after it began, and by 2004 his opposition to it was well - documented. < ref name = " factcheck. org " / > since 2004, he has repeatedly [ [ opposition to the iraq war | criticized the war ] ], especially during his presidential campaign. < ref > { { cite news | url = http : / / www. politifact. com / truth - o - meter / statements / 2016 / feb / 16 / our - principles - pac / anti - trump - ad - says - he - backed - impeaching - bush / | title = it\'s true : donald trump once supported impeaching george w. bush | author = greenberg, don | date = february 16, 2016 | accessdate = february 20, 2016 } } < / ref > < ref > { { cite news | url = http : / / www. factcheck. org / 2016 / 02 / donald - trump - and - the - iraq - war / | title = donald trump and the iraq war | last = kiely | first = eugene | date = february 19, 2016 | publisher = factcheck. org | access - date = may 5, 2016 } } < / ref > < ref > { { cite news | url = http : / / www. abc. net. au / news / 2016 - 02 - 14 / us - republican - debate - donald - trum - jeb - bush - clash - over - iraq - war / 7166718 | title = republican debate : donald trump, jeb bush engage in bitter clash over iraq war, bush family and trump\'s business dealings | publisher = australian broadcasting corporation | date = february 14, 2016 | accessdate = july 12, 2016 } } < / ref > < ref name = " cbsnews. com " > { { cite news | author = reena flores | url = http : / / www. cbsnews. com / news / republican - debate - donald - trump - jeb - bush - spar - over - bush - family - legacy / | and title = republican debate : donald trump, jeb bush spar over bush family legacy | publisher = cbs news | date = february 13, 2016 | accessdate = july 12, 2016 } } < / ref > during his 2016 presidential campaign, trump has repeatedly and falsely claimed that he opposed the [ [ iraq war ] ] even before it was launched. < ref name = " latiraq " / > < ref name = " pf - 9 - 2016 " / > < ref name = " fortune - iraq " > { { cite news | work = fortune | date = september 26, 2016 | url = http : / / fortune. com / 2016 / 09 / 26 / presidential - debate - donald - trump - iraq - war / | title = donald trump again said he opposed the war in iraq. it ’ s still not true } } < / ref > < eod > < sod > trump publicly referred to the war as a " mess " within a week after it began, and by 2004 he was opposed to it. < ref name = " factcheck. org " / > since 2004, he has repeatedly [ [ opposition to the iraq war | criticized the war ] ], especially during his presidential campaign. < ref > { { cite news | url = http : / / www. politifact. com / truth - o - meter / statements / 2016 / feb / 16 / our - principles - pac / anti - trump - ad - says - he - backed - impeaching - bush / | title = it\'s true : donald trump once supported impeaching george w. bush | author = greenberg, don | date = february 16, 2016 | accessdate = february 20, 2016 } } < / ref > < ref > { { cite news | url = http : / / www. factcheck. org / 2016 / 02 / donald - trump - and - the - iraq - war / | title = donald trump and the iraq war | last = kiely | first = eugene | date = february 19, 2016 | publisher = factcheck. org | access - date = may 5, 2016 } } < / ref > < ref > { { cite news | url = http : / / www. abc. net. au / news / 2016 - 02 - 14 / us - republican - debate - donald - trum - jeb - bush - clash - over - iraq - war / 7166718 | title = republican debate : donald trump, jeb bush engage in bitter clash over iraq war, bush family and trump\'s business dealings | publisher = australian broadcasting corporation | date = february 14, 2016 | accessdate = july 12, 2016 } } < / ref > < ref name = " cbsnews. com " > { { cite news | author = reena flores | url = http : / / www. cbsnews. com / news / republican - debate - donald - trump - jeb - bush - spar - over - bush - family - legacy / | title = republican debate : donald trump, jeb bush spar over bush family legacy | publisher = cbs news | date = february 13, 2016 | accessdate = july 12, 2016 } } < / ref > during his 2016 presidential campaign, trump has repeatedly and falsely claimed that he opposed the [ [ iraq war ] ] even before it was launched. < ref name = " latiraq " / > < ref name = " pf - 9 - 2016 " / > < ref name = " fortune - iraq " > { { cite news | work = fortune | date = september 26, 2016 | url = http : / / fortune. com / 2016 / 09 / 26 / presidential - debate - donald - trump - iraq - war / | title = donald trump again said he opposed the war in iraq. it ’ s still not true } } < / ref > < eod >']