Donald Trump did not serve in the Vietnam War because he received five draft deferments: four student deferments while in college and one medical deferment for heel spurs, which ultimately classified him as unfit for military service.

Quick Scoop: Core Facts

  • Trump registered for the Selective Service in 1964, during the Vietnam draft era.
  • He then received four student deferments while attending college, which temporarily postponed his eligibility for service.
  • In 1968, after college, he obtained a medical deferment for heel spurs (a painful bony growth in the heel), and was classified as “unfit for military service,” which kept him out of Vietnam.
  • In total: 5 deferments (4 student, 1 medical) meant he never served in the military.

How the Deferments Worked

1. Student deferments

During the Vietnam War, U.S. draft law allowed college students to delay service while enrolled full time.

  • Trump attended Fordham University, then transferred to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
  • Through those years he repeatedly renewed student deferments, which was legal and common for many men in college at the time, especially from well‑connected families.

2. Medical deferment (heel spurs)

After finishing his studies, Trump became draft‑eligible again and went through a physical exam.

  • He was diagnosed with heel spurs , calcifications on the heel bone that can cause pain, particularly with prolonged standing or marching.
  • On that basis, he received a medical deferment and was later classified in a category that disqualified him from service.

Controversies and Criticism

The way Trump avoided military service has been debated and criticized for years.

  • Critics, including some veterans and politicians, argue that the combination of repeated deferments and the heel spur diagnosis amounted to “draft dodging,” especially given his family’s wealth and connections.
  • A former lawyer and associate, Michael Cohen, told Congress that Trump had said he did not want to go to Vietnam and suggested the injury was not genuine, a claim Trump’s allies dispute.
  • Supporters often respond that student and medical deferments were widely used and legal, and that many Americans in similar circumstances avoided combat through the same mechanisms.

How People Discuss It Online

In forums and comment threads, the topic “how did Trump avoid military service” often blends factual history with political argument.

  • Some users emphasize the five deferments and call him a coward or hypocritical, especially when comparing his record to decorated veterans he has criticized.
  • Others argue that the focus on his draft history is partisan, pointing out that many public figures of that era, across parties, used deferments or other routes to avoid Vietnam.

“Latest news” angle

While the deferments themselves took place in the 1960s, they still resurface whenever Trump’s record on the military, veterans, or patriotism is debated in current politics.

  • Investigative reports over the past decade revisited his medical exemption and the role of doctors said to have helped document the heel spurs as a favor to his family.
  • The phrase “Cadet Bone Spurs” and accusations of draft dodging remain a recurring part of discussions about his credibility on military and national security issues.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.