Trump Tells Rolling Thunder Crowd: Illegal Immigrants Treated Better Than Veterans in U.S.

WASHINGTON (TheBlaze/AP) — Donald Trump was focusing on veterans Sunday at the annual Rolling Thunder motorcycle rally.

The Memorial Day weekend event, which got its start in 1988, also honors members of the military missing in action.

Motorcyclists began their procession from the Pentagon, crossed the Potomac River and rode around the National Mall, ending up at a rally by the Reflecting Pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

Motorcyclists cross the National Mall during Rolling Thunder 2013 (AFP/Getty Images)

Speaking to the crowd Sunday, Trump said that illegal immigrants are cared for better in the United States than the nation's military veterans.

The presumptive GOP nominee also told those attending the rally that if elected, he plans to "knock the hell out of" the Islamic group by building a bigger, better military.

He also reiterated his promise to build a wall to keep out people from entering the country illegally.

"Who's going to pay for the wall?" he bellowed. The crowd yelled back: "Mexico." ''Not even a doubt!" he said.

Trump has a loyal following with bikers, who frequently attend his rallies. Among those eager to hear Trump speak was Louis Naymik, 52, of Clarksburg, Maryland, who said he served in the Ohio Army National Guard for four years.

"There's history in the air here," he said. "We're living in historic times in our country today with the election and the choosing of a new president. And I just wanted to give honor to those who have fallen and sacrificed their lives for our country."

Naymik, who works in radiology, was wearing a Trump shirt and said he had been a supporter since the day Trump announced his candidacy.

"What I like about Trump is that he is one of us. He's not a politician," he said, adding that Trump would bring the country back to its old values, put American citizens first and honor its veterans.