Donald Trump Tells Veterans He's 'Financially Brave'

— -- While speaking to supporters at a rally in North Carolina Thursday night -- with Medal of Honor recipients who served in the U.S. armed forces seated on stage behind him -- Donald Trump also described himself as "brave."

Well, "financially brave."

The Republican presidential candidate was listing the Medal of Honor recipients at the rally, when he stopped and said, "Oh, they're so much more brave than me. I wouldn't have done what they did."

But, that self-deprecation didn't last long.

"I'm brave in other ways," he said at the rally in Selma, a town 45 miles southeast of Raleigh. "I'm brave -- I'm financially brave. Big deal, right? These are real brave."

According to the Congressional Medal of Honor of Society's website, "The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. Generally presented to its recipient by the President of the United States of America in the name of Congress."

Not surprisingly, Trump detractors lit up the Twittersphere slamming Trump for comparing himself to those who served in combat.

But it's not the first time Trump has come under fire for such comments.

At the Democratic National Convention in July, Khizr Khan, the father of a Muslim soldier killed in Iraq, said Trump has "sacrificed nothing" for his country.

Trump subsequently shot back, telling ABC News' George Stephanopoulos, "I think I've made a lot of sacrifices. I work very, very hard. I've created thousands and thousands of jobs, tens of thousands of jobs, built great structures. I've done, I've had tremendous success. I think I've done a lot."

That comparison of "sacrifices" incensed his critics.

At a rally in New Hampshire last December, Trump acknowledged that he felt "guilty" that he never served in the armed forces.

"I love the country. I’ve seen what it can do," he said. "I didn’t serve. I haven’t served. And frankly I had deferments because of college, like a lot of people did ... I always felt a little bit guilty.”

Trump also cited a high draft number and “a foot thing” for not being drafted.