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(THREAD UPDATE) We're now at *60 significant lies* in just 21.5 minutes.
I'm doing this to underscore to major media that *you must stop interviewing Trump* because *he cannot be effectively fact-checked*. I've spent 2+ hours already doing this—and have 13 minutes of video left.
I'm doing this to underscore to major media that *you must stop interviewing Trump* because *he cannot be effectively fact-checked*. I've spent 2+ hours already doing this—and have 13 minutes of video left.
LIE: Trump says he destroyed 100% of ISIS.
TRUTH: That may have been briefly true—until Trump let Turkey invade Syria under the business-related "conflict of interest" Trump *admits* he has with Erdogan due to his Turkish business. *Thousands* of ISIS fighters escaped captivity.
TRUTH: That may have been briefly true—until Trump let Turkey invade Syria under the business-related "conflict of interest" Trump *admits* he has with Erdogan due to his Turkish business. *Thousands* of ISIS fighters escaped captivity.
LIE: Trump says taking out Iranian general Qasem Soleimani was something "no one thought possible."
TRUTH: Nope—it's the opposite. The US government has *always* known, for *several* administrations, it could get Soleimani whenever it wanted. It was considered counterproductive.
TRUTH: Nope—it's the opposite. The US government has *always* known, for *several* administrations, it could get Soleimani whenever it wanted. It was considered counterproductive.
LIE: Trump again claims he's always been against U.S. involvement in the Middle East militarily.
TRUTH. Nope. https://www.factcheck.org/2016/02/donald-trump-and-the-iraq-war/
TRUTH. Nope. https://www.factcheck.org/2016/02/donald-trump-and-the-iraq-war/
LIE: Trump says "Hillary Clinton never accepted" the results of the 2016 election.
TRUTH: Clinton conceded publicly, clearly, directly and unambiguously—and took no action to contest the election-night tabulation of popular votes or electoral college votes. It's a Trump fantasy.
TRUTH: Clinton conceded publicly, clearly, directly and unambiguously—and took no action to contest the election-night tabulation of popular votes or electoral college votes. It's a Trump fantasy.
LIE: Trump says he won the 2016 election "easily."
TRUTH: Trump actually *lost* the popular vote by *millions and millions* of voters—and then won the electoral college by approximately 70,000 votes, making him one of the biggest popular-vote losers ever to take the Oval Office.
TRUTH: Trump actually *lost* the popular vote by *millions and millions* of voters—and then won the electoral college by approximately 70,000 votes, making him one of the biggest popular-vote losers ever to take the Oval Office.
LIE: Trump says mail-in voting is a "new phenomenon."
TRUTH: {facepalm} No... {*sigh*}... it's not new.
TRUTH: {facepalm} No... {*sigh*}... it's not new.
LIE: Trump says the U.S. has "never" processed millions and millions of mail-in ballots.
TRUTH: Wildly false. Three U.S. states have universal mail-in balloting options, and combined these states have processed *over 250 million such ballots* in the last 20 years.
TRUTH: Wildly false. Three U.S. states have universal mail-in balloting options, and combined these states have processed *over 250 million such ballots* in the last 20 years.
LIE: Trump says every state is going to automatically send ballots all over the place.
TRUTH: No, many states will send ballot *applications* to every registered voter—hardly "all over the place"—and a small number will send ballots to all registered voters (wholly appropriate).
TRUTH: No, many states will send ballot *applications* to every registered voter—hardly "all over the place"—and a small number will send ballots to all registered voters (wholly appropriate).
LIE: Trump says "nobody knows where the ballots are going."
TRUTH: Just...every part of this is false. They're largely ballot *applications*, and they go to *registered voters*—exactly as they should. Fraud is virtually non-existent in mail-in balloting, per U.S. voting history.
TRUTH: Just...every part of this is false. They're largely ballot *applications*, and they go to *registered voters*—exactly as they should. Fraud is virtually non-existent in mail-in balloting, per U.S. voting history.
LIE: Trump says "absentee" ballots are fine because they're different from "mail-in" ballots.
TRUTH: As CNN (Dana Bash on Anderson Cooper 360) reported just yesterday—and as dozens and dozens of journalists have reported in recent weeks—"it's a distinction without a difference."
TRUTH: As CNN (Dana Bash on Anderson Cooper 360) reported just yesterday—and as dozens and dozens of journalists have reported in recent weeks—"it's a distinction without a difference."
LIE: There's no way you can go through a mail-in vote without "massive cheating," Trump insists.
TRUTH: Voter fraud is *virtually nonexistent* with mail-in voting, per *every single study ever done on the subject* (and there are many). This is a massive and deliberate Trump lie.
TRUTH: Voter fraud is *virtually nonexistent* with mail-in voting, per *every single study ever done on the subject* (and there are many). This is a massive and deliberate Trump lie.
LIE: Trump says the GOP supports mail-in balloting only because "we have no choice," due to Democrats pushing it.
TRUTH: Both parties have always supported mail-in balloting when it helps them—it's Trump who's suddenly turned Republican rhetoric on this issue wholly upside-down.
TRUTH: Both parties have always supported mail-in balloting when it helps them—it's Trump who's suddenly turned Republican rhetoric on this issue wholly upside-down.
LIE: Trump again used the racist term "China virus."
TRUTH: Let's be clear: the term "China virus" is racist and a lie because it's racialized fear-mongering. Evidence puts SARS-CoV-2 in Europe and South America before China, and we *still* don't know where the virus originated.
TRUTH: Let's be clear: the term "China virus" is racist and a lie because it's racialized fear-mongering. Evidence puts SARS-CoV-2 in Europe and South America before China, and we *still* don't know where the virus originated.
LIE: Trump said mail-in balloting was never used during prior national emergencies.
TRUTH: It's been used since the Civil War—including during both world wars. (Trump says this pandemic is a "war.")
TRUTH: It's been used since the Civil War—including during both world wars. (Trump says this pandemic is a "war.")
LIE: Trump says it will take "many months" to know who won the November election if mail-balloting is widely used.
TRUTH: There's absolutely no evidence this is even remotely true.
TRUTH: There's absolutely no evidence this is even remotely true.
LIE: Trump claims not to know what Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested for.
TRUTH: He knows. Indeed, he's even appeared to acknowledge it in the past. Bizarre that he lies about it now.
TRUTH: He knows. Indeed, he's even appeared to acknowledge it in the past. Bizarre that he lies about it now.
LIE: Trump says he wished accused child-sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell "well" because he wishes "everyone" well who faces legal liability.
TRUTH: Trump torches his enemies with claims of "fraud" and "treason" and worse—he famously wishes *anyone* ill who he has a problem with.
TRUTH: Trump torches his enemies with claims of "fraud" and "treason" and worse—he famously wishes *anyone* ill who he has a problem with.
LIE: Trump pretends not to know if Epstein was killed or committed suicide—holding these as equally possible.
TRUTH: Social media users can speculate as they like. This is the President of the United States refusing to accept the autopsy results of a prisoner in federal custody.
TRUTH: Social media users can speculate as they like. This is the President of the United States refusing to accept the autopsy results of a prisoner in federal custody.
LIE: Trump says "people are still trying to figure out what happened" to Epstein—that is, "was it suicide or was he killed?"
TRUTH: As the head of the US executive branch, Trump has a duty to inform America that his branch of government has already made a *conclusive* judgment.
TRUTH: As the head of the US executive branch, Trump has a duty to inform America that his branch of government has already made a *conclusive* judgment.
LIE: "I'm not looking for anything bad [to happen] for anybody," Trump says, indicating that his attitude toward Ghislaine Maxwell is *no different than to anyone else*.
TRUTH: Trump has called for Pelosi and Schiff to be put to death for treason for impeaching him. He is lying.
TRUTH: Trump has called for Pelosi and Schiff to be put to death for treason for impeaching him. He is lying.
LIE: Trump says it is "fake news" to say that federal agents in Portland were in "fatigues."
TRUTH: *Hundreds and hundreds of hours* of video footage confirms this—and Trump knows it, because he's seen (indeed talked at great length about) such footage, and even put it in *ads*.
TRUTH: *Hundreds and hundreds of hours* of video footage confirms this—and Trump knows it, because he's seen (indeed talked at great length about) such footage, and even put it in *ads*.
(THREAD UPDATE) We're now at *80 significant lies* in 27 minutes.
Does US media understand what I'm doing here? I'm showing them that *no American* could *possibly* fact-check its interviews with Trump in a reasonable way or in a reasonable time. So they're misinforming America.
Does US media understand what I'm doing here? I'm showing them that *no American* could *possibly* fact-check its interviews with Trump in a reasonable way or in a reasonable time. So they're misinforming America.
LIE: Trump says, of the Portland protesters, "these people were anarchists"—with only "some" protesters mixed in.
TRUTH: Major media reports that *every day* the protests were almost 100% peaceful activists, and that it was only *after midnight* that some agitators would emerge.
TRUTH: Major media reports that *every day* the protests were almost 100% peaceful activists, and that it was only *after midnight* that some agitators would emerge.
LIE: Trump says Portland protesters were "beating the hell out of the city."
TRUTH: I won't pretend to know exactly what Trump means here—I just know that under *any* definition of these words it would be a *gross* over-statement of the scope and impact of the Portland protests.
TRUTH: I won't pretend to know exactly what Trump means here—I just know that under *any* definition of these words it would be a *gross* over-statement of the scope and impact of the Portland protests.
LIE: Trump says "antifa" and anarchists are causing the problems at the recent anti-police-brutality protests.
TRUTH: Actually Trump's own government says it has no evidence of this (as to antifa). It's found (a) organized criminals, (b) far-right extremists, and (c) anarchists.
TRUTH: Actually Trump's own government says it has no evidence of this (as to antifa). It's found (a) organized criminals, (b) far-right extremists, and (c) anarchists.
LIE: Trump says federal agents in Portland "tried to be very good" while stationed at the federal courthouse.
TRUTH: In fact, hours and hours of public video shows federal agents well off federal property attacking peaceful protesters and arresting people without probable cause.
TRUTH: In fact, hours and hours of public video shows federal agents well off federal property attacking peaceful protesters and arresting people without probable cause.
LIE: Trump says "antifa terrorists" are why DHS agents went unmarked in Portland.
TRUTH: DHS has given no evidence its agents' homes or families are targeted by "antifa terrorists," necessitating anonymity in the streets of Portland in violation of *explicit* federal guidelines.
TRUTH: DHS has given no evidence its agents' homes or families are targeted by "antifa terrorists," necessitating anonymity in the streets of Portland in violation of *explicit* federal guidelines.
LIE: Trump says there's a history of "antifa terrorists" finding DHS agents' homes to try to "scare the hell out of" their families.
TRUTH: There's no evidence of such events being widespread—indeed, there's no evidence I can find of this happening at all, or DHS proving it has.
TRUTH: There's no evidence of such events being widespread—indeed, there's no evidence I can find of this happening at all, or DHS proving it has.
LIE: Trump says Chad Wolf has "dangerous-looking people picketing his house."
TRUTH: There may be protesters, but Trump's claim of danger, dangerous-looking people, and an imminent threat is simply false—and was *never* used as a basis for DHS' policy on federal-agent anonymity.
TRUTH: There may be protesters, but Trump's claim of danger, dangerous-looking people, and an imminent threat is simply false—and was *never* used as a basis for DHS' policy on federal-agent anonymity.
LIE: Trump opposes his own executive branch's investigation of federal agents' activities in Portland and other cities because it's baseless.
TRUTH: In fact, media has reported on dozens of incidents in which state/federal officers have engaged in misconduct during the protests.
TRUTH: In fact, media has reported on dozens of incidents in which state/federal officers have engaged in misconduct during the protests.
LIE: Trump says Portland mayor Ted Wheeler was "lucky he got away with his life" when he visited the protests.
TRUTH: There were no threats against Wheeler's life when he visited the protests. He was surrounded by protesters—but only faced danger when the feds *tear-gassed him*.
TRUTH: There were no threats against Wheeler's life when he visited the protests. He was surrounded by protesters—but only faced danger when the feds *tear-gassed him*.
LIE: Trump says the violence in Portland "got better" when federal agents entered the city.
TRUTH: Nope—the opposite. It got *much worse* when federal agents were sent in by Trump...and dissipated almost immediately when the agents were removed. (As *anyone* could've predicted.)
TRUTH: Nope—the opposite. It got *much worse* when federal agents were sent in by Trump...and dissipated almost immediately when the agents were removed. (As *anyone* could've predicted.)
LIE: Trump claims he enacted a 10-year minimum for damaging federal property.
TRUTH: Uh, no. It's a 10-year *maximum*—and Trump didn't create it, he just urged it to be applied. His actions had no effect at all on federal law (which he repeatedly deliberately misquotes, anyway.)
TRUTH: Uh, no. It's a 10-year *maximum*—and Trump didn't create it, he just urged it to be applied. His actions had no effect at all on federal law (which he repeatedly deliberately misquotes, anyway.)
LIE: Trump says protests are only in "Democrat-run cities."
TRUTH: No— #BlackLivesMatter
protests have occurred in more than 2,000 cities and towns across America, and nearly every one of them has been peaceful. There have been scattered issues in "Democratic" *and* "GOP" cities.
TRUTH: No— #BlackLivesMatter
protests have occurred in more than 2,000 cities and towns across America, and nearly every one of them has been peaceful. There have been scattered issues in "Democratic" *and* "GOP" cities.
LIE: Trump says #BlackLivesMatter "started out very badly," as its very first statement was "pigs [police officers] in a blanket, fry them like bacon."
TRUTH: This is... obscene. This isn't how #BlackLivesMatter "started out." Jesus Christ. This is a racist misstatement of fact.
"started out very badly," as its very first statement was "pigs [police officers] in a blanket, fry them like bacon."TRUTH: This is... obscene. This isn't how #BlackLivesMatter
"started out." Jesus Christ. This is a racist misstatement of fact.
LIE: Trump says no anti-police-brutality protester has *ever* asked to meet with him, but he "would"—though he never has.
TRUTH: Both of these are lies—and, notably, not even lies his supporters believe. (They simply don't *want* the president to meet with any such protesters.)
TRUTH: Both of these are lies—and, notably, not even lies his supporters believe. (They simply don't *want* the president to meet with any such protesters.)
LIE: Trump says he is "doing very well" with "African Americans."
TRUTH: Trump's polling with Black Americans is horrendous.
TRUTH: Trump's polling with Black Americans is horrendous.
LIE: Trump says that he "hopes" police officers don't systemically treat Black Americans worse than white Americans, then asks, "does anyone really know" the answer to that question?
TRUTH: *All* the data confirms disparate treatment—and he knows this. This is a deliberate lie.
TRUTH: *All* the data confirms disparate treatment—and he knows this. This is a deliberate lie.
LIE: Trump says cops kill more white people than Black people.
TRUTH: This is so misleading as to constitute a lie, as Trump knows (just like Barr knows) that unless one controls for percent-of-population—something Trump *insists upon* with COVID-19—his statistic is meaningless.
TRUTH: This is so misleading as to constitute a lie, as Trump knows (just like Barr knows) that unless one controls for percent-of-population—something Trump *insists upon* with COVID-19—his statistic is meaningless.
LIE: Trump says his administration has already done "a lot" to combat police brutality.
TRUTH: It has done nothing. Trump is using other legislation he's backed regarding the criminal justice system as a proxy for legislation focused on police brutality. It's a bait-and-switch.
TRUTH: It has done nothing. Trump is using other legislation he's backed regarding the criminal justice system as a proxy for legislation focused on police brutality. It's a bait-and-switch.
LIE: Trump says Obama never got any funding for Black colleges.
TRUTH: That's a lie.
TRUTH: That's a lie.
LIE: Trump says he's done more for Black Americans than any U.S. president—including President Lyndon Johnson, who signed the Civil Rights Act.
TRUTH: This is a vile and even *hallucinatory* lie.
TRUTH: This is a vile and even *hallucinatory* lie.
(THREAD UPDATE) He *did* it—he managed to tell *100 significant lies* in 35 minutes. (The interview ends at approximately this point in the 37-minute video.) I have to ask Axios: was it really better that this interview be aired, or not? How many Americans can do this fact-check?
