President Donald Trump claims that the current unrest in cities like Kenosha, Wisconsin and Portland, Oregon are a taste of what would happen in Democratic nominee Joe Biden's America.
When critics point out that this unrest is happening right now in Donald Trump's America, the President says it's the fault of Democratic mayors and governors.
One of those scapegoats is Kenosha, Wisconsin Mayor John Antaramian.
Protests against police brutality erupted in Kenosha last week after Jacob Blake, a Black man, was shot seven times in the back by police as he entered his car. Seventeen year old Trump supporter Kyle Rittenhouse drove across state lines with an assault weapon to the site of the protests, where he killed two protesters and injured a third.
Trump was asked if he'd condemn Rittenhouse's actions at a Monday press briefing, but defended him instead.
On Tuesday, Trump traveled to Kenosha against the wishes of local officials who feared he'd only escalate tensions.
Before Trump left, he said of Antaramian:
"I saw last night where these radical anarchists were trying to get into the mayor's house and lots of bad things were happening to this poor, stupid, very foolish mayor. How he could be mayor I have no idea, but all he has to do is call and within 10 minutes, their problem will be over. As you know, they have to call us. They have to call and request help."
Trump claimed that protesters descended on the Mayor's house, but Antaramian said the opposite in a statement rebutting the claim.
Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian pushes back on Trump's claims, saying there were no angry mobs trying to get into his house and that the “City of Kenosha remains peaceful and focused on healing our community." pic.twitter.com/vSm62Zh74c
— Mary Spicuzza (@MSpicuzzaMJS) September 1, 2020
Antaramian said:
"I want to dispel the President's statement that angry mobs were trying to get into my house last night. Nothing of the sort happened. The statement in the President's video is completely false."
Twitter wasn't surprised that Trump once again disseminated false information.
Trump simply cannot stop making stuff up https://t.co/77ait2KiZ8
— West Wing Reports (@WestWingReport) September 1, 2020
You mean to tell me that Trump is a liar?!? https://t.co/SrjCySciut
— notorious_rpp (@notoriousrpp) September 1, 2020
Just another easily proven falsification. https://t.co/NwdOi0JLuz
— Howard Pelling (@howardpelling) September 1, 2020
Nothing is shocking anymore. https://t.co/1z3glNDFwa
— Sydfish (@Sydfish) September 1, 2020
Another Trump lie!#TrumpLiesEverytimeHeSpeaks https://t.co/p16DtHdvW8
— Indivisible KY (@Indivisible_KY3) September 1, 2020
Shocking that POTUS would lie https://t.co/uvTerwIibV
— Jared Thorne (@planetjared) September 1, 2020
People commended the Mayor for quickly fact checking Trump.
Thank you for dispelling this. https://t.co/QzBhHG4asm
— Pinky (@ljwdosomething) September 1, 2020
Amazing that the Mayor needs to call tRump lies out...GOOD FOR HIM. Thanks for spreading the truth. https://t.co/neQB5vB5KU
— downhearted (@SandyFreeland) September 1, 2020
Kenosha mayor slapping down a sitting president in real time. You love to see it. https://t.co/AAjOvseeAn
— Grave Counterintelligence Threat (@kmatt45) September 1, 2020
While protests have yet to reach Antaramian's door, it's likely that Trump conflated Kenosha with Portland, Oregon, where peaceful protesters stationed themselves outside of Mayor Ted Wheeler's condo.
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@sadcommunistdog; @froglok/Bluesky