After a press conference in which he refused to condemn the murders committed by Kyle Rittenhouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin, a pre-taped interview between President Donald Trump and far-right media personality Laura Ingraham aired on Fox News.
The President discussed a range of issues from the nationwide protests against police brutality to the pandemic that's killed over 180 thousand Americans.
He also discussed his 2020 opponent, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, whom Trump accused of being controlled by "people that are in the dark shadows."
Watch the bizarre moment below.
The President claims people in the dark shadows who control the streets are really controlling Biden. He goes on to talk about a plane full of people wearing black uniforms but then says he can't reveal anymore because it's under investigation pic.twitter.com/AAk5GX0eWu
— Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) September 1, 2020
When asked by Ingraham whom he believed was "pulling Biden's strings," Trump responded:
"People that you've never heard of. People that are in the dark shadows."
Even Ingraham—one of the President's most vocal supporters in the media—felt the need to push back:
"What does that mean? That sounds like conspiracy theory. 'Dark shadows.' What is that?"
Trump continued:
"People that you haven't heard of. They're people that are on the streets. They're people that are controlling the streets. We had somebody get on a plane from a certain city this weekend, and in the plane it was almost completely loaded with thugs wearing these dark uniforms, black uniforms with gear. And this and that. They're on a plane."
Ingraham asked Trump to elaborate before Trump assured he'd "tell [Ingraham] sometime. It's under investigation."
According to NBC News, Trump's claim seems to echo a baseless post shared on Facebook months ago, which said:
"At least a dozen males got off the plane in Boise from Seattle, dressed head to toe in black. Be ready for attacks downtown and residential areas."
People noticed that even Laura Ingraham seemed skeptical.
Even Laura Ingraham thinks Trump is a conspiracy theory nut jobpic.twitter.com/8qwmaKePGT
— Black Lives Matter (@PoliticalH2Os) September 1, 2020
This is truly nuts. For a moment there, even @IngrahamAngle almost spit the bit. https://t.co/3CZTSSsmiU
— howardfineman (@howardfineman) September 1, 2020
This is so stupid that even trump's biggest ass kisser @IngrahamAngle calls it out as the asinine conspiracy BS it is pic.twitter.com/vQwFRf9WO5
— Better Call John 😷 (@johnsheldon99) September 1, 2020
Others were similarly alarmed by Trump's bizarre claims.
Is this dude ok? https://t.co/pq9vKRJHe8
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) September 1, 2020
It says everything that millions of people and the ENTIRE Republican Party still stands by this lunatic. https://t.co/SmgyJdUhMR
— HawaiiDelilah™ (@HawaiiDelilah) September 1, 2020
Congratulations to those Americans who elected a delusional, incompetent, narcissistic fascist to the same office once held by Lincoln and FDR. https://t.co/3YMWnKSMv2
— Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) September 1, 2020
InfoWars is more specific than this. https://t.co/xtKSiFphMn
— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) September 1, 2020
Never forget that when given a chance to remove this man, 247-of-248 republican senators & reps voted to keep trump in office.
So much of this tragedy could've been avoided but gop leaders value power more than democracy or even your life. https://t.co/Uk6W2b47xi
— Bill Pascrell, Jr. (@BillPascrell) September 1, 2020
Many took it as another sign that Trump is not mentally fit for office.
If the 25th Amendment isn't for this, why do we have a 25th Amendment at all? https://t.co/YLEQmVDY2X
— Randi Mayem Singer (@rmayemsinger) September 1, 2020
yes I'm going to keep saying it—100+ newspapers demanded Bill Clinton resign bc he was not “fit for office"
same newspapers silent re: this dangerous mad man https://t.co/42K4zDbdQl
— Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) September 1, 2020
This is literally insane.#25thAmendmentNow #trumpchaos https://t.co/jjT89j0adY
— Holly Figueroa O'Reilly (@AynRandPaulRyan) September 1, 2020
This man is not well and should not be anywhere near the levers of power. That Senate Republicans refused to put a stop to this madness will never be forgiven. https://t.co/tydwRYJevC
— Steven Beschloss (@StevenBeschloss) September 1, 2020
Trump has yet to elaborate on the claim.
Another shocking moment during the interview came when Trump likened the killing of unarmed Black Americans by police to a "choker" who misses a three foot put in golf.
Trump: You know a choker they choke. Shooting a guy in the back many times couldn't you have done something different... in the meantime he might have been going for a weapon... but they choke just like in a golf tournament they miss a 3 foot putt.... pic.twitter.com/HkzEX9ghZj
— Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) September 1, 2020
Ingraham cut him off, fearing the media would focus on the quote.
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