With only two months before the 2020 presidential election, President Donald Trump is generalizing protesters of police brutality as violent anarchist who present a preview of what the United States would be like in Democratic nominee Joe Biden's America.
When reminded that the unrest he describes is currently happening in Donald Trump's America, the President shifts the blame to Democratic mayors and governors.
The city of Portland, Oregon has been a favorite example of Trump's when attempting to instill fear that a Democratic administration would lead to violence and unrest in the streets. Trump routinely embellishes the state of things in Portland, saying in an interview with far-right Fox News host Laura Ingraham this week that the city has been burning for years and years.
In a recent White House press briefing, Trump described Portland as a place...
"...where the entire city is ablaze all the time, and a mayor says, 'We don't want any help from the federal government.'"
Now, an official from Portland's fire department—Lt. Rich Chatman—has assured CNN fact checker Daniel Dale that Trump's claims are completely untrue.
Lt. Rich Chatman of the Portland fire department texts me just now: “WE ARE NOT ABLAZE IN PORTLAND. There is a very isolated pocket of demonstrations that have involved fire," “none of which have been substantial enough to need more than 1 fire engine." https://t.co/hj4Zke3Ss7
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) September 1, 2020
Chatman told Dale:
"WE ARE NOT ABLAZE IN PORTLAND. There is a very isolated pocket of demonstrations that have involved fire...none of which have been substantial enough to need more than 1 fire engine."
Others responded to Dale with more evidence that Portland is far from the apocalyptic wasteland Trump describes.
Today in Portland
Took bus from downtown by city hall to NE Portland just south of airport
People going about business
Dealing with Xfinity + Safeway + other errands same as Americans everywhere pic.twitter.com/QzjrE8vhJT
— Real Benisons (@RealBenisons) September 1, 2020
Can confirm from my downtown Portland apt: pic.twitter.com/ViREs1BRfy
— Blah_Blah_Blonde (@BlahBlah_Blonde) September 1, 2020
I am literally 5 minutes south of downtown. This is my view tonight. No “ablaze." pic.twitter.com/Jw0DJ22fd8
— Scott Osburne (@OsburneScott) September 1, 2020
Here I am 20 minutes from downtown Portland. Ablaze with a nice Pinot Noir. pic.twitter.com/Tag7h8CBj3
— dharma astrologer (@dorjepadma) September 1, 2020
People weren't surprised Trump lied.
Lie #20,999
“The entire city (of Portland) is ablaze all the time." #TrumpIsNotWell https://t.co/KDozPTP61e
— Catrina Forcier (@thecatsmerrow) September 2, 2020
So I guess trump is LYING? Hmm... https://t.co/8gZ3dnOvrP
— Sue (@labitupx3) September 2, 2020
#TrumpLies just for the hell of it, even when it is demonstrably false https://t.co/ek9Xr8UMtt
— ATwibble 2xRemoved (@ATwibble_2xRemo) September 1, 2020
If Trump was Pinocchio, his nose would have provided by now that new border wall he so desperately yearns. https://t.co/QfXNJhudIE
— Steve McAllister (@StevieMacSports) September 1, 2020
Lies, disinformation and just plain nutty. All he does is stoke division, let's begone w/this demagogue and & elect a president who's experienced, has pandemic experience, Fixed an economy in shambles from GOP greed & corruption 2009 and actual lives in real world, in realtime. https://t.co/he6Qp1BNUC
— sjmiller (@sjmille64201139) September 1, 2020
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