Donald Trump just denied he said anything about the "termination" of the Constitution in reference to the 2020 election, but he absolutely did say exactly that on his social media platform Truth Social.
On December 3, Trump posted:
"So, with the revelation of MASSIVE & WIDESPREAD FRAUD & DECEPTION in working closely with Big Tech Companies, the DNC, & the Democrat Party, do you throw the Presidential Election Results of 2020 OUT and declare the RIGHTFUL WINNER, or do you have a NEW ELECTION?"
"A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution."
"Our great 'Founders' did not even want, and would not condone, False & Fraudulent Elections!"
@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social
Republican Representative Adam Kinzinger called on GOP leadership to condemn Trump’s anti-democracy rhetoric.
Representative Kinzinger tweeted:
"With the former President calling to throw aside the constitution, not a single conservative can legitimately support him, and not a single supporter can be called a conservative."
"This is insane."
"Trump hates the constitution."
"Right [GOP minority leader Kevin McCarthy], [GOP Caucus Chair Elise Stefanik] and [GOP Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan]?"
\u201cWith the former President calling to throw aside the constitution, not a single conservative can legitimately support him, and not a single supporter can be called a conservative. This is insane. Trump hates the constitution \n\nRight @GOPLeader @EliseStefanik @Jim_Jordan ?\u201d— Adam Kinzinger #fella (@Adam Kinzinger #fella) 1670167861
While others called for harsher action against Trump.
\u201cAgain, this isn't difficult: \n\nTrump just threatened to "terminate" the constitution. Send a military detachment to Mar-a-Lago, seize him, detain him in a stockade or brig, and try him in a military court.\n\nThis is an open attempt at a Revolution to overthrow the government.\u201d— Keith Olbermann (@Keith Olbermann) 1670093074
But by Monday, Trump was denying his prior post and singing a slightly different tune.
He decided to deny ever having said anything about "terminating" the constitution
"The Fake News is actually trying to convince the American People that I said I wanted to ‘terminate’ the Constitution. This is simply more DISINFORMATION & LIES, just like RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA and all of their other Hoaxes & Scams."
"What I said was that when there is 'MASSIVE & WIDESPREAD FRAUD & DECEPTION' as has been irrefutably proven in the 2020 Presidential Election, steps must be taken immediately to RIGHT THE WRONG."
"Only FOOLS would disagree with that and accept STOLEN ELECTIONS. MAGA!"
\u201cTrump today: When I said the constitution should be terminated over election fraud, I didn\u2019t actually say the constitution should be terminated.\n\nAlso Trump today: But there was fraud and the Constitution should be terminated.\u201d— Kyle Cheney (@Kyle Cheney) 1670266854
Twitter had a lot to say about Trump's failed attempts to spin what he said.
\u201c@kyledcheney Donald that sounds a lot like a ~Seditious Conspiracy~\u201d— Kyle Cheney (@Kyle Cheney) 1670266854
\u201c@kyledcheney @gtconway3d Irrefutably? Seems to me his complaints have been refuted at least 61 times in court and still counting.\u201d— Kyle Cheney (@Kyle Cheney) 1670266854
\u201c@kyledcheney @morgfair I guess he's saying"I didn't call for 'termination' of the Constitution [he did]. I only want to impose a procedure and remedy not provided by any law and that, to take effect, would require terminating everything in the Constitution concerning the electoral process."\u201d— Kyle Cheney (@Kyle Cheney) 1670266854
\u201c@kyledcheney @maxwest327 Despite his spin, he includes the phrase, "steps must immediately be taken..." so, in other words, he would suspend the Constitution.\u201d— Kyle Cheney (@Kyle Cheney) 1670266854
Some suspected he was starting to get a bit nervous about potential criminal charges.
\u201c@kyledcheney "Like, I only wanted part of the Constitution terminated - the part that doesn't let me crime without penalty."\u201d— Kyle Cheney (@Kyle Cheney) 1670266854
\u201c@kyledcheney @MuellerSheWrote Trump: "I only want to terminate the parts of the constitution that are inconvenient to me!"\u201d— Kyle Cheney (@Kyle Cheney) 1670266854
\u201c@kyledcheney @MuellerSheWrote Shorter: \u201cI NEED TO BE PRESIDENT RIGHT NOW OR THEY\u2019RE GOING TO ARREST ME!!!\u201d\u201d— Kyle Cheney (@Kyle Cheney) 1670266854
Others pointed out under his idea, we would have to redo the 2016 election too.
\u201c@kyledcheney Based on Trump\u2019s recent statement, we should redo the 2016 in which the Trump campaign solicited and accepted election interference from Russia.\u201d— Kyle Cheney (@Kyle Cheney) 1670266854
Trump didn't even delete the first post, where he clearly says "termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution" before claiming he never said anything about terminating the constitution.
If deliberate disinformation is the goal, there are definitely better ways to go about it.