Trump Caught Red-Handed as Four-Year-Old False Claim Puts Him in Big Trouble

Former President Donald Trump has reignited a four-year-old false claim regarding the deployment of the National Guard during the civil unrest in Minneapolis following the murder of George Floyd by a police officer in 2020.

According to CNN on Sunday, July 28, 2024, his revisionist narrative resurfaced during a campaign speech in Minnesota, as Trump targeted the state’s voters in his bid for the presidency.

In his speech, Trump asserted, “Every voter in Minnesota needs to know that when the violent mobs of anarchists and looters and Marxists came to burn down Minneapolis four years ago — remember me? I couldn’t get your governor to act.

He’s supposed to call in the National Guard or the Army. And he didn’t do it. I couldn’t get your governor. So I sent in the National Guard to save Minneapolis.”

This claim directly contradicts the documented sequence of events from 2020. Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was responsible for deploying the National Guard to Minneapolis as the city grappled with widespread protests and unrest.

Trump’s assertion that he personally intervened and dispatched the National Guard is not supported by factual evidence.

The timing of Trump’s revival of this claim is noteworthy. Reports indicate that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is among the Democrats being considered by Vice President Kamala Harris as a potential running mate in the upcoming election.

Trump’s statements appear to be part of a broader strategy to undermine potential Democratic contenders and galvanize his base by revisiting contentious moments from his presidency.

Trump’s speech did not solely focus on Walz and the National Guard. He also took the opportunity to criticize Vice President Harris for her handling of the civil unrest that spread across the country in 2020.

Trump’s rhetoric reflects his ongoing effort to paint the Democratic leadership as ineffective and incapable of managing crises, a theme that has been central to his campaign messaging.

However, the factual inaccuracies in Trump’s claims about the National Guard’s deployment have been repeatedly debunked.

In the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, Governor Walz activated the Minnesota National Guard on May 28, 2020, as the protests escalated.

The deployment was aimed at restoring order and ensuring public safety amid the widespread demonstrations against police brutality and racial injustice.

Despite the clear historical record, Trump’s reassertion of this false narrative highlights his strategy of leveraging misinformation to sway public opinion.

By casting himself as a decisive leader who took action when others failed, Trump aims to bolster his image and appeal to voters who prioritize strong leadership in times of crisis.

This approach, however, risks further polarizing the electorate and perpetuating misinformation.

Political analysts suggest that Trump’s continued reliance on false claims may energize his core supporters but could alienate undecided voters who seek verifiable facts and responsible governance.

As the election season intensifies, the veracity of claims made by candidates will be under increased scrutiny.

The resurgence of Trump’s false narrative about the National Guard underscores the importance of fact-checking and critical evaluation of political statements.

Voters in Minnesota and across the nation will need to navigate a complex landscape of information and rhetoric as they make their decisions at the ballot box.

Trump’s revival of his false claim about deploying the National Guard to Minneapolis serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by misinformation in contemporary political discourse.

As the campaign progresses, the accuracy of candidates’ statements will play a crucial role in shaping voter perceptions and ultimately, the outcome of the election.