President Donald J. Trump decided to go back to the well and hold a campaign-style rally on Saturday at an airport in Melbourne, Florida. After bitterly complaining about "fake news" on Thursday during a raucous news conference, President Trump himself reported some "fake news," but this one was a whopper of a story. He reported a "fake news" story about a terrorist attack in the peaceful country of Sweden the night before.
The problem with the Trump statement about "terrorism in Sweden" is that nothing occurred in the country on Friday. It was patently false and had sources to back it up.
The White House press pool frantically tried to get a clarification of the remarks, with no comment back from the White House. This "fake news" report by President Trump came after he bitterly complained about the major media outlets reporting "fake news." The country of Sweden was not happy, asking the question: "What has he been smoking?"
Former Swedish PM slams Trump: What has he been smoking? https://t.co/bmogD9ldJ8 pic.twitter.com/SYUFtTHbSq
— The Hill (@thehill) February 19, 2017
‘What has he been smoking?’: Swedish embassy asks the US to explain Trump comment on Sweden attack https://t.co/jRJ2mc1NNZ pic.twitter.com/mWZgv3f9Wf
— Raw Story (@RawStory) February 19, 2017
Trump 'ranted and raved' about 'fake news'
During the course of President Donald Trump's news conference this past Friday, he "ranted and raved" about a whole series of grievances.
In an incredible statement, Trump stated during his rant that the leaks are real, but the news is fake.
Trump makes false statement about a terrorist attack in Sweden
He asked the 9,000 supporters attending the campaign-style rally to look at "what happened last night in Sweden." He asked who would believe this. "Sweden. They took in large numbers.
They’re having problems like they never thought possible,” President Trump said. The implication was that some type of terrorist attack occurred in Sweden and it was perpetrated by allowing Syrian refugees into the nation. However, on Sunday, President Trump claimed to have seen the story on Fox News. A story about immigration and crime rates aired on Fox News on the Tucker Carlson show.
My statement as to what's happening in Sweden was in reference to a story that was broadcast on @FoxNews concerning immigrants & Sweden.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 19, 2017
JUST IN: Trump clarifies remarks on nonexistent Sweden incident: I saw it on Fox News https://t.co/AuVxQ3AOuf pic.twitter.com/PGEcIIzuiI
— The Hill (@thehill) February 19, 2017
President Trump continues to get blasted on social media for making up a non-existent event.
Social media users troll Trump over nonexistent Sweden incident https://t.co/CmPahLX9Cp pic.twitter.com/bSd0OlwewV
— The Hill (@thehill) February 19, 2017
This is roughly equivalent to Kellyanne Conway's report about a non-existent "Bowling Green terrorist attack." Except that the statement came from the President of the United States, which is a cause of concern for Republican Senator John McCain, who told Chuck Todd on NBC's "Meet the Press." Sen. McCain said, "Dictators get started by suppressing free press.”