Chuck Norris: Media misquoted my Jade Helm fears

Chuck Norris is accusing some mainstream media outlets of misquoting his previous comments expressing concern over the U.S. military training operation known as Jade Helm 15 in Texas and six other states.

“I never ever said that that seven-state U.S. military operation intended to take over Texas,” Norris wrote in a new column for the website WorldNetDaily, naming ABC News.

{mosads}”However, I did in fact mention that Jade Helm 15 is likely more than a military exercise,” he continued.

“I do believe, in addition to the largest domestic military training, it is also a display of power (near the southern border) intended for deterrence of enemies like ISIS and other terrorists, who the FBI have already said are present in all 50 states,” he said, referring to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

The “Walker, Texas Ranger” star earlier this month added his name to a growing list of politicians and public figures expressing concern over the operation, questioning whether “it’s just a training exercise.”

Pentagon officials have referred to the three-month operation starting July 15 as a “realistic military training exercise,” despite months of skepticism from conspiracists.

When asked during a press conference earlier this month if the Pentagon was moving to take over Texas, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter attempted to belay concerns, saying, “No.”

The U.S. conducts training operations on American soil and around the world.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) had ordered his state militia to monitor the military, leading to criticism.

Norris noted his newest comments weren’t directed at American troops over Memorial Day weekend, but instead at leaders in Washington.

“[T]he White House and the Pentagon could have easily avoided any controversy about Jade Helm 15 if its primary Washington leaders would have called for a confidential informative meeting with the respected governors of the seven states in which it is being held this summer,” he wrote for WND.

“They also would have been very wise not to place on Jade Helm’s official operation map that Texas and Utah were ‘hostile states.’ When will they learn? Don’t mess with Texas!”