Trump falsely claimed two were fatally shot in Chicago during Obama’s speech
President Trump claimed in his interview with ABC News this week that two people were shot and killed in Chicago during former President Obama’s farewell speech in the city, but police records show no such shooting occurred.
The exchange between Trump and ABC’s David Muir is shown in a transcript ABC put on its website, though it was not part of the aired portion of Wednesday night’s interview.
But according to the Chicago Tribune, no homicides occurred in Chicago during the hour of Obama’s speech on Jan. 10, citing police department records. The Tribune noted that its own crime database showed no shootings at all took place during Obama’s address.
{mosads}The exchange during Trump’s interview followed Muir’s question about the president’s Tuesday tweet suggesting he would “send in the Feds” if Chicago didn’t do something about its violent crime.
If Chicago doesn’t fix the horrible “carnage” going on, 228 shootings in 2017 with 42 killings (up 24% from 2016), I will send in the Feds!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 25, 2017
Following a discussion during which Trump reiterated the “horrible carnage” in Chicago and compared the city to Afghanistan, saying he wanted to “fix the problem,” Trump made the claim about the shootings.
“Well, so far they have been unable [to fix the problem]. It’s been going on for years. And I wasn’t president,” Trump said during the interview. “So, look, when President Obama was there two weeks ago making a speech, very nice speech. Two people were shot and killed during his speech. You can’t have that.”
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