Trump's latest useless lie is about how he predicted Brexit
It's summer. The days are long — or maybe you're on vacation, where the lines between them are hopelessly blurred altogether. Which glorious day was it that you basked in the sun of a verdant field, you wonder. Was it Thursday or Friday?
President Trump understands this plight. During his Friday press conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May, he falsely claimed for the sixth time that he predicted Brexit, claiming he arrived in Turnberry, Scotland, the day before the vote and told people he expected Britons to vote to leave the European Union. The pro-Brexit outcome in the referendum, held Thursday, June 23, 2016, was unexpected and shocked the globe.
But Trump's claim of prescience is a lie. His jaunt to Turnberry — where he was commemorating the opening of his golf club — occurred Friday, June 24, 2016, the day after the Brexit referendum vote. He also spoke the lie in his bombshell interview with The Sun, published late Thursday, in which he slammed May's handling of Britain's exit from the EU. The Toronto Star's Daniel Dale noted that Trump's quote to The Sun marked the fifth time he'd told the fib, making Friday's repetition of it number six.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
May, for her part, let the lie go unnoted during her appearance with the president Friday. And perhaps most tellingly of all: Trump never tweeted about Brexit until June 24, 2016.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kimberly Alters is the news editor at TheWeek.com. She is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
Fall into the groove at these delightful record stores
The Week Recommends Each one strikes its own chord
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
How likely are you to get audited by the IRS?
The Explainer The odds are greater for some than others
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: April 22, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spies
Speed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claims
Speed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claims
Speed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aid
Speed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picks
Speed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How will Israel respond to Iran's direct attack?
Speed Read Iran’s weekend attack on Israel could escalate into a wider Middle East war
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published