Donald Trump admits he was wrong
That video of $400 million in American cash being unloaded off a plane in Iran? Turns out, Donald Trump didn't actually see it (because it doesn't actually exist).
In a rare admission of error, the Republican nominee tweeted Friday that what he thought was a plane carrying a U.S. government payment to Iran was actually just footage of four American prisoners arriving in Geneva, Switzerland, after they were freed from Iran.
Trump's concession came a day after President Obama insisted the $400 million sent to Iran was not "some nefarious deal," but part of the settlement of Iran's claim that the U.S. didn't follow through on a decades-old arms deal. The timing of the payment has raised eyebrows, however, as it happened on the same day in January that four American prisoners were released.
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.
Although Trump's campaign spokeswoman had already corrected her boss' claim of seeing the cash handover video on Thursday, clarifying that Trump was actually referring to the video from Geneva, Trump went ahead and said it again at a rally in Maine just hours later. "It was interesting because a tape was made, you saw that? With the airplane coming in?" Trump said. "Nice plane. And the airplane coming and the money coming off, I guess. That was given to us, has to be, by the Iranians." Oops.
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
-
'The disconnect between actual health care and the insurance model is widening'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Cautious optimism surrounds plans for the world's first nuclear fusion power plant
Talking Point Some in the industry feel that the plant will face many challenges
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Explore new worlds this winter at these 6 enlightening museum exhibitions
The Week Recommends Discover the estrados of Spain and the connection between art and chess in various African countries
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Putin says Russia isn't weakened by Syria setback
Speed Read Russia had been one of the key backers of Syria's ousted Assad regime
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Georgia DA Fani Willis removed from Trump case
Speed Read Willis had been prosecuting the election interference case against the president-elect
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Democrats blame 'President Musk' for looming shutdown
Speed Read The House of Representatives rejected a spending package that would've funding the government into 2025
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump, Musk sink spending bill, teeing up shutdown
Speed Read House Republicans abandoned the bill at the behest of the two men
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Congress reaches spending deal to avert shutdown
Speed Read The bill would fund the government through March 14, 2025
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Luigi Mangione charged with murder, terrorism
Speed Read Magnione is accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ex-FBI informant pleads guilty to lying about Bidens
Speed Read Alexander Smirnov claimed that President Joe Biden and his son Hunter were involved in a bribery scheme with Ukrainian energy company Burisma
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
South Korea impeaches president, eyes charges
Speed Read Yoon Suk Yeol faces investigations on potential insurrection and abuse of power charges
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published