Trump marvels that people 'don't ask that question, but why was there the Civil War?'

President Trump wondered about the Civil War.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

President Trump wondered aloud about why the Civil War happened in a befuddling interview with Salena Zito for SiriusXM's POTUS channel. "People don't realize, you know, the Civil War, if you think about it, why?" Trump said. "People don't ask that question, but why was there the Civil War?"

As is covered in most history classes in America, seven southern states decided to secede from the Union in 1860 to form the Confederate States of America after Abraham Lincoln, who promised an end to slavery, was elected in November of that year.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

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.

"He was a very tough person, but he had a big heart," Trump said. "He was really angry that he saw what was happening with regard to the Civil War. He said, 'There's no reason for this.'"

Andrew Jackson died in 1845, 15 years before the election of Lincoln and 16 years before the first battle of the Civil War. Jeva Lange

Explore More

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.