In extraordinary, blistering fact-check, The Associated Press concludes Americans can't trust Trump when it comes to terror abroad

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 5 June 2017

In an extraordinary statement Monday, The Associated Press concluded that "President Donald Trump can't be counted on to give accurate information to Americans when violent acts are unfolding abroad."

The statement was spurred by a number of recent events, including when Trump called an incident in the Philippines last week a "terrorist attack" when it was in fact an attack by a lone heavily-indebted gambler. Additionally, "the latest deadly London attacks ... prompted visceral reactions from Trump instead of statements shaped by the findings of the U.S. intelligence and diplomatic apparatus," AP wrote.

The Associated Press broke down some of Trump's recent misleading tweets, including his premature assertion that terrorism was behind the London attacks, "sharing on Twitter an unconfirmed report to that effect, well before British authorities said so." In another tweet, Trump claimed "at least seven dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and mayor of London says there is 'no reason to be alarmed!'" while in fact the full context of the quote shows London Mayor Sadiq Khan actually telling citizens there is "no need to be alarmed" by heavy police presence in the city in the days ahead.

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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.

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