Former President Donald Trump faces scrutiny after making false claims during a recent interview with right-wing radio host Hugh Hewitt. While discussing the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump stated that he never enjoyed hearing his supporters chant “lock her up” regarding his rival, Hillary Clinton. He insisted he always encouraged his crowd to “take it easy” and claimed he could have easily pursued legal action against Clinton.
CNN fact checker Daniel Dale immediately challenged Trump’s narrative, declaring it “particularly egregious.” Dale highlighted the stark contradiction between Trump’s claims and his actions during the campaign. “When people chanted ‘Lock her up,’ Donald Trump did not say take it easy,” he noted. In fact, Trump often paused his speeches to let the chants resonate and even echoed the demand himself on several occasions.
Dale presented a montage of Trump from 2016, showcasing numerous instances where he stated that Clinton deserved to be locked up for her handling of classified information. Trump’s assertion of wanting to tone down the rhetoric starkly contrasts with his public statements at the time.
This revelation comes in light of Trump’s ongoing legal troubles, including his indictment for allegedly mishandling top-secret government documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort. After receiving a lawful subpoena to return the documents, Trump faced serious allegations, further complicating his narrative about Clinton.
Dale concluded by remarking on Trump’s tendency to “rewrite history” during his current campaign, indicating that this instance is just one of many where the former president has distorted the truth. The continual examination of Trump’s statements raises questions about accountability and the integrity of his messaging as he campaigns for the presidency again.
