Donald Trump is known for making bizarre and outlandish claims, but the last few days have really taken things to a new level.
Trump held a press availability at the White House following the news that the US would be withdrawing troops from Syria, paving the way for Turkish forces to advance. The move has faced condemnation from across the political spectrum, with even Trump’s former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley tweeting her disapproval.
We must always have the backs of our allies, if we expect them to have our back. The Kurds were instrumental in our successful fight against ISIS in Syria. Leaving them to die is a big mistake. #TurkeyIsNotOurFriend [1]
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) October 7, 2019 [2]
Though, as is so often the case, Trump is holding firm in the face of criticism.
During his press conference, he made some extremely bizarre claims about the military.
Trump said, “When I took over our military, we did not have ammunition. I was told by a top general, maybe the top of them all, ‘Sir, I’m sorry sir, we don’t have ammunition.’ I said, I will never let that happen to another president.”
Of course it is ridiculous to claim that the military “did not have ammunition”. Remember the various wars and conflicts that America has been engaging in for the last 20 years?
TRUMP: "When I took over our military, we did not have ammunition. I was told by a top general, maybe the top of them all, 'Sir, I'm sorry sir, we don't have ammunition.' I said, I will never let that happen to another president." pic.twitter.com/Rnmv7i17Nj [3]
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 7, 2019 [4]
Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego—a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who sits on the House Armed Services Committee—was among those which quickly challenged Trump’s statement on social media.
“Again this is not true,” he wrote on Twitter. “I get briefings as a member of the House Armed Services Committee on our munitions stockpile all over the world. We have never run out of ammunition.”
Again this is not true. I get briefings as a member of the House Armed Services Committee on our munitions stockpile all over the world. We have never run out of ammunition. https://t.co/nZhYQwiUmf [5]
— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) October 7, 2019 [6]
Gallego added, “Who is this top general? I will put them under oath before the House Armed Services Committee.”
.@realDonaldTrump [7] who is this top general? I will put them under oath before the House Armed Services Committee. https://t.co/nZhYQwiUmf [5]
— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) October 7, 2019 [8]
Others on Twitter also called out Trump’s ridiculous lie:
This is so obviously false and just truly fucking stupid.
— Mikel Jollett (@Mikel_Jollett) October 8, 2019 [9]
It’s true, under Obama the military relied on water balloons and sling shots
— Barret 🍶🍺🍻🥂🍷🥃🍸🍹🍾 (@_barretme) October 7, 2019 [10]
Why can people not just cal him the pathological liar that he is? This inabaility to recognize truth and blurt out fantastical lies is a mental sickness. #HeisSeriouslyIll [11] https://t.co/ujtRqRKVYZ [12]
— Malcolm Nance (@MalcolmNance) October 8, 2019 [13]
For those interested, this isn’t true. Actually, it’s ludicrous. https://t.co/eShusWIqJA [14]
— Mark Hertling (@MarkHertling) October 8, 2019 [15]
This is insane. There is not a responsible parent in this country that would let their third grader make up this kind of bullsh*t without some kind of consequence. And this is supposedly the Commander-in-Chief?! If the GOP doesn’t do something immediately they are pathetic. https://t.co/pHvftQDEHL [16]
— Ken Olin (@kenolin1) October 8, 2019 [17]
trump: can we shoot the muslims?
military: were out of bullets
trump: can we shoot the mexicans
military: were out of bullets
trump: can we shoot puerto rico?
military: were out of bullets
trump: can we shoot hurricanes?
military: were out of bullets https://t.co/6bmtsKyoHA [18]— m i t h (@ManlnTheHoody) October 8, 2019 [19]