President Donald Trump claimed he stopped a war where “15 million people had their heads chopped off”.
President Trump made the bizarre claim during a back-and-forth with reporters aboard Air Force One on the way back from a NATO summit in Turkey.
The president rattled off his often-cited claim that he has ended eight war since taking office when he told reporters: “Even if you look in the Congo. The Congo vs. Rwanda. I settled it after 14 years and about 15 million people had their heads chopped off. I settled that one.”
There is no evidence supporting Mr Trump’s claim 15 million people were massacred in the conflict, let alone that that many people had their heads “chopped off”.
The president also weighed in on the Graham Platner scandal and appeared to question Mr Platner’s accusers while taking questions from journalists.
“A lot of people say big falsehoods,” President Trump said in response to a question on whether the Democrats should choose who replaces the disgraced candidate.
Mr Platner dropped out as the Maine Democratic Senate candidate following a string of abuse allegations.
It comes as the US launched more strikes against Iran this morning following ominous remarks from President Trump at a NATO summit in Turkey.
“I don’t want to deal with them anymore. They’re scum,” Mr Trump told reporters.
“They’re sick people. They’re led by sick people. And they’re vicious, violent people.”
He described the ceasefire between the two countries, formalised in a memorandum of understanding last month, as “over” and suggested America would “finish the job”.
The NATO summit wrapped up after something of a whirlwind visit from President Trump, who ricoheted between saying nice things about America’s allies and fuming at them.
Meanwhile the podcaster Joe Rogan, who backed Mr Trump in the 2024 election, has suggested he “f***ed it up” by starting the war with Iran.
“This war is not something anybody that’s conservative wanted,” Mr Rogan argued on the latest episode of his podcast.
“Most people don’t want it, except supporters of Israel. They’re the only people that seem to be thinking it’s a good idea in this country. Most people are horrified by the idea.
“Because Trump was elected – one of the pillars that he stood for, apparently, was that he doesn’t want any more wars.”
Read on for more updates.
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