In an interview with Fox News commentator Sean Hannity, Eric Trump made false claims against former President Barack Obama.
During a five minute tangent full of unfounded accusations against the Democrats, Eric Trump blamed everything from Black Lives Matter protests to burning down churches on the party that hasn't been in the White House for four years.
You can see an excerpt here:
After saying his father is tremendous action, Eric Trump claims Obama never went back to Chicago pic.twitter.com/0b5OeZwnLD
— Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) September 15, 2020
The POTUS' third child stated:
"My father is the exact opposite. My father is...you know...tremendous action. I mean Chicago, you reported on this better than anybody, Obama didn't even go back to Chicago."
"He was literally never there. He never mentioned the violence."
Eric continued:
"He never tried to help. He never offered federal assistance. He never offered to send in the feds or the military."
"The guy wasn't present anymore. He literally abandoned his city."
One of the facts Eric seemed to miss was that Barack Obama visited Chicago many times after his inauguration and is still well respected by his community.
The internet quickly fact-checked Trump though.
Obama literally visited Chicago 19 times while he was president. How many times has Trump been to New York City in the last four years?https://t.co/HkekI1LzY3
— John Houck (@Houckadoodledoo) September 15, 2020
Oh yes he did.https://t.co/gU7P51uEwa
— LynnJBird (@LynnJBird1) September 15, 2020
Obama jury duty in Cook County aka Chicago in 2017https://t.co/SyZOZH2CNh
— No one (@ungubunugu1274) September 15, 2020
Narrator: he's been back a lot, owned a house there (and voted in person). President Obama's final address to 🇺🇸 was in CHICAGO. https://t.co/E9sljKMWpK
— Eric Ortner (@eortner) September 15, 2020
If Pres Obama goes back to Chicago, even for a visit, he will have crowds of adoring fans to greet him. Your father was essentially run out of town - and should he try to visit NY he will be greeted by protesters. @EricTrump Stop comparing them. It's a losing proposition.
— Annie 🌷 (@BluesPetal) September 15, 2020
Obama had lived in the Windy City since the 1980s.
He returned there a total of 19 times—including for his famous Presidential victory speech at Chicago's Grant Park. The former President averaged 2-3 trips to the city each year while in office.
Some of the visits were to show support for politicians, for fundraising or to address violence within the city and to speak out about gun control, such as his speech at the 2015 International Association of Police Chiefs meeting.
Eric Trump completely missed the mark with his easily disproven statement. Especially given that his own father officially left New York in 2019 filing a "declaration of domicile" to become a resident of Florida.
New "Florida man" memes coming perhaps?
Trump moved his legal residence from NY to Florida
— Cappy (@capseyes_cappy) September 15, 2020
Has anyone made a "Florida man" joke yet?
Because Trump is the *ultimate* Florida man.
Trump, Lifelong New Yorker, Declares Himself a Resident of Florida https://t.co/G4skOiTs2X pic.twitter.com/8s0M4Qg7rV
— Holly Figueroa O'Reilly (@AynRandPaulRyan) November 1, 2019
I mean there's a reason Florida man became a meme
— ChuckaKhan (@KhanChucka) January 9, 2020
Eric's daddy ran away to Florida because NYC was being mean with their investigations.
— OceanGirl🌍🌎🌏🇺🇸🇦🇺🇬🇧🇮🇪 (@Salacia_sea) September 15, 2020
Twitter users hinted at possible daddy issues to explain why the younger Trump made so many incorrect statements for his father's benefit.
My father, my father.... please @realDonaldTrump just hug Eric, he needs attention. He is been waiting all his life for a hug from his father.
— BSowner (@bsbusinessowner) September 15, 2020
@EricTrump Poor Eric and his daddy issues. pic.twitter.com/1oH96x6YiJ
— Devin Nunes' PPP-funded Winery (@DevinWinery) September 15, 2020
Eric: Look daddy..Did I do good?
— Enough is Enough 🆘🇺🇸 (@rmitchell809) September 15, 2020
He doesn't know @realDonaldTrump has left NY?
— Susan Hamilton (@sueham1408) September 15, 2020
Others found Eric's vocabulary to be "literally" irksome.
Say literally again.
— AdamChristopherRudd (@ACRvisualarts) September 15, 2020
When you literally say something that is literally not true, you are literally a liar. Literally.
— John Houck (@Houckadoodledoo) September 15, 2020
Wonder where he gets it from.... pic.twitter.com/uJ8u7jMucD
— Bill Williams (@bill34ksc) September 15, 2020
Up is down, down is up, Eric is smart.
— Walker (@walk_c3) September 15, 2020
This situation literally demonstrated the need for fact-checking. Maybe Eric can now literally learn that lesson.
But no one is holding their breath.