Failed Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake has drawn criticism for making exaggerated claims about support for former President Donald Trump.
Lake claimed 300 million Americans support the twice impeached, now indicted ex-President.
During an appearance on Steve Bannon's War Room podcast, Lake made far-fetched statements regarding Trump's recent indictment on federal charges of stealing classified documents and the level of public backlash that would allegedly ensue.
You can hear what Lake said in the video below.
\u201cKari Lake says 300 million Americans are now going to rise up to support Trump after this indictment.\u201d— Ron Filipkowski (@Ron Filipkowski) 1686593872
Her assertions—widely regarded as absurd and mathematically inaccurate—generated a strong response on social media platforms.
Lake's attempt to drum up support for Trump involved stating if prosecutors wanted to target the former President, they would have to go "through" her and the 75 million Americans who supported Trump and were members of the National Rifle Association (NRA).
However, she further inflated her claims on the podcast by suggesting around 90 percent of the United States population, approximately 300 million people, would protest Trump's indictment for taking, hiding and lying about top-secret documents moved to Mar-a-Lago upon his leaving the White House.
\u201cThe US population is about 330 million. Kari Lake says 300 million of them will rise up to support Trump.\nNot to get too personal, but I\u2019d say Ms. Lake is a moron.\u201d— Clyde Haberman (@Clyde Haberman) 1686610174
Lake said:
“If they think they are going to hurt, lay a finger on our president ― President Trump ― they’re going to have to come through me."
"And I made a mistake, I said 75 million others just like me. I think it’s more like 300 million others just like me.”
Lake's exaggerated claims and flawed mathematics did not go unnoticed by Twitter users who mocked her profusely. People took the opportunity to point out the implausibility of her assertions.
Many provided humorous and critical responses to her statements.
\u201c@RonFilipkowski Very possible that if trump is found guilty, 1 billion Americans from the future will time travel back to that moment, applaud, and go back to their time.\u201d— Ron Filipkowski (@Ron Filipkowski) 1686593872
\u201c@RonFilipkowski According to the latest demographics, 300 million is just about every person in the US over the age of 14. Every single person alive in the US...over 14. You think she might be a little off in her estimation?\u201d— Ron Filipkowski (@Ron Filipkowski) 1686593872
\u201c@RonFilipkowski Really? I think that the @FBI@ CIA @TheJusticeDept and @DHSgov should all have a friendly chat with @KariLake. You know, because we all have to be on same page here. What does she mean, 300 million people are going to \u201crise up to support Trump\u201d? In what way? With what?\u201d— Ron Filipkowski (@Ron Filipkowski) 1686593872
\u201c@RonFilipkowski Only about 74 mil could even be bothered to vote for him but now 300 million are gonna rise up and demand he be declared Emperor right?\u201d— Ron Filipkowski (@Ron Filipkowski) 1686593872
\u201c@RonFilipkowski Sure, Jan! And I'm the Governor of Arizona!\u201d— Ron Filipkowski (@Ron Filipkowski) 1686593872
\u201c@NotHoodlum @RonFilipkowski @markher13797034 Wow the US has 331 million, is she counting the Russians?\u201d— Ron Filipkowski (@Ron Filipkowski) 1686593872
\u201c@RonFilipkowski Kari is in narcissism overdrive.\u201d— Ron Filipkowski (@Ron Filipkowski) 1686593872
\u201c@RonFilipkowski Umm....thats almost the current population of the US....I am sure that's not going to happen\u201d— Ron Filipkowski (@Ron Filipkowski) 1686593872
In his initial appearance before the court in Miami, Trump entered a plea of not guilty in the federal case brought against him.
Prior to the hearing, law enforcement officials booked him in connection with the alleged concealing of highly classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate and resort club. Furthermore, he is accused of lying and obstructing federal officials during their attempts to retrieve the said documents.
It marks the first instance in which a former President has faced federal charges. Trump, currently engaged in another presidential campaign, asserts that the prosecution initiated by the Justice Department is driven by political motives.
In anticipation of Trump's presence in federal court, both federal and local authorities heightened security measures while his supporters staged small demonstrations outside the courthouse.