A recent conversation between former Republican President Donald Trump and former GOP Governor of Arkansas—and current Newsmax commentator—Mike Huckabee strayed from reality just a bit.
Huckabee and Trump talked about many things, but the real zinger was when Huckabee claimed Trump helped fight the mythical War on Christmas.
During the interview, Huckabee claimed Trump made people feel safe to say "Merry Christmas" again.
"We went through a long period where peoplequit saying Merry Christmas.
"It was all 'Happy Holidays'."
"You deliberately changed that and openly said 'Merry Christmas! We're going to say it again'."
Trump immediately agreed, taking full credit for the imaginary increase in verbal Christmas cheer.
"The country had started with this woke [sic], I guess a little but before that, and it was embarrassingfor stores to say 'Merry Christmas'."
"You'd see this big chains, they want your money but they don't want to say 'Merry Christmas'."
"When I started campaigning, this was in 2015, when I started campaigning I said 'You're gonna say Merry Christmas again,' and now people are saying it."
He then went on to bizarrely claim people are not saying a whole slew of things, including the names of some of the country's former leaders.
"Of course they're not saying a lot of other things like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, you know those names are being obliterated because of craziness."
Journalist Aaron Rupar posted the interview between Trump and Huckabee to Twitter.
this is incrediblepic.twitter.com/JhYHKjehY6— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1639680381
"Mr. President, I want to say, because of you, a lot of Americans have had some great Christmases." -- Mike Huckabee to Trump #NotACultpic.twitter.com/NQvshit7cF— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1639680814
In response, the Lincoln Project posted a mashup of former President Barack Obama saying "Merry Christmas" while he was in office, in response to Huckabee and Trump's bogus claims.
Mike Huckabee to Donald Trump: \u201cAmerica had gone through a long period where people quit saying \u2018Merry Christmas\u2019\u2026 You deliberately change that.\u201d\n\nThe long period: https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1471552294403682310\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/Hhx1U2vtI1— The Lincoln Project (@The Lincoln Project) 1639681773
Folks in the comments were also dubious of Huckabee's assertion anyone was ever afraid to say "Merry Christmas."
When was this? We've celebrated Christmas every year. Also, why is Christmas such a fragile holiday? Every year, some child has to save it from the hands of greedy profiteers like Mike Huckabee through the power of believing. I know this because every Christmas movie says so.— Scott (@Scott) 1639681942
Um, Mike....that period was between January and November. Take it easy.— Andy Harris (@Andy Harris) 1639681834
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-mike-huckabee-childrens-books-masquerading-as-education\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/dYDXelRRqv— Stevie Ann (@Stevie Ann) 1639693043
The a$ kissing is strong with this one— Christine Galea (@Christine Galea) 1639689482
There was a four-year period where I didn't wish for anyone to have a merry Christmas because I thought it was asking too much of them. Started in 2016.— \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 Meta Jeff so being terrible won't matter \ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\udded (@\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 Meta Jeff so being terrible won't matter \ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\udded) 1639694683
pic.twitter.com/OSKMgrvqVV— Captain Obvious (@Captain Obvious) 1639680608
Some showed up with receipts.
There\u2019s always a tweet— Theodora Christiane (@Theodora Christiane) 1639692651
There\u2019s no mention of \u201cChristmas\u201d in TFG\u2019s own announcement to celebrate the 2021 \u201cHoliday Season\u201d.pic.twitter.com/d2x4EcCNK3— \u0f3a\ud835\udcae\ud835\udcc5\ud835\udc5c\ud835\udc5c\ud835\udcc3\ud835\udcbe\ud835\udc52 \ud835\udca9\ud835\udcca\ud835\udcc7\ud835\udcc8\ud835\udc52\u0f3b (@\u0f3a\ud835\udcae\ud835\udcc5\ud835\udc5c\ud835\udc5c\ud835\udcc3\ud835\udcbe\ud835\udc52 \ud835\udca9\ud835\udcca\ud835\udcc7\ud835\udcc8\ud835\udc52\u0f3b) 1639681631
Several people brought up the many Americans who won't be having any more Christmases.
And 800,000 people won\u2019t be here for Christmas. I\u2019m sure their families feel great about that.— Agent 99 (@Agent 99) 1639683944
*If you don't count the 800,000 families that didn't.— Schr\u00f6dinger's Litter Box (@Schr\u00f6dinger's Litter Box) 1639680891
Yeah, the ones who didn't die or lose friends to COVID.— Marka R Ormsby (@Marka R Ormsby) 1639681108
Trump's bizarre alternative facts didn't end with the fictional War on Christmas, though.
He also claimed during the interview gas prices in California were "$7.50 a gallon," but AAA Gas Prices lists an average of just $4.99—for premium unleaded. The average cost of regular unleaded was $4.67.
Significantly higher than last year, certainly, but nowhere near Trump's claim of $7.50.
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The Washington Post