Former President Donald Trump, while at a town hall gathering in New Hampshire Wednesday night, pulled out a piece of paper and fact-checked CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins in real time.
Collins accused Trump of urging his supporters to “attack” the Capitol on January 6 before saying that Trump did not urge them to go home until three hours after violence occurred.
“When they went to the Capitol and they were breaking into the Capitol, smashing windows, injuring police officers; why did it take you three hours to tell them to go home?” Collins asked. “I don’t believe it did…Oh let me pull it out, I have to pull it out,” Trump said while reaching into his pocket and pulling out a piece of paper, which drew loud cheers from the crowd.
“So if you look at, on January 5 the day before, I said ‘please support our Capitol Police and law enforcement, they truly are on the side of our country. Stay peaceful, stay peaceful,” Trump said.
Collins twice tried to intervene as the leading GOP candidate read off a series of tweets. “If you look January 6, this is before 2:30: ‘I am asking everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful… this is right after, as it was happening,” Trump said. “But what happened is they took it down, I don’t know… I think they took it down because it was so good they didn’t like it being up there,” Trump went on to say, causing laughter after Collins’ expense from the crowd.
Former President Trump pulls out screenshots of his tweets on January 5th and 6th asking for protestors to remain peaceful. pic.twitter.com/fRxnF6QICZ
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 11, 2023
Collins rebutted the president’s assertions but stood by he his old tweets, which he had printed out for the entire CNN audience to see.
On Truth Social Monday morning, Trump suggested there might be a bit of conflict at the event.
In fact, he predicted that it was likely to become a “disaster for all.”
“I’ll be doing CNN tomorrow night, LIVE from the Great State of New Hampshire, because they are rightfully desperate to get those fantastic (TRUMP!) ratings once again. They made me a deal I couldn’t refuse!!!” Trump wrote.
“Could be the beginning of a New & Vibrant CNN, with no more Fake News, or it could turn into a disaster for all, including me. Let’s see what happens? Wednesday Night at 8:00!!!”
