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Trump Repeats Kenosha 'Save' Lie in Wisconsin Rally
The National Guard had already mobilized before Trump interfered in Kenosha protests.
Published June 26, 2024 at 5:08am by Bayliss Wagner
Donald Trump falsely claims he "saved Kenosha"
Claim:* Says he "saved Kenosha" and that the "governor wouldn't move" to send the National Guard.
Rating: Pants on Fire
At a recent rally in Racine, Wisconsin, former President Donald Trump claimed he "saved" Kenosha from destruction during the 2020 protests that occurred after the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man. Trump also claimed that Gov. Tony Evers was hesitant to send in the National Guard.
Our fact-check
We previously fact-checked similar claims by Trump in 2020 and found them to be false. Here's why:
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The scope of the protests was limited to a relatively small area within Kenosha, contrary to Trump's claim that the city was "about ready to go down the tubes."
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Other factors, such as calls for peace and a decrease in armed individuals, contributed to the calming of the situation, not just the presence of the National Guard.
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Trump was not responsible for sending in the National Guard. Gov. Evers activated the Guard before the Trump administration's offer of federal assistance.
Sources:
- WisEye: Campaign 2024: Trump for President Rally in Racine, June 18, 2024
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: A Black man shot in the back, a viral video and civil unrest: Kenosha and the country are on edge after latest police shooting, Jan. 5, 2021
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Prosecutor: No charges against Kenosha police officer Rusten Sheskey in Jacob Blake shooting, Jan. 5, 2021
- PolitiFact Wisconsin: No, Trump doesn't deserve credit for Kenosha de-escalation, Sept. 1, 2020
- PolitiFact Wisconsin: No, Wis. Gov. Evers did not wait to send help to Kenosha during unrest, Sept. 15, 2021
Read more: At Wisconsin rally, Trump repeats ridiculous claim that he ‘saved’ Kenosha in 2020 protest