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Trump's Rigged Kenosha Narrative.

National Guard troops rolled into Kenosha, Wisconsin, prior to federal deployment.

Published June 26, 2024 at 5:08am by Bayliss Wagner

Trump falsely claims he 'saved Kenosha' at Wisconsin rally

"I saved Kenosha, do you know that? I saved it. Kenosha was about ready to go down the tubes."

— Donald Trump, June 18, 2024, in Racine, Wisconsin

The Facts: In a recent rally, Trump revisited false claims from 2020, stating that he "saved" Kenosha from destruction during protests over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man. Trump also claimed that he deployed the National Guard to Kenosha, saying that "the governor wouldn't move" to quell the unrest.

These statements are misleading and omit key facts:

The scope of the protests in Kenosha was limited to a relatively small area, contrary to Trump's exaggeration that the whole city was "about ready to go down the tubes."
The reduction in violence was influenced by multiple factors beyond the National Guard's presence, including calls for peace and a decrease in armed vigilante groups.
Trump did not directly send the National Guard, as this is the governor's prerogative. Gov. Tony Evers activated the National Guard before the Trump administration offered federal assistance.

Protest Damage Exaggerated:
The protests and unrest in Kenosha following the shooting of Jacob Blake were concentrated in a limited area, mainly around a 1-acre civic park and a few nearby blocks. While there was looting and violence during some nights, it is misleading to claim that the entire city was on the brink of destruction.

Multiple Factors Led to Reduced Violence:
Trump's claim solely focuses on the presence of the National Guard as the reason for reducing violence. However, other significant factors include calls for peace from Blake's family and local officials, as well as a notable reduction in armed vigilante groups, which had clashed with protesters during the earlier nights of the unrest.

National Guard Deployment Misrepresented:
Contrary to Trump's claim, the president does not have the authority to deploy a state's National Guard within its borders. This is the governor's prerogative. Gov. Evers activated the National Guard within 24 hours of the Blake shooting, and later accepted federal assistance from the Trump administration, which included National Guard troops from other states.

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