NBC Issues Correction Over Trump’s Robert E Lee Comments
by Jason Hopkins
NBC News has issued a correction over its reporting on President Donald Trump’s Civil War comments, acknowledging that the president did not actually describe Confederate General Robert E. Lee as “incredible.”
CORRECTION: An earlier tweet misidentified the general President Trump described as "incredible" at a rally in Ohio. It was Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, not Gen. Robert E. Lee. An attached video clip lacked the full context for Trump's remark. Here is the full clip. pic.twitter.com/NZHj3Q2dHL
— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 14, 2018
NBC News did not include Trump’s comments in full when it claimed Trump was calling Lee “incredible.” When looking at his comments just a few seconds sooner, it’s clear that the president was calling Ulysses S. Grant, the general of the Union army, incredible — not Lee.
“Ohio is the state that gave us a great president who hasn’t been properly recognized, OK? William McKinley has not been properly recognized. What he did in terms of trade, in terms of war, but in terms of trade — and I hate to say, in being smart in terms of tariffs, William McKinley has not been properly recognized. But maybe someday he will,” president Trump said during the Friday rally.”
“It also gave you a general who was incredible. He drank a little bit too much. You know who I’m talking about, right? So Robert E. Lee was a great general. And Abraham Lincoln Developed a phobia. He couldn’t beat Robert E. Lee. … They said ‘Don’t take him; he’s got a drinking problem.’ And Lincoln said, ‘I don’t care what problem he has. You guys aren’t winning.’ And his name was Grant, General Grant,” Trump explained.
The comments were in clear reference to Grant, a man who was born in Ohio and was known for his battles with alcoholism.
NBC’s correction comes after Trump skewered the network on Sunday morning for distorting his speech.
NBC News has totally and purposely changed the point and meaning of my story about General Robert E Lee and General Ulysses Grant. Was actually a shoutout to warrior Grant and the great state in which he was born. As usual, dishonest reporting. Even mainstream media embarrassed!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 14, 2018
Sunday afternoon, President Trump thanked NBC News for correcting their obvious mistake.
Thank you to NBC for the correction! https://t.co/L2mX3vREOl
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 14, 2018
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WOW! You mean NBC had to apologize because they were caught spinning the facts (AGAIN) to reflect negatively on Trump!? I don’t believe it!
The funny thing is that when he calls the MSM fake…they throw a fit…and yet we need to FORCE them to own up to their propaganda and lies on a CONSTANT basis!
Why don’t the MSM just search out a little integrity!?
Lee was incredible.
This “apology” due Pres. Trump was NBC’S 93rd since he has taken office. 93 times NBC has purposely mislead and misquoted pres. trumps remarks. FAKE NEWS!!!!!~!
This is what the hate-filled left-wing media does. It puts out false news against PRESIDENT Trump, then after being caught, they put out an apology but the damage has been done. They are pure slime.
Rather like a judge telling the jury to ‘disregard’ that remark….don’t ya think?