Trump Is Reportedly Spreading False Information About ISIS Risk and U.S. Tensions With Iran

Trump’s address on Wednesday fell short on facts as he very wrongly dismissed the continuing threat of the Islamic State group and spread a false tale of the U.S. paying out billions of dollars to Iran as part of the multinational deal freezing its nuclear program.

According to U.S. News, some of Trump’s claims in his remarks on Iran’s missile strike on two Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops were nowhere near the actual truth. For example, the reality star made remarks about “destroying 100% of ISIS and its territorial caliphate…” In actuality, a claim of 100% defeat is incredibly misleading as the Islamic State is still very much an active threat.

As recently as this week, the Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the fight against ISIS in Syria was continuing, and U.N. experts warned in August that ISIS leaders are aiming to consolidate and create conditions for an “eventual resurgence in its Iraqi and Syrian heartlands.”

Trump also claimed that “Iran’s hostility substantially increased after the foolish Iran nuclear deal was signed in 2013. And they were given $150 billion, not to mention $1.8 billion in cash,” but the facts dispute that. There was no $150 billion payout from the U.S treasury or any other countries for that matter.

The truth is, according to reports, when Iran signed the deal “to restrain its nuclear development in return for being freed from sanctions, it regained access to its own assets, which had been frozen abroad.” Iran was allowed to get its own money back. That deal actually was signed in 2015, after a 2013 preliminary agreement, which had nothing to do with the $1.8 billion amount, that was roughly a payment of an old IOU.

Trump minimized the risk, wrongfully dismissing the continued threat of the Islamic State Group and distorted the facts regarding the U.S. paying out billions to Iran.