In his tweeted response to today’s terror attack in Barcelona, Trump alluded to a debunked story he repeated on the 2016 campaign trail. Here’s what he said last February about the supposed actions of US Gen. John Pershing during the Philippine-American war of 1899-1902:
“They were having terrorism problems, just like we do. And he caught 50 terrorists who did tremendous damage and killed many people. And he took the 50 terrorists, and he took 50 men and he dipped 50 bullets in pigs’ blood — you heard that, right? He took 50 bullets, and he dipped them in pigs’ blood. And he had his men load his rifles, and he lined up the 50 people, and they shot 49 of those people. And the 50th person, he said: You go back to your people, and you tell them what happened. And for 25 years, there wasn’t a problem. Okay? Twenty-five years, there wasn’t a problem.”
From Politifact:
“This story is a fabrication and has long been discredited,” said Brian McAllister Linn, a Texas A&M University historian and author of Guardians of Empire: The U.S. Army and the Pacific, 1902-1940. “I am amazed it is still making the rounds.”
Christopher Einolf, a professor at DePaul University and author of America in the Philippines, 1899-1902: The First Torture Scandal, added that he trusted the conclusion of the late military historian Frank E. Vandiver, who told About.com in 2003 that “I never found any indication that it was true in extensive research on his Moro experiences. This kind of thing would have run completely against his character.”
Indeed, other historians noted that Pershing pursued a less brutal approach to “pacifying” the rebels in the southern Philippines than Leonard Wood, one of his predecessors.
The United States condemns the terror attack in Barcelona, Spain, and will do whatever is necessary to help. Be tough & strong, we love you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2017
Study what General Pershing of the United States did to terrorists when caught. There was no more Radical Islamic Terror for 35 years!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2017
Is Trump once again citing the made up “pig blood” story that he used on the campaign trail in SC? https://t.co/0FjyO00vqq https://t.co/JZMt6Cy3JT
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) August 17, 2017
Last time Trump brought up the Pershing story, GOP sens called it disturbing & offensive. Good thing he’s in better standing w/ them now! https://t.co/cajbKCVrj2
— Gabby Morrongiello (@gabriellahope_) August 17, 2017
What did Gen Pershing do in early 1900s to Muslim rebels in Philippines? Wrote them a letter, waited them out. No killing, no burial w/ pigs https://t.co/leLpou2kut
— Matthew Rosenberg (@AllMattNYT) August 17, 2017
Trump first referenced the false story about Pershing at a campaign rally in South Carolina in 2016 https://t.co/DfZdV1F7Sj
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) August 17, 2017
Trump’s claim (which he made before) about Pershing is FAKE NEWS https://t.co/MnSSNhsQmz https://t.co/Z1eqPOikTy
— David Mack (@davidmackau) August 17, 2017
Trump in the AM: We need to be students of history
Trump in the PM: We need to base our counterterrorism strategy on an urban legend
— Robert Maguire (@RobertMaguire_) August 17, 2017