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Fake Trump Post on Military Prowess Debunked: Fact-Check Reveals Imposter Account

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A fabricated social media post impersonating Donald Trump, claiming he was the "greatest military president," circulated online. The fake screenshot emerged after Trump's recent visit to Arlington National Cemetery.

A fabricated social media post impersonating Donald Trump has been circulating online, falsely claiming the former president declared himself the "greatest military president." This misinformation spread following Trump's visit to Arlington National Cemetery on August 26, 2023, approximately 13 months ago.

The fake post, which resembled a social media update, featured a blue verification check and the headline "Donald Trump Loses his mind!" However, the account handle "@realDonaldTrimp" belonged to a suspended account, not Trump's official "@realDonaldTrump" handle.

The fabricated content claimed Trump stated, "Today I visited Arlington Cemetary to honor victims. I want to remind everyone that I was the greatest president every on the military. I am the best on the militrary on the planet, PROBABLY IN HISTORY." This post contained numerous spelling and grammatical errors, further indicating its inauthenticity.

Trump's actual visit to Arlington National Cemetery was to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony honoring 13 service members who lost their lives during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. The visit, however, was marred by reports of a "verbal and physical altercation" between two Trump campaign staffers and a cemetery official.

Arlington National Cemetery, established in 1864 during the American Civil War, holds significant historical importance. Covering 639 acres, it serves as the final resting place for over 400,000 veterans and their families. The cemetery conducts approximately 6,900 burials annually and is visited by around 3 million people each year.

Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump, confirmed in an email that the screenshot was fake. No such post could be found on Trump's official social media accounts, and there were no credible reports of him making such a statement.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a notable feature of the cemetery, has been continuously guarded since 1937. Arlington National Cemetery also includes the graves of President John F. Kennedy and his brothers Robert and Edward, as well as a September 11 Memorial for Pentagon victims.

In conclusion, fact-checking efforts have determined that the purported Trump post describing himself as the greatest military president is false. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of verifying information from authentic sources, especially in the digital age where misinformation can spread rapidly.

"False. A fake X post purporting to show Trump describing himself as the greatest military president ever stems from an imposter account."

Reuters Fact Check team

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