'Lies more frequently than he breathes': Trump brutally fact-checked over DC claim

18 August

U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he arrives at the White House, in Washington, U.S., June 9, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

President Donald Trump told reporters Monday, standing beside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office, that Democrats have been calling him to express gratitude — claiming Washington, D.C. feels safe again,,with busy restaurants and couples finally able to enjoy dinner out in the city for the first time in years.

Trump said, “Democrats are calling me up, and they’re saying, ‘Sir, I want to thank you. My wife and I went out to dinner last night for the first time in four years, and Washington, DC is safe. The restaurants the last two days were busier than they’ve been in a long time.’”

He added: "The restaurants the last two days were busier than they’ve been in a long time.”

Yet independent data tells a different story. OpenTable reservation figures released Monday show that restaurant attendance in D.C. last week has plummeted: down 16 percent on Monday, 27 percent on Tuesday, and 31 percent on Wednesday compared to the previous year.

Earlier this month, Trump dramatically tightened federal control over the nation’s capital, seizing authority over the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and deploying National Guard troops amid his “rescue mission” messaging. Hundreds of arrests and the removal of homeless encampments have followed, underpinned by plans for a crime reduction and beautification bill.

Social media fact-checked Trump over his claim.

Journalist Dan Friedman wrote on the social platform X: "The White House's own figures indicate that the DC occupation is resulting in low-level immigration arrests, not addressing violent crime."

Journalist Christofer Cuomo wrote: "The 2 fringes cant allow any opportunity to pass without attacking. Z is there with his country on life support and he has to listen to our crime nontroversy."

Political commentator Jeff Timmer said: "Jesus Heinrich Himmler Christ but Trump is an insane goddam lying liar who lies more frequently than he breathes."

Writer Brandon Wolf said: "If you were so scared of DC that you didn’t sit in a restaurant for four years, no amount of military occupation can help you."

"Of all the things NOT happening. This b—— is NOT happening the most. Not one Democrat called him up to say thank you," wrote a Democratic influencer account on X.

"What a thing, to be able to lie, day in and day out, about everything — and have nobody call you on any of it," wrote a user.

"He’s specifically talking about restaurants b/c DC restaurants are now LOSING tons of income because of his military invasion there. People who previously felt safe in DC are now scared to go. Fortunately, there’s also lots of peaceful resistance," said a user.

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