Trump goes on bizarre rant claiming protesters are throwing cans of tuna at police
President name-drops Goya Foods amid claims about protesters throwing tins
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump told supporters at his latest campaign rally that crowds protesting racism had thrown tuna and soup cans at police.
In an attack on demonstrations that took place in Minneapolis, Portland and across the United States this summer, the US president claimed that participants had hit police with cans of tuna.
He told a campaign rally crowd in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday night that cans of tuna and soup “were the perfect weight”.
"They go out and buy tuna fish and soup,” said the president, who then name-dropped the Goya Foods brand mid-sentence, which he has endorsed in the past, saying: “Goya I hope, he’s great, good guy”.
He continued: “Because they throw it, they throw it, it's the perfect weight — tuna fish, they can really rip it, right?
“And that hits you. No, it's true,” said Mr Trump, before naming a second food brand, Bumble Bee Seafoods.
“Bumble Bee tuna, and you can throw that stuff, put a curve ball in it,” he told the crowd, despite no media reports on police being hit with cans of tuna.
In a statement, Bumble Bee Seafoods said its tuna cans should not be thrown, as the company responded to the president’s claim on Twitter.
It read: "Eat em. Don't throw em”.
The president went on to claim that those taking part in Black Lives Matter demonstrations seen since Minneapolis police killed George Floyd in May were paid to take part “by stupid rich people”.
He provided no evidence to support that claim.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments