Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

GOP congresswoman tells rally Trump caught Osama bin Laden

Michigan Republican Lisa McClain says she misspoke in an ‘honest mistake’

Justin Vallejo
New York
Tuesday 05 April 2022 15:27 BST
Comments
GOP congresswoman Lisa McClain claims Trump caught Osama bin Laden

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.

A GOP congresswoman claimed at a rally that Donald Trump "caught" Osama bin Laden when, in well-documented reality, the September 11 terrorist was killed under Barack Obama.

The gaffe was made by Michigan Republican Lisa McClain ahead of Trump’s rally in the state on the weekend as she compared his leadership to current president Joe Biden.

"While President Trump was in office, we didn’t have a war and I think he made three peace treaties," Ms McClain, endorsed by Trump in 2020, said during her speech.

"Caught Osama bin Laden and Soleimani, al-Baghdadi. And this president is weak. And I’ll tell you weakness breeds aggression. We need strength."

While Trump did oversee the assassination of Iranian military leader Qasem Soleimani in 2020 and Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in October 2019, he was busy hosting The Apprentice when bin Laden was killed in Pakistan in 2011.

Ms McClain indicated on Monday that it was a simple error not dissimilar to the current president, who himself comes under scrutiny for gaffes like mistaking Ukrainians as "Iranian people" during the State of the Union or calling for regime change in Russia, which his administration later walked back.

"Joe Biden misspeaks every single day and the media pays no attention to it. Isn’t it ironic how I’m under attack for an honest mistake," Ms McClain tweeted.

Biden was in the room with Obama as then-vice president during the operation to kill bin Laden on 2 May 2011.

"Se ha hablado mucho de esta fotografía que muestra al presidente, al vicepresidente y al equipo de seguridad nacional monitoreando en tiempo real la misión contra Osama bin Laden, el 1 de mayo de 2011. Algunos antecedentes más de la fotografía: la Sala de Situación de la Casa Blanca es en realidad consta de varias salas de conferencias diferentes. La mayoría de las veces, el presidente convoca reuniones en la sala de conferencias grande con asientos asignados. Pero para monitorear esta misión, el grupo se mudó a la sala de conferencias mucho más pequeña. El presidente eligió sentarse junto al general de brigada. General Marshall B. "Brad" Webb, Comandante General Adjunto del Comando de Operaciones Especiales Conjuntas, quien fue el hombre clave para las comunicaciones que se estaban llevando a cabo. Con tan pocas sillas, otros simplemente se pararon en la parte de atrás de la sala. la habitación sin espacio para moverse. Durante la misión en sí, hice aproximadamente 100 fotografías, casi todas desde este lugar estrecho en la esquina. Tenga en cuenta: un documento clasificado visto frente a segundo Clinton ha sido oscurecida".
"Se ha hablado mucho de esta fotografía que muestra al presidente, al vicepresidente y al equipo de seguridad nacional monitoreando en tiempo real la misión contra Osama bin Laden, el 1 de mayo de 2011. Algunos antecedentes más de la fotografía: la Sala de Situación de la Casa Blanca es en realidad consta de varias salas de conferencias diferentes. La mayoría de las veces, el presidente convoca reuniones en la sala de conferencias grande con asientos asignados. Pero para monitorear esta misión, el grupo se mudó a la sala de conferencias mucho más pequeña. El presidente eligió sentarse junto al general de brigada. General Marshall B. "Brad" Webb, Comandante General Adjunto del Comando de Operaciones Especiales Conjuntas, quien fue el hombre clave para las comunicaciones que se estaban llevando a cabo. Con tan pocas sillas, otros simplemente se pararon en la parte de atrás de la sala. la habitación sin espacio para moverse. Durante la misión en sí, hice aproximadamente 100 fotografías, casi todas desde este lugar estrecho en la esquina. Tenga en cuenta: un documento clasificado visto frente a segundo Clinton ha sido oscurecida". (Peter Souza)

Two weeks after the successful Seal Team 6 operation, Trump formally bowed out of the 2012 US presidential election race to stick with his "greatest passion" of business and the next season of The Apprentice.

"This decision does not come easily or without regret, especially when my potential candidacy continues to be validated by ranking at the top of the Republican contenders in polls across the country."

The decision came after Trump’s sustained “birtherism” battle over the citizenship of Obama, a since-debunked theory that began during the 2008 Democratic presidential primary campaign against Hillary Clinton.

A few weeks after Obama released his US birth certificate, Trump received a roasting at the White House correspondents’ dinner.

"No one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than The Donald," Obama said.

“And that’s because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter, like, did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in