President Donald Trump attacked NBC News for distorting his recent comments on Confederate General Robert E. Lee, in a Sunday tweet.
NBC News has totally and purposely changed the point and meaning of my story about General Robert E Lee and General Ulysses Grant. Was actually a shoutout to warrior Grant and the great state in which he was born. As usual, dishonest reporting. Even mainstream media embarrassed!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 14, 2018
Trump faced some backlash from several media outlets for appearing to “praise” Lee when giving an extended riff on his military prowess. However, the riff was accompanied by praise for former President Ulysses S. Grant and noted how he was the only figure capable of destroying the Confederate Army.
If you’ve been seeing a lot about what President Trump said about the Civil War, and Robert E. Lee, and Ulysses S. Grant, you might not have seen the entire passage. So here it is: pic.twitter.com/3xKsK2SWdO
— Byron York (@ByronYork) October 14, 2018
The Washington Post criticized Trump for praising Lee so close to an appeal to African American voters.
Trump calls on blacks to “honor” him with votes, then praises Confederate general Robert E. Lee https://t.co/x8z4h0OWlN
— Washington Post (@washingtonpost) October 13, 2018
UPDATE: After issuing a correction, Trump thanked NBC.
Thank you to NBC for the correction! https://t.co/L2mX3vREOl
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 14, 2018