Trump is doing a rally in West Virginia, his first of two today. Thread here.
Trump begins by boasting about the jobs report -- "Did you hear? Did you hear?" -- then going into his mocking voice: "They all say 'speak about the economy, speak about the economy." He says he will, but "sometimes it's not as exciting to talk about the economy."
For the second time, Trump declares that WV Gov. Jim Justice is 6-foot-11. (And makes a couple light jokes about Justice being overweight.) He is 6-foot-7.
Trump touts the strong jobs report. He says he would have gotten Pinocchios from the Washington Post if he'd said during the campaign that there'd be this many jobs created. (You don't get Pinocchios for predictions.)
Trump falsely claims this is the "first time in a long time" wages have gone up. The pace has increased, but they've been rising since well back into the Obama era, since at least 2014 depending on how you measure.
"That coal is coming back, and our miners are working again, folks," Trump says.
"We're putting our coal miners back to work, and that you know better than anybody."
There have been 1,900 coal mining jobs created during his presidency. Here is the chart.
"We're putting our coal miners back to work, and that you know better than anybody."
There have been 1,900 coal mining jobs created during his presidency. Here is the chart.
Trump derides Pelosi, "Cryin' Schumer, and "the legendary Maxine Waters." Waters, who is not a leader of the party, gets the bigger boo.
Trump, for the first time at a rally, says they could lose the House: "It could happen. Could happen." He says: "And you know what you do? My whole life, you know what I say? 'Don't worry about it, I'll just figure it out.' Does that make sense? I'll figure it out."
Trump lies that Democrats want to "totally open the borders," and just want to let everybody from the caravan into the country.
Trump lies that has "started the wall," then lies that he has secured $4.8 billion for the wall. (It's $1.6 billion for non-wall projects this year, $1.6 billion being considered for next year, and no third $1.6 billion.)
Trump lies: "The Democrats want to invite caravan after caravan...three more are forming."
Trump says that the U.S. gives hundreds of millions in aid to poor Latin American countries, and "You know what they give to us? Nothing. Nothing. They give us nothing. They give us nothing."
Trump lies that the caravans are "unvetted illegal aliens trying to flood into our country on your dollar, overwhelming your schools..." The caravan members plan to legally seek asylum. They will not overwhelm schools.
Trump is escalating. He says that "the lawless caravan" includes people convicted of armed robbery and sexual assault. He also claims that a reporter interviewed a man who "didn't speak English" who was wanted for "murder" even though he "looked nice." Is this a thing?
I deleted a tweet I wasn't sure about; reattaching thread here:
