WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 17: U.S. first lady Melania Trump (C) delivers remarks from the Truman Balcony with President Donald Trump and their son Barron Trump (L) during the 139th Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House April 17, 2017 in Washington, DC. The White House said 21,000 people are expected to attend the annual tradition of rolling colored eggs down the White House lawn that was started by President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1878. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/ Getty Images)
President Donald Trump may need to head back to history class.
On July 4, during his ‘Salute to America’ speech, Trump mistakenly claimed that Revolutionary Army soldiers “took over airports” in 1775.
He spoke to a crowd during a rainstorm in Washington, D.C., and spoke of the forces winning various battles against the British during that year.
“The Continental Army suffered a bitter winter of Valley Forge, found glory across the waters of the Delaware and seized victory from Cornwallis of Yorktown,” Trump said.
“Our Army manned the air, it rammed the ramparts, it took over the airports, it did everything it had to do, and at Fort McHenry, under the rocket’s red glare it had nothing but victory,” he continued. “And when dawn came, their star-spangled banner waved defiant.”
His mistake quickly became a meme on social media and even led to the creation of the hashtag #RevolutionaryWarAirportStories, which trended on Twitter late Thursday night.
Fact checkers noted other errors in the President’s speech besides the airport.
Trump bragged about “victory from Cornwallis of Yorktown” but did not specify that British General Cornwallis was from London and his forces were defeated at Yorktown. He also mentioned that the Continental Army was named after George Washington.
Trump’s speech confused battles fought during the Revolutionary War in 1775 with conflicts during the War of 1812.
The battles of Delaware and Yorktown occurred during the Revolutionary War but the president went on to discuss the battle at Fort McHenry that inspired the writing of the “Star Spangled Banner.”
The battle that was described in the national anthem was fought in 1814 during the War of 1812.
50 CELEBRITIES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW
Donald Trump made history as the first sitting U.S. president to attend a Super Bowl…
Vince Neil's girlfriend, Rain Andreani, was severely injured after her boyfriend's private jet crashed into…
Bradley Cooper made Super Bowl 2025 a father-daughter night out, bringing his 7-year-old daughter, Lea,…
Bill Belichick made his Super Bowl return—this time, in a Dunkin’ Donuts commercial. The 72-year-old…
Tom Brady made his highly anticipated Super Bowl commentary debut in style, arriving at the…
Kendrick Lamar made a bold statement during his Super Bowl LIX halftime performance by referencing…