A social media post circulating on X and Threads claims that Donald Trump suggested using Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities to detain communists and Democrats. This claim has generated a range of responses online.
The purported statement, presented as a screenshot from Trump’s Truth Social account, reads: “I am asking our GREAT Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, to immediately investigate whether ICE detention centers can also be used for COMMUNISTS. We have the space, beautiful facilities, and many dangerous Communists already identified, mostly Democrat politicians, radical organizers, and people demanding affordable childcare. Minnesota was a very successful test. We must protect America before these lunatics give everyone healthcare!”
This alleged post has caused a stir, with some users expressing alarm and others appearing to support the sentiment, indicating that many believed the screenshot to be authentic.
However, a verification of Trump’s Truth Social account and archives of his posts revealed no evidence of such a statement. A comprehensive search also failed to find any credible news reports or official statements supporting the claim. If such a remark had been made, it would have likely been extensively covered by major news organizations.
Further analysis of the shared screenshots revealed that all versions displayed identical engagement metrics, including likes and ReTruths. This uniformity suggests the screenshots were fabricated, as genuine posts would typically show varying engagement numbers over time.
The fabricated screenshot emerged shortly after Trump characterized communism as a “cancer” that needs to be eradicated in the U.S., stating, “Communism is a loser, and it always will be. The communist system is the opposite of the American system, and the communist system has never worked.” He added, “We like to stop a threat like that immediately and before it begins. It’s like a cancer. You got to cut it out. You got to cut it out fast.”
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