President Trump claimed in an exclusive interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity Thursday that the White House had notified Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan that it would send federal forces to dismantle the infamous "CHOP"protest zone, but local police "went in before we got there."
"We were going in, we were going in very soon," Trump said on "Hannity". "We let them know that and all of a sudden, they didn’t want that. So they went in before we got there, but we were going in very shortly, very soon, and we would’ve taken the 'CHOP' ... back very easily, but they went in, and frankly, the people just gave up. They were tired. They had it for a long period of time."
Seattle police forcefully cleared out the "CHOP" area July 1 after weeks of protests that culminated in two fatal shootings, forcing the city's Democratic leadership to act after weeks of mounting scrutiny.
"We were all set to go into Seattle," he said. "Frankly, I looked forward to it."
The Seattle mayor's office and police did not immediately respond to an after-hours email from Fox News for comment.
The day after Seattle police reclaimed the "CHOP" area on Durkan's orders, Trump personally reached out to the father of a 19-year-old who was gunned down in the zone.
Horace Lorenzo Anderson Sr. had made a heart-wrenching appearance on “Hannity” describing his experience since his son's June 20 death.
Trump said he invited Anderson to visit the White House "when things get adjusted," telling Hannity that his position "is so tough. I mean, what he is going through is so tough and he was treated very badly."
"They didn’t even tell him what had happened when it had happened," the president added. "Very sad thing, but I did speak to him and had a great but very sad conversation, and so ... when he’s ready, he’ll be coming down to the White House."
"We were going in, we were going in very soon," Trump said on "Hannity". "We let them know that and all of a sudden, they didn’t want that. So they went in before we got there, but we were going in very shortly, very soon, and we would’ve taken the 'CHOP' ... back very easily, but they went in, and frankly, the people just gave up. They were tired. They had it for a long period of time."
Seattle police forcefully cleared out the "CHOP" area July 1 after weeks of protests that culminated in two fatal shootings, forcing the city's Democratic leadership to act after weeks of mounting scrutiny.
"We were all set to go into Seattle. Frankly, I looked forward to it."Trump repeatedly offered to deploy the National Guard, vowing not to "let Seattle be occupied by anarchists" and threatening to "straighten it out" if local leaders didn't. After Durkan's repeated objections, Trump said he was prepared to take matters into his own hands.
— President Trump, 'Hannity'
"We were all set to go into Seattle," he said. "Frankly, I looked forward to it."
The Seattle mayor's office and police did not immediately respond to an after-hours email from Fox News for comment.
Horace Lorenzo Anderson Sr. had made a heart-wrenching appearance on “Hannity” describing his experience since his son's June 20 death.
Trump said he invited Anderson to visit the White House "when things get adjusted," telling Hannity that his position "is so tough. I mean, what he is going through is so tough and he was treated very badly."
"They didn’t even tell him what had happened when it had happened," the president added. "Very sad thing, but I did speak to him and had a great but very sad conversation, and so ... when he’s ready, he’ll be coming down to the White House."
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