“The media is taking him too literally,” one supporter wrote on Twitter. “He’s just trying to drive home a point.”
Despite the controversy, Trump has not issued any clarification or retraction regarding his statement about “equalize.”
His spokespersons have also declined to comment, leaving the public to interpret the claim as they see fit.
This latest incident follows a pattern of Trump making unusual or exaggerated claims that later become viral talking points.
During his presidency, he often stated that he was responsible for economic trends or policies that predated his administration. For instance, in 2018, he claimed to have been the first president to call for prison reform,
