In a moment that left fact-checkers scrambling, former President Donald Trump made a breathtaking assertion during Thursday's presidential debate, claiming personal responsibility for the operation that killed terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden.
The extraordinary claim, which flies in the face of well-documented history, was delivered during a heated exchange with current President Joe Biden. Trump stated unequivocally that he had authorised the infamous Navy SEAL raid on bin Laden's Pakistani compound in 2011.
A Rewriting of History
The historical record is unequivocal: the operation was ordered by then-President Barack Obama in May 2011, a period when Trump was a private citizen and television personality. The successful mission was a defining achievement of the Obama-Biden administration.
Political analysts and historians were quick to pounce on the claim, labelling it a blatant revision of recent American history aimed at bolstering Trump's commander-in-chief credentials on the world's stage.
Debate Fallout and Fact-Checking
The bin Laden comment was just one of several contentious moments in a debate characterised by personal attacks and disputed claims. President Biden appeared to reference the remark later, muttering about Trump's relationship with the "truth," though the audio was somewhat unclear.
This incident is likely to fuel further criticism from those who accuse the former president of repeatedly misrepresenting his own record and the facts of significant national security events.
The debate, watched by millions, has set a new, contentious tone for the remainder of the presidential campaign, with national security and historical accuracy becoming immediate focal points.
