False Claim of Trump Invoking Insurrection Act
Quick Take
A falsehood on social media claims President Donald Trump has “invoked” the Insurrection Act, seized control of the country through the military and will “remain president indefinitely.” A Defense Department spokesman told us he was not “aware of any actions” regarding the Insurrection Act.
Full Story
In the days before President Donald Trump was impeached for a second time — this time charged with “incitement of insurrection” following the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol — social media users spread a false claim that the president had invoked a rarely used law in a bid to take control of the country through the military.
Some of the posts went on to say he would therefore remain in office “indefinitely” until “all domestic enemies are arrested.”
But it is not true that Trump, as the various posts have claimed. The law the president the authority to deploy the military to settle widespread unrest if a state requests it, or if U.S. laws are being obstructed by the unrest.
