President Trump sent out a fast reaction tweet Thursday after Chicago police said “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett concocted a fake attack on himself, which the actor had suggested was committed by Trump supporters.
“.@JussieSmollett – what about MAGA and the tens of millions of people you insulted with your racist and dangerous comments!? #MAGA,” Trump tweeted, shortly after the Chicago Police Department held a press conference on the alleged incident.
.@JussieSmollett – what about MAGA and the tens of millions of people you insulted with your racist and dangerous comments!? #MAGA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 21, 2019
Smollett, who is black and gay, informed police late last month that he was the victim of a hate crime. He claimed two white men beat him, tied a rope around his neck, threw bleach at him, and yelled racist and homophobic slurs at him. Smollett said one of the attackers said, “This is MAGA country,” referring to Trump’s 2016 campaign slogan “Make America Great Again.”
Police confirmed Thursday that Smollett was arrested and charged with felony disorderly conduct for filing a false police report.
Police said Smollett paid two brothers, one of which he worked with on “Empire,” to stage an attack after a threatening letter he wrote failed to grab enough attention, because he was unhappy with his salary as an actor on “Empire.”
Smollett has stood by his allegations that he was attacked.
