Trump stands by made-up story about ‘secret’ Iran tape

Posted by | August 4, 2016 17:19 | Filed under: News Behaving Badly Politics

Bragged about seeing 'top secret' video after eligibility for classified briefings

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Donald Trump continues his made-up story about a tape showing secret footage of the U.S. giving $400 million to Iran. No such tape exists.

Speaking at a rally in Maine on Thursday, Trump claimed that the Iranian government released secret footage it had of the United States transferring $400 million in cash to Iran.

“You know why the tape was given to us? Because they want to embarrass our country,” Trump said. “They want to embarrass our country. They want to embarrass our president. Because we have a president who’s incompetent. They want to embarrass our president.”

First, the $400 million that Trump is referring to was transferred from the United States to Iran back in January, so Trump’s response time is off by about seven months.

Second, the United States wasn’t “giving” Iran money. Rather, the money was the first installment of a $1.7 billion settlement resolving an outstanding claim at an international tribunal at The Hague. The United States had kept money it had received from Iran to purchase military equipment before the 1979 Revolution and never returned it. The Hague ruled that it had to do so — plus interest.

In other words, after over 30 years, Iran is finally receiving part of its own money back because international law said it should. This was an issue long before Clinton was Secretary of State and before Obama was president. The United States is not giving Iran money, as part of the Iran deal or otherwise. It’s returning it as part of a legal obligation.

And third, and perhaps most shockingly, this isn’t secret footage from the Iranian government. It’s not even footage of money being exchanged. Trump actually just watched a news segment on Fox News and made up the entire story. The Trump campaign has already confirmed that this is true.

The Washington Post contacted the Trump campaign to figure out what video Trump was referring to. After sending a link to a video broadcast on Fox News of three of the four Americans who were released from prison in Iran in January, campaign spokesman Hope Hicks confirmed that it was.

“Yes,” Hicks told the Post in an email. “Merely the b-roll footage included in every broadcast.”

To recap: Trump saw the blurry footage of the former prisoners walking off a plane in Geneva with bags in their hands and assumed it was top secret Iranian footage of a cash transfer between Iran and the United States.

 

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Copyright 2016 Liberaland
By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.

128 responses to Trump stands by made-up story about ‘secret’ Iran tape

  1. labman57 August 4th, 2016 at 17:54

    Once again, Trump demonstrates that his unparalleled arrogance will not allow him to cut his losses, admit that he screwed up, and move on.

  2. nola878 August 4th, 2016 at 17:54

    “Because they want to embarrass our country…”

    No need for anyone to do that, donny. You’re doing a bang up job of that all by your self.

    • Larry Schmitt August 4th, 2016 at 18:01

      He’s got that role nailed down for all eternity. No one else can even apply for it.

  3. Larry Schmitt August 4th, 2016 at 18:01

    Of course he stands by his lies. What kind of liar would he be if he didn’t?

  4. Larry Schmitt August 4th, 2016 at 18:04

    On every right wing site, from Fox to Wash Times, to the made up “news” outfits like Not-so-Breitbart, the comments show that all the users think we are paying Iran for the hostages. They refuse to pay attention to the outnumbered voices trying to tell them the truth.

    • whatthe46 August 4th, 2016 at 18:13

      The truth makes them ill.

  5. crc3 August 4th, 2016 at 18:15

    The only video Rump has seen is some porn with his wife as the star…LOL

  6. Gary Parillo August 4th, 2016 at 18:39

    Little donny says,”they want to embarrass our country” They dont need to donny,your doing a great job of that every time you open your big mouth!The president just held a long briefing at the pentagon and put all these recent concerns into perspective that made perfect sense,at least they made sense to anyone that has any sense,which doesnt include donny.Fox blues not even 5 minutes after the briefing,started putting theit own spin on what he said,and once again criticized President Obama.

    • whatthe46 August 4th, 2016 at 19:46

      well, he’s up against Obama in this race so, oh wait…

      • Gary Parillo August 4th, 2016 at 20:12

        Obama/ Clinton 2016 !!

  7. amersham1046 August 4th, 2016 at 18:46

    Trump is just stoking the fires of his uninformed followers, the truth has no room in his campaign

  8. StoneyCurtisll August 4th, 2016 at 19:27

    How stupid and frighting are Trump supporters?…(recent update)..
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sUHUCQeFwQ

    • whatthe46 August 4th, 2016 at 19:43

      oh GOD i could not watch all of this. it’s fricken stupid. and that Mexican needs to get slapped across the head with a burito stuffed with a pipe.

      • Gary Parillo August 4th, 2016 at 20:10

        A burrito stuffed with a pipe?? That would be a Big burritto,or a little pipe.

        • whatthe46 August 4th, 2016 at 20:29

          well, a long pipe, burito wraped.
          hey, here’s some more to go along with the porn that should turn a persons stomach. but, you’d have to have a conscience for that to happen:
          ““Now, somebody who a lot of people don’t give credit to but is in
          actuality very beautiful is Paris Hilton,” Trump told Stern. “I’ve known
          Paris Hilton from the time she’s 12, her parents are friends of mine,
          and the first time I saw her she walked into the room and I said, ‘Who
          the hell is that?’ At 12, I wasn’t interested… but she was beautiful.”
          He also admitted to watching Paris Hilton’s sex tape with Knauss,
          despite knowing her since the age of 12 and being very close friends
          with the Hilton Family.” ~Donald Trump in 2003 on Howard Stern

    • whatthe46 August 4th, 2016 at 19:45

      i want to hear what they have to say about his illegal immigrant wife and her lesbian porn modeling.

  9. arc99 August 4th, 2016 at 19:31

    Meanwhile, back in the real world, remember that in order to win in November, all Sec. Clinton has to do is carry the 19 states that the Democratic candidate has carried in every election since 1992, and win Florida. That is all she needs. . No matter how close the popular vote might be, the above formula gives her the 270 EC votes.

    Polls like this one are simply icing on the cake.

    http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article93763582.html

    Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has surged to a 15-point lead over reeling, gaffe-plagued Republican Donald Trump, according to a new McClatchy-Marist poll.

    • Mike August 4th, 2016 at 19:56

      My worst case is 297-223 Clinton…and that’s losing Florida, Ohio, & Nevada

    • Larry Schmitt August 4th, 2016 at 20:04

      This is one election year when I am happy the electoral college system exists.

  10. amersham1046 August 4th, 2016 at 19:52

    Trump’s greatest feat: making Reagan and Bush seem like good guys
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/aug/04/trump-greatest-feat-reagan-bush-good-guys

  11. arc99 August 4th, 2016 at 20:09

    I cannot decide whether right wingers are willful, amoral pathological liars, or if they are simply idiots.

    Either way, this deal was made public in January and I stopped caring a long time ago what those morons “think” and I am being quite generous with that verb. I am simply grateful that idiocy and stupidity are not contagious.

    http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2016/01/251338.htm

    John Kerry
    Secretary of State
    Washington, DC
    January 17, 2016

    The United States and Iran today have settled a long outstanding claim at the Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal in the Hague.

    This specific claim was in the amount of a $400 million Trust Fund used by Iran to purchase military equipment from the United States prior to the break in diplomatic ties. In 1981, with the reaching of the Algiers Accords and the creation of the Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal, Iran filed a claim for these funds, tying them up in litigation at the Tribunal.

    This is the latest of a series of important settlements reached over the past 35 years at the Hague Tribunal. In constructive bilateral discussions, we arrived at a fair settlement to this claim, which due to litigation risk, remains in the best interests of the United States.

    Iran will receive the balance of $400 million in the Trust Fund, as well as a roughly $1.3 billion compromise on the interest. Iran’s recovery was fixed at a reasonable rate of interest and therefore Iran is unable to pursue a bigger Tribunal award against us, preventing U.S. taxpayers from being obligated to a larger amount of money.

    • Gary Parillo August 4th, 2016 at 20:16

      Maybe little donny can get someone to read that to him,as soon as hes finished with this weeks national enquirer.

  12. Suzanne McFly August 4th, 2016 at 20:58

    I couldn’t believe what I saw earlier on MSNBC. One of his supporters was in a round table discussion and she was defending trump saying that if he was in office, he would of stopped 9/11, Chris Matthews (I think it was his show, I had a lot going on at the time) said what would trump have done to stop the attack? She actually said, “I don’t know, I just know he said he would of stopped it”?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! WTF, that is all they have to say now? He said he will do it, so I know it will happen?

    • Hirightnow August 4th, 2016 at 22:07

      “Superman will save us!” – Jimmy Olsen, multiple times, usually before getting taken hostage, shot at by crooks, or genetically altered by space aliens.

      • Suzanne McFly August 4th, 2016 at 22:30

        Weak little imbeciles.

        • Hirightnow August 4th, 2016 at 22:33

          Jimmy Olsens, to be sure.

          • Suzanne McFly August 5th, 2016 at 00:05

            As long as your not implying rump is Superman, we are on the same page lol.

            • Hirightnow August 5th, 2016 at 01:10

              No, just looking at a group of people who think that a “hero” is needed to save them, when all along the only problems they face are either something they could manage themselves, of else brought on by said “hero”‘s existence in the first place.

              • Suzanne McFly August 5th, 2016 at 15:21

                I completely agree.

    • Gary Parillo August 4th, 2016 at 22:08

      Its a bird, its a plane, no! Its SuperTrump!!! I call them trump cultists,they are literally brainwashed (or braindead) and that would be called,”magical thinking”!

      • Hirightnow August 4th, 2016 at 22:09

        Ha! Beat you to it!

        • Gary Parillo August 4th, 2016 at 22:11

          That is hilarious!same exact thought,same exact moment.And they still do not believe,all is one with no duality!

          • Hirightnow August 4th, 2016 at 22:12

            They say that great minds think alike, but then again, bees think alike, so I never put much faith in that adage.
            But yeah…it was kinda the only way to go with that one.

            • Gary Parillo August 4th, 2016 at 22:13

              Ha,ants think alike too,i think!

              • Hirightnow August 4th, 2016 at 22:18

                I’m willing to give bees a little more credit than ants, if only for the fact that they dance.
                Also, I’ve been stung ONCE in my life by a bee, who was so distraught over his heinous act that he promptly died, whereas, growing up in Florida, I’ve been bitten by hundreds of ants, who went on to live long (for ants, anyway) ,smug lives.
                F*ck ants.

                • Gary Parillo August 4th, 2016 at 22:21

                  The bee gave his life for you,may have saved you from killer ant packs!

                • whatthe46 August 4th, 2016 at 22:22

                  laughing. “…”F*ck ants.” that’s hilarious.

                  • Gary Parillo August 4th, 2016 at 22:24

                    Well that guy from georgia f## a goat, maybe in florida??

                    • whatthe46 August 4th, 2016 at 22:29

                      same difference.

                    • Gary Parillo August 4th, 2016 at 22:34

                      Did you mean no difference between florida and georgia,or between ants and goats?

                    • whatthe46 August 4th, 2016 at 22:55

                      lol. the states you mentioned. ants are crazy. goats are cute. but, they too can get crazy.

                    • Gary Parillo August 4th, 2016 at 23:03

                      You want to see crazy,come up to san francisco!

                    • whatthe46 August 4th, 2016 at 23:15

                      my sister moved there for 2 years. she loved it. unfortunately i never got the chance to visit before she moved there. it’s fricken expensive for sure. she was renting a room in this house and she had 4 roommates and her bedroom was only big enough for a twin size bed not furniture to speak of really and she was paying 800 a month. that’s my mortgage. that’s crazy.

                    • Gary Parillo August 4th, 2016 at 23:22

                      Its worse than insane,it shouldnt be legal to charge what they do here.Alot of homeless,and thats one of the reasons.My wife and i rent a bedroom in a 2 bedroom apt. We share with my sisterinlaw and brothervinlaw and still pay 750 month.Its a rent controlled place for low income or it would be way more than it is.

                    • whatthe46 August 4th, 2016 at 23:37

                      that’s rent control for low income? WTF? ok, i just called my sister and she said her rent was 630. but the highest bedroom priced was 1,100. it was 524 Haight St. and she worked for 2 attys as their nanny when she first moved there and they lived and worked in the same building which has apartments The Beacon. I can’t imagine what a 2 bedroom to rent that’s not for low income.

                    • Gary Parillo August 5th, 2016 at 00:06

                      A nice loft style 2 bedroom can go for around 2500 to 30000! There are some older buildings,and i mean “old”, that you might find for around 900 to 1100 they are usually just 1 room with a kitchen,and you usually get cockroaches and cute little mice for free pets! The recent tech boom has driven up the rents.Im waiting for the next big earthquake,the rents on whats left should be reasonable then.Haight st. Is only couple miles from us.We are in an area called S.O.M.A.,right near downtown.

                    • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 00:14

                      that being said, 15$ minimum wage sounds like b.s. when it comes to living wages there. and wow you were this close to my sister.

                    • Gary Parillo August 5th, 2016 at 00:22

                      Thats why so many share places,15 wont go far.Average to do more than just exist is around 30 per. Hr.The tech workers make more than that.yes,close to where your sister was.Ive been up that way alot before i got too disabled to walk.i used to walk all over the city and meet some very interesting characters.

                    • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 00:52

                      sorry didn’t see you answered the wages question. i’m in notifications so i responded to the reply after this as it was shown first. sorry to hear about the disability.

                    • Gary Parillo August 5th, 2016 at 01:10

                      Im getting adjusted to it,but i dont know why they call these the golden years!

                    • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 01:17

                      aww.

                    • Gary Parillo August 5th, 2016 at 00:10

                      Oh, fogot to mention,the newer 2 bed rooms (are you sitting down?) Go for around 6000!

                    • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 00:18

                      i blame tRump!

                    • Gary Parillo August 5th, 2016 at 00:29

                      I hear you.Its hyper greedy people like him thatare responsible for these property values.One of the many reasons i cant stand the guy,and know that he could care less about the working strugglingcpeople.They call it,”market values”.Thats the fancy new word for highway robbery,and its legal!

                    • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 00:50

                      so much for “family values” right? what about living wages though? with the cost of living being so damn high, it would make sense if anyone earning an income of 50k or less should be considered low income. 50k is what one would need if they needed to rent a 2 brm w/o sharing the home with strangers.

                    • Gary Parillo August 5th, 2016 at 01:05

                      If im not mistaken i think 50 grand is considered low income in the bay area.All their babble about family values is empty hollow words.The ones who can pay people a living wage usually dont,tha combined with rents being totally out of proportion to wages when theres no reason for that but greed.I have seen families of two adults and three or four kids living in one room old buildings that are falling apart.The parents working four jobs combined for minimum wage.The streets surrounding those dumps are no place for kids.

                    • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 01:19

                      breaks my heart.

                    • Gary Parillo August 5th, 2016 at 01:25

                      And this is in the wealthiest country in the world.I dont think Ronnys trickle down concept worked out very well.And Donny would be worse than Ronny.

                    • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 02:00

                      you know my son just joined the AF Reserves. i told him tRumps NOT going to win, but, if it did happen, i’m gonna run over his foot. he’ll have more than a bone spur or whatever. he’s my only child, i’m not going to lose him for greed. f that.

                    • Gary Parillo August 5th, 2016 at 02:38

                      Military can be a great career for those that can adjust to it.I have a stepbrother in that retired years ago after20 years in army 82 airborn.He retired one rank below a general and loved that lifestyle.I also have an nephew who has been in af for years and loves it.Theres different careers in the AF behind the scenes that should keep him awat from active war zones.If he adjusts to it,hes making a good decision.

                    • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 02:55

                      he’s excited about it. i took a pic and video of him swearing in. i told the captain and the recruiter, that i’m sending him to boot camp with a sticker on his shirt warning them not to yell at my son. they all started laughing.

                    • Gary Parillo August 5th, 2016 at 03:33

                      lol there probably afraid of you now! He will be ok.

                    • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 03:57

                      he has to buy some really weird stuff for basic. he’s not going to have his phone, i have to get him a calling card, and a book of stamps. i’m sure he’ll be ok. i’m not so sure about me.

                    • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 04:34

                      he may be ok, but, i don’t know how i’m going to sleep well thinking about some Sargent in his face. that and a host of other worries. my baby is going to basic training right here, 20 mins away at lackland, for 8 weeks and i don’t get to see him, ahhhhhhhhh

                    • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 00:18

                      that’s a shame.

                    • whatthe46 August 4th, 2016 at 22:55

                      did they test the goat for man made v.d.

                  • Hirightnow August 4th, 2016 at 22:26

                    I hate them so much…

                    • Gary Parillo August 4th, 2016 at 22:27

                      Sounds like there not very fond of you either.

                    • Hirightnow August 4th, 2016 at 22:28

                      On the plus side, mosquitoes rarely find me tasty…life is a series of gives and takes, I guess…

                    • whatthe46 August 4th, 2016 at 22:30

                      i. can’t. fricken. stand. mosquitoes. i. hate. them. with. a. passion.

                    • Hirightnow August 4th, 2016 at 22:35

                      Oh, I still get bitten, but at nowhere near the rate of people around me(I’ve compared bumps after a night in the woods; they just don’t seem to care for my flavor.)
                      I’m also immune to poison Ivy.

                    • whatthe46 August 4th, 2016 at 22:53

                      get out. wow, lucky you. and i don’t know if i’m allergic to ivy, but, i don’t think i want to test it.

                    • Hirightnow August 4th, 2016 at 23:16

                      I’ve read somewhere that I can be immune, and then suddenly become susceptible to it, but I think that’s just people bein’ jealous.

                      51 YEARS NO RASH, BITCHES!!

                    • whatthe46 August 4th, 2016 at 23:37

                      lol

                    • Gary Parillo August 4th, 2016 at 22:36

                      Your in fla.,just hope gators dont find you tasty.

                    • Hirightnow August 4th, 2016 at 22:37

                      Dunno…but I think that THEY’RE delicious!

                    • Gary Parillo August 4th, 2016 at 22:40

                      Im not much of a meat eater,but think i will stay with cheeseburgers,they cant eat me back if i make them angry

                    • whatthe46 August 4th, 2016 at 22:29

                      great reply.

    • Tommie August 4th, 2016 at 23:52

      Trump can also turn water into wine and walk on water!

      • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 00:06

        more like water into cyanide, and i’d love to see if he walk on quicksand.

        • Tommie August 5th, 2016 at 00:21

          I’d love to see that picture of you!

          • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 00:53

            give me 15 mins, then i’ll take it. promise.

            • Tommie August 5th, 2016 at 01:06

              What are you doing going to the beauty shop? You don’t need that!

              • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 03:52

                i just saw this. darn i’m still up, AHHHHHHH your post was 3hrs ago, that’s crazy. it doesn’t feel like that. feels like maybe 45 mins ago. this is so wrong.

                • Tommie August 5th, 2016 at 11:03

                  Haha, you haven’t gone to sleep yet?

                  • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 12:00

                    Man I was so mad! Its your fault

          • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 01:16

            how many fingers do you want me to put up. that way, you’ll know it was taken today.

            • Tommie August 5th, 2016 at 01:17

              11! Haha!

              • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 01:20

                sorry dude not a freak. at least NOT that kind of freak.

                • Tommie August 5th, 2016 at 01:22

                  As the Asian dude from Star Trek would say, “OH MY!”

                  • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 01:32

                    lol. hold your horses its on its way

                    • Tommie August 5th, 2016 at 01:33

                      I was just responding to your comment, I am a very patient person, now hurry up! Just kidding, hahaha!

                    • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 01:49

                      i am sending it to my email now, saving it then coming back to attach. listen, i’m a woman ok, these things take time. LOL

                    • Tommie August 5th, 2016 at 01:54

                      At least you know what you are doing! I have no idea on how to even start what you are doing to send me your picture!

                    • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 01:57

                      lol

                    • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 02:00

                      times running out. about to delete.

                    • Tommie August 5th, 2016 at 02:03

                      Thanks for sharing your pic with me!

                    • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 02:04

                      well i could have had one tooth and sent you someone else’s pic, but, i’s gotta do me.

                    • Tommie August 5th, 2016 at 02:08

                      What? Hahaha! Still think you look good!

                    • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 02:17

                      LOL. well, it was meant to suggest that i don’t need to use someone else’s photo. i’m blessed to look younger than what i am and am not ashamed of my age. the only way to prove that the first pic i posted wasn’t me 15 years or so ago, and that it was just 9 months ago was to post one today with Tommie. there’s no way i would have had a picture of a guys name in the frame, whose name just happens to be Tommie. LOL. i had it on quick shot so it took 4 in succession, and when i viewed them, your name was backwards. LOL, so i had to write your name backwards.

                    • Tommie August 5th, 2016 at 02:25

                      I believed your fist pic was you! I have been talking to you and others on this thread to know you guys are not bullsh*tters! That’s why I like coming here, it’s like a close knit family!

                    • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 02:29

                      it truly is nice and like a family. for heavens sake, it’s where i spend my time lol. this is a great community. hell, even at work i’m going through and making comments. this is more addictive than Mario. and trust me, i love me some Mario.

                    • Tommie August 5th, 2016 at 02:32

                      Are you referring to video games? If so, we already have something in common!

                    • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 02:51

                      oh yes! MARIO BROS. my favorite. well and frogger. i have super mario and its games and i have frogger.

                    • Tommie August 5th, 2016 at 02:56

                      Do you have it for Super Nintendo, Super Mario Bros. 2? To me that was the best one! I know all the tricks to get lives and skip stages but I played all the stages since they were fun!

                    • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 03:02

                      Nintendo and i think my son has super mario 2. i still haven’t finished the damn end. and that’s why i love this game. it’s been out for a little more than 2 decades and i still have to finish it. i will at some point. games today, are played and won in a matter of weeks. boring.

                    • Tommie August 5th, 2016 at 03:13

                      Haha, “It’s been out for a little more than 2 decades and I still have to finish it.”

                    • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 03:51

                      yep. and i thought you’d get a kick out of that.

                    • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 02:26

                      oh and, smart words.

                    • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 01:56

                      Happy Now? geez, men.

                    • Tommie August 5th, 2016 at 02:01

                      Like those……..eyes! Haha! Got it if you want to delete it!

                    • whatthe46 August 5th, 2016 at 02:03

                      done and done

            • Tommie August 5th, 2016 at 01:19

              I was hoping for my sign with Tommie on it!

      • Suzanne McFly August 5th, 2016 at 00:06

        In his own head, but he also considers himself a genius and that “truth” is destroyed by watching him speak for 30 seconds.

      • farfaraway August 5th, 2016 at 00:10

        Cool! I need a clown magician for my granddaughter’s birthday party! Got a number? LOL!!

        Hi Tommie!!

  13. Hirightnow August 4th, 2016 at 22:05

    Question: If they want to “embarrass our country by releasing this video”, why are you aiding them?

  14. Obewon August 4th, 2016 at 23:32

    Donnie think of the $400 M restitution as four of your tiny fingers. Just $1.3 B to go.
    Trump: Ok now I get it!. That’s 10 more toes and 3 more fingers, right?

  15. Tommie August 4th, 2016 at 23:51

    Who in the hell is sending Trump all these video’s that others can’t watch? That is not transparency!

  16. pinballsdoll August 5th, 2016 at 05:48

    the only peopel embarrassing our country at the moment are trump and his supporters

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