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The Trump administration faced scrutiny Friday after President Donald Trump appeared to falsely claim credit for the 2014 release of Mariam Ibrahim, a Christian woman who had been imprisoned and sentenced to death in Sudan during the Obama presidency.
At Thursday’s National Prayer Breakfast, Trump initially stuck to prepared remarks when discussing Ibrahim’s case, correctly noting that “believers all over the planet rallied to Mariam’s cause, prayed for her protection, and successfully pressured for her release.”
However, the president then departed from his script, adding: “I did that. I did that. I did that with one phone call, actually. And she had such support, it was so easy. And when I explained it to the powers that be: ‘Yes, sir, we will do it right away.’ I just wish I knew earlier. But it’s a big world with a lot of people.”
The timeline contradicts Trump’s claim. Ibrahim was freed in 2014 during Barack Obama’s administration, more than two years before Trump took office in January 2017 and approximately one year before he even announced his presidential candidacy in June 2015.
When contacted by journalists seeking clarification, the White House did not respond to requests for comment on Trump’s purported involvement in Ibrahim’s release. A comprehensive search of news archives revealed hundreds of articles about Ibrahim’s case but none mentioning any role played by Trump, who was then a private citizen.
A former Obama administration National Security Council official who served during the crisis expressed doubt about Trump’s claim. “I neither had at the time nor have now any knowledge of Trump’s involvement whatsoever. It’d be very surprising if he were,” the official told CNN.
The case of Mariam Ibrahim garnered international attention in 2014 when she was imprisoned in Sudan and sentenced to death for apostasy. Ibrahim, who was raised Christian by her mother after her Muslim father abandoned the family, was charged with converting from Islam despite having practiced Christianity her entire life. Her imprisonment, which occurred while she was pregnant, sparked global outrage and a coordinated diplomatic pressure campaign.
Robert P. George, who chaired the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom during the crisis, said via email: “As Chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom in 2014, I advocated for Mariam Ibrahim. I do not recall Donald Trump being involved in the case or assisting our Commission’s efforts.”
While George acknowledged the theoretical possibility of private involvement by Trump, he couldn’t confirm any actual participation in the international campaign that ultimately secured Ibrahim’s freedom.
The president’s claim further raised eyebrows because he had previously met Ibrahim at the White House in 2019 during an event with survivors of religious persecution but showed no familiarity with her case at that time. During that meeting, Trump made no mention of having personally secured her release, instead responding to a staff member’s brief summary of her ordeal by saying, “We got you out, that’s good, that’s great.”
Additionally, former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), both documented advocates for Ibrahim’s release in 2014, have discussed their efforts on her behalf without mentioning any involvement from Trump.
The apparent fabrication fits a pattern that fact-checkers have noted in the president’s rhetoric, where he frequently tells anecdotes featuring unnamed officials addressing him as “sir” – a recurring element that appeared in Thursday’s claim as well.
Attempts to reach Ibrahim for comment on the president’s claims were unsuccessful.
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11 Comments
It’s understandable that the President would want to highlight positive outcomes, but making inaccurate claims undermines public confidence. Transparency and honesty should be the priority for any administration.
This case highlights the importance of independent, fact-based journalism in holding our elected officials accountable. Fact-checking is a critical component of maintaining a well-informed citizenry.
While the release of Mariam Ibrahim was a positive outcome, the attempt to misrepresent the timeline is troubling. Accurate historical reporting is essential for maintaining trust in our political institutions.
While the release of Mariam Ibrahim was an important victory for human rights, it’s troubling to see the current administration attempt to take credit for it. Accurate historical reporting is crucial.
This highlights the importance of verifying claims, especially around politically charged issues. While the release was a positive outcome, it’s misleading for the current president to take credit for it.
This is an interesting case study on the challenges of separating fact from fiction, especially when it comes to high-profile political figures. Rigorous fact-checking is essential for informed public discourse.
Kudos to the journalists for digging into the details and setting the record straight. It’s concerning when elected officials make claims that don’t align with the established timeline of events.
Interesting fact check. It’s important to get the timeline right, even for high-profile cases like this. Seems the Trump administration didn’t have direct involvement in Mariam Ibrahim’s release, which happened under the previous administration.
Fact-checking is crucial to maintain accountability and trust in our leaders. Claiming credit for events that predate one’s own term is problematic, regardless of party affiliation.
It’s concerning to see the President make inaccurate statements about his role in events that occurred prior to his time in office. Transparent and honest leadership should be the expectation, not the exception.
This is a good reminder that we should be vigilant in scrutinizing the claims made by our political leaders, regardless of their party affiliation. Fact-checking is essential for maintaining a healthy democracy.