Donald Trump Questions Why the Civil War Happened

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Autocratic forces are ascendant in America. But truth-telling independent media is one remaining bulwark against the unrestrained exercise of power. At a time when billionaire owners of corporate media are making accommodations to political leaders, our nonprofit newsroom cannot be bought or broken. Please stand with us.

In an interview with Salena Zito for “Main Street Meets the Beltway,” President Donald Trump questioned why the Civil War took place and asserted “swashbuckler” Andrew Jackson would have been able to prevent the war.

Trump said that Jackson—who died in 1845, 16 years before the Civil War started—”was really angry that he saw what was happening with regard to the Civil War, he said ‘There no reason for this.’ People don’t realize you know, the Civil War, if you think about it, why?”

Here’s the audio on that Trump answer: “Why was there the Civil War? Why could that one not have been worked out?” pic.twitter.com/tEUFGRDMSM

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 1, 2017

Here’s Trump’s full answer on “swashbuckler” Andrew Jackson and the Civil War: “Why could that one not have been worked out?” pic.twitter.com/Zb8OQaDqyq

— Edward-Isaac Dovere (@IsaacDovere) May 1, 2017

Trump’s historically dubious comments recalled his remarks during Black History Month in February, when the president praised Frederick Douglass as “somebody who’s done an amazing job.”