Trump tweets, then deletes, widely inflated Sri Lanka death toll

Monday, 22 April 2019 08:44

US President Donald Trump committed faux pas as he erroneously wrote that "138 million people" were killed in the Sri Lanka bombings.

In a Tweet, he expressed condolences to families of the victims of the Sri Lanka explosions - and grossly overstated the death toll.

He wrote: "Heartfelt condolences from the people of the United States to the people of Sri Lanka on the horrible terrorist attacks on churches and hotels that have killed at least 138 million people and badly injured 600 more. We stand ready to help!"

Within minutes, he deleted the incorrect tweet and sent a new one with the corrected death toll.

More from International News

Turkey to host Gaza meeting amid ceasefire concerns

Foreign ministers of some Muslim countries will meet in Istanbul on Monday to discuss the Gaza ceasefire and next steps there, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Friday, voicing concern over whether the ceasefire will continue.
Tanzania opposition says hundreds killed in vote protests

Tanzania's main opposition party said on Friday hundreds of people had been killed in protests over elections across the country this week, as the government said it was restoring order after "isolated incidents".
Turkey sentences 11 people to life in prison over ski resort hotel fire

A Turkish court sentenced 11 people to life in prison on Friday over a fire that killed 78 people at a ski resort in northwest Turkey's Bolu mountains in January, state media reported.
China sends its youngest astronaut to 'Heavenly Palace' space station

China's Shenzhou-21 space rocket and its crew including the youngest member of its astronaut corps blasted off on Friday atop a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China, Chinese state media reported.
Israel launches more strikes on Gaza overnight, testing fragile truce

The Israeli military attacked the Gaza Strip for a third day on Thursday night, killing two people, the Palestinian Authority's official news agency said, in another test of a fragile ceasefire agreement.

On Virgin Radio today

Ultra Music Festival
1:00am - 3:00am
Non Stop Hits
3:00am - 8:00am

The UAE's #1 Hit Music Station with no interruptions

Trending on Virgin Radio

If Craig David had a verse on Azizam
The legendary Craig David joins The Kris Fade Show for an unforgettable chat!
Jason Derulo on the Kris Fade Show!
The super-star and multi-award-winning singer-songwriter, Jason Derulo is bringing the heat to Dubai.
ARN News Centre
Get the latest UAE and world news from our award winning team of journalists. The ARN News Centre is the country's most trusted source of information.
Untold Dubai
It arrived: The UAE's First Mega Music Festival at Expo City Dubai!