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

Trump says 'a lot of unity' at NATO summit after lashing out at allies

US President Donald Trump threw a summit of NATO leaders into disarray on Wednesday as he demanded the United States cut trade ties with Spain and made renewed claims on Greenland, but later changed tack and said there had been love and "a lot of unity".
Pakistani rescuers find wreckage of lost cargo plane

Pakistani rescuers found the wreckage of a Boeing cargo plane in a deep sea search operation on Wednesday, 12 hours after it went missing off the coast of Karachi, with efforts underway to find the five crew members who were on board.
Trump says interim accord with Iran to end war is 'over'

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran to end the conflict was "over", adding he didn't want to engage with Tehran.
US launches new strikes on Iran after shipping attacks

The US military has unleashed a new wave of strikes against Iran on Tuesday and revoked a license allowing the country to sell oil after three tankers were hit by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran targets sites in Bahrain, Kuwait after wave of US strikes

Kuwait's army has announced that its air defence forces have intercepted missile and drone attacks early on Wednesday while Bahrain activated its sirens following the US military's launch of new strikes on Iran.

On Virgin Radio today

Non Stop Hits
Midnight - 6:00am

The UAE's #1 Hit Music Station with no interruptions
The Kris Fade Show
6:00am - 10:00am

Kris, Priti and Rossi host the UAE's biggest radio show. It's full of fun, laughs and it's Where The Stars Live.