Donald Trump has made a living out of making claims that do not have a shred of truth. It’s almost an art form with him. The more outrageous and unbelievable the lie, the better. The fact that the statement is false and might harm the victim seems only to encourage his behavior. Trump is unencumbered by the truth, and it does not bother him in the least to utter these remarks.

And the fact that Trump’s every word is repeated by his troglodytes verbatim only serves to broaden the audience that receives these sick, deluded messages. And he has the perfect brainless, talking heads like Karoline Leavitt, JD Vance, and Kari Lake to promote his BS, which only makes the situation more pathetic. Here are three recent lies that I cannot let pass without a comment.

Congresswoman Ilhan Omar Married Her Brother

This sick and twisted statement sounds like it came from the demented brain of the White House’s resident neo-Nazi, Stephen Miller. Miller spews hate like people breathe air. Senseless, false, and cruel statements flow from him so naturally that people treat them like everyday occurrences, which they are. However, unlike the tin man from the Wizard of Oz, the absence of a heart bothers him not in the least. For the record, Congresswoman Omar did not marry her brother.

This was a rumor conjured up by Omar’s first husband, whom she married in a religious ceremony, over her decision to marry for a second time to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi. The unsubstantiated rumor was that the congresswoman had confided to friends that she had married her biological brother to help him become a U.S. citizen.

Then, right-wing nut jobs like Laura Loomer spread the lie like it was gospel. Numerous entities, including the fact-checking website Snopes, have researched it. In every case, no evidence was found that Elmi is her brother.

Somali Gangs Terrorizing Minnesota

In ending the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Somalis in Minnesota, Trump claimed Somali gangs were terrorizing the state. I hate to pop MAGA Nation’s bubble, but there is no widespread action by Somali gangs to bring lawlessness to our state. In fact, there are only 705 Somali immigrants in Minnesota that are protected by this designation. Most are law-abiding, tax-paying citizens of the state.

In Minnesota, we celebrate the richness of all our cultural communities and recognize their importance to the state’s fabric and economy. The state’s Somali population has been a major force in strengthening our economic engine. They have created jobs, significantly increased our tax base, and expanded the cultural inventory of goods that are produced here in the land of 10,000 Lakes. And the richness of their traditions has left a significant mark on the cultural diversity of our resident base.

Governor Tim Walz is Retarded

There are so many things wrong with this claim of Trump’s in his Thanksgiving address to the nation. First, his use of the words is insulting to the millions of Americans and millions more worldwide who suffer from an intellectual disability. Even using the archaic, cruel, and condescending moniker is a crime in and of itself. Adding to the pain caused by this reckless statement is the fact that Governor Walz’s son Gus has a nonverbal learning disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and anxiety disorder.

And just for the record, Tim Walz has served his country and his community as a soldier, teacher, coach, congressman, and governor. He demonstrates high intellectual capacity, sound judgment, well-reasoned critical thinking, and tremendous compassion and concern in making official and unofficial decisions. Behavior that Mr. Trump should take note of and try to emulate.

Words Matter

Unfortunately, words matter. Mean and hostile comments not only harm and denigrate specific individuals (Omar, Walz), but also entire groups (Somalis, People with Intellectual Disabilities). They leave lasting impressions on the uninitiated that can not only influence elections and reputations but also propagate myths that last for generations. Mr. Trump should think before he speaks.