Donald Trump’s suggestion that no president has ever had an inaugural concert at the Lincoln Memorial has been mocked after many were quick to point out that his predecessor did - and attracted a far larger crowd.
“I don’t know if it’s ever been done before,” the president-elect told crowds on Thursday.
Donald Trump and his wife Melania at his inaugural concert on January 19, 2017.
Jonathan Ernst / Reuters
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His claims, which some point out could be “easily disproved” left many feeling confused.
Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton all held concerts at the Lincoln Memorial.
Trump says no POTUS ever had inaugural concert at the Lincoln Memorial. But GWB, Obama both did. Why make a claim so easily disproved?
The president-elect said: “This started out tonight being a small little concert and then we had the idea maybe we’ll do it in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
“I don’t know if it’s ever been done before but if it has it’s very seldom.
“And the people came by the thousands and thousands and here we are tonight, all the way back.”
But Trump doesn’t appear to be as popular as he claims, with attendance at his inaugural concert looking much slimmer than the crowds who braced the cold to welcome Obama in 2009.
“I don’t know if it’s ever been done before,” Trump says of inauguration concert at Lincoln Memorial. Here’s Obama doing it in 2009. pic.twitter.com/Ni7d7M0HD5
Supporters of Donald Trump attend an Inaugural Concert at the Lincoln Memorial at the National Mall in Washington.
Shannon Stapleton / Reuters
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Donald Trump supporters watch inauguration concert at the Lincoln Memorial.
Aaron P. Bernstein via Getty Images
Barack Obama’s inaugural concert in 2009:
View from the World War II Memorial to the the Lincoln Memorial during the 2009 Barack Obama Inauguration Concert.
Karon Flage via Getty Images
People bundled up against the cold attend the 'We Are One' concert, one of the events of US president-elect Barack Obama's inauguration celebrations, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on January 18, 2009.
ROBYN BECK via Getty Images
Thousands attended Barack Obama's inauguration celebrations in 2009.
ROBYN BECK via Getty Images
George W. Bush’s inaugural concert in 2001:
President-elect George W. Bush (R) with his wife Laura and Vice President-elect Dick Cheney and his wife Lynn wave from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial at the start of the inaugural opening ceremonies in Washington January 18, 2001.
Reuters Photographer / Reuters
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Opening ceremonies of Presidential Inaugural weekend for George W. Bush and Richard Cheney at Lincoln Memorial.
Greg Mathieson/Mai via Getty Images
Bill Clinton’s inaugural concert in 1993:
Bill Clinton, 42nd President, at Lincoln Memorial Opening Concert's pre-Inaugural event January 17, 1993 in Washington, DC.
