Fact Check: Did Trump say ICE facilities should be used to detain communists and Democrats?
WASHINGTON, DC: A rumor has been circulating on social media claiming that President Donald Trump, in an alleged social media post, called for the detention of communists and Democrats in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, sparking concern and speculation.
Here's a closer look at the viral claim and the facts behind it.
Trump called for the detention of political opponents in ICE facilities
The claim surfaced in the form of a screenshot that purportedly shows a post from Trump's official Truth Social account.
The alleged post reads, “I am asking our GREAT Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, to immediately investigate whether ICE detention centers can also be used for COMMUNISTS."
"We have the space, beautiful facilities, and many dangerous Communists already identified, mostly Democrat politicians, radical organizers, and people demanding affordable childcare. Minnesota was a very successful test. We must protect America before these lunatics give everyone healthcare!”
The screenshot has spread widely on X and Threads, triggering mixed reactions. While many users expressed concern and criticized the alleged remarks, others supported them, suggesting that many believed the post was genuine.
Fact Check: False, Trump made no such post
The screenshot is fake. Trump made no such post.
A search of Trump's Truth Social account, as well as social media accounts that archive Truth Social posts, found no evidence of a post matching the text shown in the screenshot.
A broader Google search also yielded no credible reports of Trump making such a statement or proposing the use of ICE facilities to detain political opponents.
Had Trump actually made such a remark, it would almost certainly have been widely reported by major news outlets, generating significant headlines and controversy.
Additionally, every version of the screenshot shared online shows the exact same number of likes and ReTruths (Truth Social's equivalent of a repost).
If the post had been genuine, users would have captured screenshots at different times, resulting in varying engagement numbers. The identical metrics across all versions strongly suggest the screenshot was fabricated.
Trump condemns Communism as 'cancer'
The fabricated screenshot surfaced after Trump condemned communism as a "cancer" that must be removed quickly, vowing that the US would never succumb to what he described as a growing domestic threat.
"Communism is a loser, and it always will be. The communist system is the opposite of the American system, and the communist system has never worked," Trump said.
"We like to stop a threat like that immediately and before it begins. It's like a cancer. You got to cut it out. You got to cut it out fast."
