Trump says he's done more for black people than any other President with the 'possible exception' of Abraham Lincoln

President Trump took to Twitter on Wednesday morning to claim that he had done more for African Americans than any president in history, possibly including President Abraham Lincoln.

The bizarre statement began as an attack on former Vice President Joe Biden, who is running against Trump for the presidency. 

"In 3 1/2 years, I’ve done much more for our Black population than Joe Biden has done in 43 years. Actually, he set them back big time with his Crime Bill, which he doesn’t even remember," President Trump wrote.

He then continued: "I’ve done more for Black Americans, in fact, than any President in U.S. history, with the possible exception of another Republican President, the late, great, Abraham Lincoln... and it’s not even close. The Democrats know this, and so does the Fake News, but they refuse to write or say it because they are inherently corrupt!"

Yes, that's right, President Abraham Lincoln, who fought the Civil War that ended slavery, is only a "possible exception" to Trump's claim that he's done more for African Americans than any other president in history. 

Unsurprisingly, the comment attracted a fair amount of criticism from social media users.

"I know we are not supposed to take Trump's Twitter feed literally or seriously or whatever, but claiming he has "done more for Black Americans, in fact, than any President in U.S. history with the possible exception" of Lincoln, I mean, c'mon. There are not enough Pinocchios," Susan Glasser of the New Yorker wrote. 

Another added: "Dear African Americans, with 'I’ve done more for Black Americans, in fact, than any President in U.S. history, with the POSSIBLE EXCEPTION...of Abraham Lincoln', Trump CLEARLY is ridiculing you. Why would you EVER vote for someone who ridicules you?"

The statement comes as Black Lives Matter protests continue for another day around the United States and around the globe.

They were sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. In some areas of the nation, violence from both demonstrators and police ensued, but the vast majority of protests have so far been peaceful.

Earlier this week, President Trump threatened to deploy the United States military if governors did not do more to end violent protests and looting that has been seen in many cities around the country. He had earlier told "weak" governors that they "have to dominate" the streets. 

"We cannot allow the righteous prize and peaceful protesters to be drowned out by an angry mob," Trump said, condemning the death of George Floyd. "The biggest victims of the rioting are peace-loving citizens in our poorest communities, and as they are President, I will fight to keep them safe. I will fight to protect you. I am your President of law and order and an ally of all peaceful protesters."

Trump said that people had been attacked, and the "dreams" of small business owners "utterly destroyed" in the violence.

“A number of state and local governments have failed to take necessary action to safeguard their residents. I am mobilizing all available federal resources, civilian and military, to stop the rioting and looting, to end the destruction and arson, and to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans.”

Despite pledging to protect peaceful protesters in his speech, moments later police used smoke grenades and rubber bullets to clear demonstrators from Lafayette Square Park so that President Trump could get photos taken outside the vandalized St John's Episcopal Church.