As the nation grapples with patterns of police brutality and racial injustice in the wake of the death of Floyd, President Donald Trump took to Twitter to share an unfounded conspiracy theory that an incident in which a 75-year-old protester was pushed to the ground by police in Buffalo, N.Y., causing him to smash his head on the concrete, could be a “set up.”
“Buffalo protester shoved by Police could be an ANTIFA provocateur. 75 year old Martin Gugino was pushed away after appearing to scan police communications in order to black out the equipment,” Trump tweeted, citing right-wing One America News Network (OANN).
“I watched, he fell harder than was pushed,” the president added. “Was aiming scanner. Could be a set up?”
A widely shared video shows the officers shoving Gugino after he approached them during the protest. The 75-year-old staggered and fell backward, hitting his head on the concrete and lying motionless as blood pooled on the sidewalk and the officers walked away.
Don't Miss
The department originally claimed Gugino “tripped and fell” but it changed its stance after the video went viral.
The officers, Aaron Torgalski and Robert McCabe, were charged with assault. They have pleaded not guilty in the incident. Gugino is still in the hospital.
Buffalo protester shoved by Police could be an ANTIFA provocateur. 75 year old Martin Gugino was pushed away after appearing to scan police communications in order to black out the equipment. @OANN I watched, he fell harder than was pushed. Was aiming scanner. Could be a set up?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 9, 2020
Trump’s incendiary claim comes amid a national debate over police brutality in the wake of the death of Floyd, an unarmed black man who died late last month after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
