Trump: Jussie Smollett 'Scam' Is Just Like Impeachment 'Scam'

Jussie Smollett's claim that attackers yelling "MAGA country" beat him up in Chicago was "a scam"—just like the impeachment inquiry surrounding President Trump, Trump says. The POTUS was in Chicago Monday speaking at the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference, and he had this to say: "Then you have the case of this wise guy Jussie Smollett, who beat up … himself. And he said MAGA country did it. MAGA country. That’s a hate crime. A hate crime,” Trump said. "It is a scam. A real big scam. Just like the impeachment of your president is a scam." The crowd cheered that line, Deadline notes.

"Then you look what is going on. Smollett is still trying to get away with it. He would have been better off if he paid his $100,000 bill," Trump continued, referring to the $130,000 the city of Chicago is attempting to recover from the actor for the investigation into what police believe was a hoax attack. Trump also bashed the city's police chief, leading to this response from Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Twitter: "It's no surprise that @realDonaldTrump brought his insulting, ignorant buffoonery to Chicago." She added, "President Trump knows as much about policing as he does running a fair and transparent government. I stand by the Superintendent for living up to the values of this great city and its residents." TMZ notes this is at least the fourth occasion on which Trump has publicly bashed Smollett. (More Jussie Smollett stories.)