Donald Trump has been challenged over his retweeting of a conspiracy theory that Osama Bin Laden was still alive, being told: “You’re not somebody’s crazy uncle.”
Earlier this week, the president retweeted an account linked to the QAnon conspiracy theory that promoted the claim that Barack Obama and the US Navy SEALs had staged the 2011 raid in Pakistan that killed the Al-Qaeada leader.
The Hill said the has since been suspended, but the president on Wednesday also retweeted a video promoting claims about the raid, suggesting it did not happen and that Bin Laden was still alive.
Questioned during a town hall-style interview on Thursday, the president was challenged about his retweeting of the conspiracy theory.
“That was a retweet, I’ll put it out there. People can decide for themselves,” he said.
“You’re the president. You’re not like someone’s crazy uncle,” said moderator Savannah Guthrie.
Former Navy SEAL Robert O’Neill, who has claimed he was the special forces operative who killed Bin Laden in the 2011 raid, has hit back at Mr Trump’s actions.
“Very brave men said goodby to their kids to go kill Osama bin Laden,” he tweeted.
“We were given the order by President Obama. It was not a body double.”