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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National

Donald Trump calls efforts to re-examine US history 'ideological poison' as he announces 'patriotic education' commission

Donald Trump has criticised efforts to re-examine US history as “ideological poison” that will “dissolve the civic bonds” of America.

The US president stepped up his rhetoric on cultural issues as he campaigned in the battleground state of Wisconsin on Thursday.

In a speech at the American National Archives, he criticised the "1619 Project" from the New. York Times, calling it "toxic propaganda".

The project was launched by the newspaper to recognise the often-overlooked consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans.

US President Donald Trump speaks to supporters at a

But Mr Trump said: "For many years now, the radicals have mistaken Americans' silence for weakness. But they are wrong.

"There is no more powerful force than a parent's love for their children - and patriotic moms and dads are going to demand that their children are no longer fed hateful lies about this country."

Mr Trump also told supporters in Wisconsin that his administration are launching "a new pro-American lesson plan for students" called the "1776 Commission".

"We're going to teach our children the truth about America," he said.

The trip comes as the US president's fifth visit to the pivotal battleground state this year.

He held a rally later in the evening in Mosinee - an area of Wisconsin that shifted dramatically towards Republicans in 2016.

This enabled Mr Trump to overcome even greater deficits in urban and suburban parts of the state.

At the rally, he called for a statute to ban burning the American flag in protest - a freedom protected by the US supreme court.

He also criticised sports players and leagues for allowing demonstrations against racial inequality.

"We have enough politics, right?" he said, joking that sometimes: "I can't watch me."

Addressing protests in sport, he added: "People don't want to see it and the ratings are down."

Mr Trump's last visit to Wisconsin came on September 1, when he met with law enforcement and toured damage from protests in Kenosha that turned violent after the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a black man hit seven times in the back during an attempted arrest.

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