His official representative, Kellyanne Conway, went even further, saying Trump’s claim is based on “alternative facts.”

This is not the first time the blowhard candidate and then president-elect made claims based on verifiable untruths. So let’s call “alternative facts” what they are; they are lies.

Now as president of the United States, his lying prevarications pose a direct threat to our free society, which depends on engaged citizens informed by true facts. Government officials calling their lies “alternative facts” endangers the very foundation of our democracy.

Patriotic appreciation to news reporters who check the facts and point out the lies.

Bruce Joffe

Piedmont, CA