Was Donald Trump the target of a coup? No

Trump said the Russia investigation "was a coup. This was an attempted overthrow of the United States government."

The Russia investigation stemmed from a by-the-rules law enforcement inquiry. That’s far different than a coup, for which the defining characteristic is that it occurs outside the legal system. It’s also worth noting that the original investigation began before Trump had even been sworn in, meaning he wasn’t even eligible to be deposed by a coup.

We rate the statement Pants on Fire.

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