President Trump on Sunday accused NBC News of “purposely” twisting his comments about confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and Union Gen. Ulysses Grant at a campaign rally.

“NBC News has totally and purposely changed the point and meaning of my story about General Robert E Lee and General Ulysses Grant,” Mr. Trump tweeted. “Was actually a shoutout to warrior Grant and the great state in which he was born. As usual, dishonest reporting. Even mainstream media embarrassed!”

At a rally in Ohio Friday night, Mr. Trump referenced the Confederate Army general as a “great general” to make the point that Grant, an Ohio native, eventually defeated a tough adversary.

“Robert E. Lee was a great general, and Abraham Lincoln developed a phobia,” Mr. Trump said during the event. “He couldn’t beat Robert E. Lee. But Grant figured it out, and Grant is a great general, and Grant came from right here.”

Several news outlets reported Mr. Trump’s comment about Lee being “great” without reporting the rest of his remarks.

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