Rand Paul Claims He Was Attacked After RNC But Videos Tell A Different Story

Senator Rand Paul is causing some debate on social media following his claims he was attacked by an angry mob in Washington D.C. after his appearance at the Republican National Convention on Thursday.

Paul took to Twitter to state he had been attacked by an "angry mob" as he walked back from the White House, stating it happened one block away from the President’s residence, but videos of his walk appear to tell a slightly different story.

Rand Paul just got chased by a crowd back to his hotel, after leaving the White House from Trump’s Republican Party Nomination #DC #DCProtests pic.twitter.com/h1kPcZG1jh
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) August 28, 2020

One video being shared widely online does show the Kentucky Senator being swarmed by a mob of protestors shouting “Say her name” and “Breonna Taylor,” in honor of the EMT who lost her life when her home was raided by police while she slept, but no one appears to actually touch him or his wife, Kelley. The pair are surrounded by D.C. police officers, and as they walk, one who uses a bike to keep the crowd away appears to lose his balance as the crowd pushes into him. He then falls backward into Paul, who helps him regain his balance and they continue moving.

A second video, which is longer, also shows the crowd swarm Paul and his family. The clip later focuses on what appears to be protestors on the ground as they clean out their eyes with water.

Paul’s claims of an attack were quickly scrutinized on social media, with many defending the protestors and refuting the claims he made about what happened. As a result, his name and the word "attacked" trended nationwide on Twitter on Friday.

Crazed mob? Let me translate that for you: concerned American citizens exercising their First Amendment rights: “... right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” In case, you know, YOU FORGOT.
— Brian (@TheBrianLy) August 28, 2020

This is the “attack” Rand Paul claims could have taken his life if not for the police.

pic.twitter.com/Mz81YTy2z0
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@TheRealHoarse) August 28, 2020

Dear Rand Paul,

Attacked is when you are shot seven times for trying to stop a fight and are left paralyzed from the waist down.

Protesters telling you what they think isn’t an attack, it’s your job.
— Santiago Mayer (@santiagomayer_) August 28, 2020

context because @tedcruz wont give you any:

Everyone: Jeers at Rand Paul, who blocked anti-lynching legislation but refuses to say the name of #BreonnaTaylor, a black woman who was murdered by police in her own home.

Rand Paul: I WAS MURDERED. EVERYONE MUST SAY MY NAME.
— Lostboy Computing (@Lostboycomp) August 28, 2020

Since releasing his tweet, Paul has doubled down on his claims, appearing on "Fox & Friends" Friday morning and stating that he felt if the police had not been there to form a protective barrier around him, that he and his wife would likely have suffered from some serious injuries.

“I truly believe this with every fiber of my being, had they gotten at us they would have gotten us to the ground, we might not have been killed, might just have been injured by being kicked in the head, or kicked in the stomach until we were senseless,” he said.