Trump Proved Why We Need Better Education With Dumb Question About Civil War

President Donald Trump made yet another comment about American history that has people shaking their heads.

In an interview with Salena Zito from the Washington Examiner, Trump went on a long ramble about President Andrew Jackson, whom he admires.

The president mentioned his March trip to Tennessee, where he visited Jackson's grave. And then, things got really weird.

Here's audio of the president's Civil War remarks, via @SXMPolitics pic.twitter.com/ya8buWOcwa — Lachlan Markay (@lachlan) May 1, 2017

"I mean, had Andrew Jackson been a little later you wouldn't have had the Civil War," Trump said.

The president continued,

He was a very tough person, but he had a big heart. He was really angry that he saw what was happening with regard to the Civil War. He said, 'There's no reason for this.'

Quick history lesson: Jackson was president from 1829 to 1837. He died in 1845. The Civil War started in 1861. So...did Jackson see what was happening with regard to the Civil War?

But don't worry, Trump didn't let that small detail get in the way. He went on to say -- and this is the good part,

People don't realize, you know: The Civil War, if you think about it, why? People don't ask that question, but why was there the Civil War? Why could that one not have been worked out?

There's a one word answer to all of those questions: Slavery.

Folks took to Twitter to fill the president in on basic American history.

Tweeters also pointed out to Trump that not only did he forget slavery existed, he forgot Jackson's relationship to slavery.

This is yet another example of Trump not seeming to understand history -- especially when it comes to black history.

While honoring Black History Month, Trump spoke about Frederick Douglass as if he were alive. That quote sounds remarkably like the Civil War comment. He said,

Douglass is an example of somebody who has done an amazing job that is being recognized more and more, I notice.

It's the same set-up: Trump talks about basic history as if it's something nobody has ever known or thought about before.

He speaks confidently, with full faith in his words.

And he appears to be just so, so wrong.

It feels like it's time for Trump to Billy Madison it back to elementary school history class.

Citations: Trump honors Andrew Jackson in Tennessee (USA Today), Trump: 'Why was there the Civil War' (The Hill)