President's tweet Thursday has links to Los Angeles

(FOX 11) - It's been a common theme in the Trump presidency: alternative facts.

Trump tweeted one out today that has ties to our own city: Pershing Square.

Soon after offering condolences to Barcelona's victims Thursday, Donald Trump tweeted this urban legend about General John Pershing.

"Study what General Pershing of the United States did to terrorists when caught. There was no more Radical Islamic Terror for 35 years."

The problem?

USC law professor Jody Armour.says the story ....isn't true.

"President Trump is referring to an apocal story that didn't really happen," says Armour.

This isn't the first time President Trump has referred to the World War One general… he brought him up at a 2016 political rally:

"They took the bullets from the pig and they swashed it around. And then they took the bullets and they shot 49 out of the 50 people," said Trump.

Trump goes on, saying the 50th person was released to tell others what happened.

"....and for 42 years they didn't have a problem with radical Islamic terror," said Trump.

Professor Armour says there is a running theme in Trump's less than accurate tweets

"The question is what is the further message that hes trying to communicate. It's one of toughness it's one of I'm not going to be politically correct," said Armour.

He says for Trump's base, truth, doesn't necessarily matter.

"Whether or not the story's true, what Trump is really saying is I'm willing to go beyond politically correct limits to protect America....to protect American lives," said Armour.

Armour says if you're focusing on the truth. You might be missing the point.

He says sometimes a story is more important than the truth.

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