Donald Trump Backpedals on Obama as 'Founder of ISIS' Claim: 'They Don't Get Sarcasm?'

Donald Trump on Friday backtracked on his inflammatory claim that President Barack Obama is the "founder of ISIS," criticizing "ratings challenged" CNN for seriously reporting what he now suggests was a sarcastic comment.

Later, attempting to clear up his remarks a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, Trump did anything but.

“I was being sarcastic," he told a raucous crowd. "But not that sarcastic to be honest with you."

It started early on Friday morning, when Trump took to Twitter to say, "Ratings challenged CNN reports so seriously that I call President Obama (and Clinton) 'the founder' of ISIS & MVP. THEY DON'T GET SARCASM?"

The Republican presidential nominee followed up later on Friday morning, tweeting, "I love watching these poor, pathetic people (pundits) on television working so hard and so seriously to try and figure me out. They can't!"

Later, Trump dinged CNN for their "all negative" reporting on him.

However, it wasn't just CNN.

"He was the founder of ISIS, absolutely," Trump said on CNBC when asked if it was "appropriate" to say that Obama founded a terrorist organization. Seemingly confused that he would be questioned about the appropriateness of the comments, the New York businessman later asked: "Is there something wrong with saying that? Why? Are people complaining that I said he was the founder of ISIS?"

Later on Thursday, Trump was asked by conservative radio show host Hugh Hewitt about the Wednesday night comments in Florida, saying that he took Trump to mean "that he (Obama) created the vacuum, he lost the peace."

Trump objected to that interpretation, however, saying, "No, I meant he's the founder of ISIS." He added: "I do. He was the most valuable player. I give him the most valuable player award. I give her, too, by the way, Hillary Clinton."

Hewitt pushed back once more, but Trump responded, "I don't care. He was the founder."

Trump's Friday reversal on Twitter is the newest episode in which he makes a verifiably false claim only to later explain away the comment.

Recently, Trump has been looking for a way to reignite support for his campaign after a dramatic downturn in the polls for his presidential candidacy following a series of missteps that include his feuding with a Gold Star family; declaring that he "always wanted" a Purple Heart but that it's "easier" to receive one as a gift; admitting that there was no "secret" video of a U.S. plane carrying $400 million in cash to Iran; and initially declining to endorse Republican candidates including House Speaker Paul Ryan.

In recent national polling, Clinton leads head-to-head match-ups against Trump, with the Democrat holding 47.5 percent support compared to 41.2 for the New York businessman, according to averages compiled by RealClear Politics.

[Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr Commons]