Reaping what Donald Trump has sowed, the Trump campaign on Friday night canceled a rally slated to take place in the University of Illinois’ Chicago Pavilion arena instead of facing thousands of Trump protesters outside of the event hundreds more in the arena. CBS News reports a spokesperson for the Trump campaign announced the cancellation falsely citing “law enforcement”:

“Mr. Trump just arrived in Chicago, and after meeting law enforcement, has determined that for the safety of all the tens of thousands of people that have gathered in and around the arena tonight’s rally will be postponed until another date,” the man said from a podium. “Thank you very much for your attendance, and please go in peace.”

During an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity after the event cancellation, Trump stood by his campaign’s statement that they chose to cancel a Chicago rally Friday night at the recommendation of the Chicago Police Department:

We met with security and the law enforcement, who I think did a terrific job, and they told me it’d be best not to go in and do the speech.

Unfortunately for Trump the Chicago police spokesperson says there were no meetings between police and the Trump campaign about security:

CPD spokesman Anthony Guglielmi told the Associated Press that police never told the Trump campaign there was a security threat at the venue. He said the department had sufficient manpower on the scene to handle any situation.

Guglielmi said the university’s police department also did not recommend that Trump call off the event. The decision was made “independently” by the campaign, according to Guglielmi.

Why would Trump lie about meeting with police? Is he trying to cover up the protesters making such a shambles of his calls for unity? Why doesn’t Trump understand this is what happens when you urge supporters to engage in physical violence, to punch people in the face?