Donald Trump Trolls 'Lyin' Brian Williams' Over MSNBC Departure: 'Won't be Missed'

Donald Trump has once again mocked outgoing MSNBC anchor Brian Williams for falsely claiming he had been on a helicopter that was shot down in Iraq in 2003 following news that he is leaving the station.

In a statement released four days after the Los Angeles Times first reported that Williams will not sign a new contract with NBC and will leave the company after 28 years, Trump said the veteran anchor "won't be missed."

"Looks like Lyin' Brian Williams is leaving ratings-challenged MSNBC to search for new employment," Trump said,

"Never had the credibility to do what he is doing after he was caught lying about his involvement in a fake military airplane skirmish. He later confessed, it never happened.

"He's tired of his current show and they're obviously tired of him—won't be missed!"

This is not the first time that Trump used the military plane scandal surrounding Williams to attack the veteran anchor.

According to The New York Times' "Complete List of Trump's Twitter Insults (2015-2021)" the former president referenced the journalist as "Lyin' Brian Williams" at least four times on the social media platform before he was banned from it in wake of the January 6 attack on the Capitol.

In 2015, Williams was suspended from NBC for six months after he was found to have made false statements about his experience covering the Iraq war. He frequently claimed to have been in a helicopter that had been shot down by enemy fire in 2003.

Williams told the story during broadcasts, blog posts and even an appearance on David Letterman's talk show. Williams later admitted that he was actually in a following aircraft and not one that had been shot down.

His telling of the story was disputed by veterans who were on the helicopter that was actually hit by enemy fire.

"Sorry dude, I don't remember you being on my aircraft," Flight Engineer Lance Reynolds wrote on Facebook. "I do remember you walking up about an hour after we had landed to ask me what had happened."

Replying to Reynolds on Facebook, Williams apologized and said the "fog of memory over 12 years" made him say he was on the helicopter which was shot at.

In a further apology given on-air, Williams said his false claim was a "bungled attempt" to thank an Iraq veteran.

"I made a mistake in recalling the events of 12 years ago," Williams said.

"I want to apologize. I said I was traveling in an aircraft that was hit by RPG fire; I was instead in a following aircraft. We all landed after the ground fire incident and spent two harrowing nights in a sandstorm in the Iraq desert."

In a statement confirming his departure, Williams said: "Following much reflection, and after 28 years with the company, I have decided to leave NBC upon the completion of my current contract in December.

"I have been truly blessed. I have been allowed to spend almost half of my life with one company. NBC is a part of me and always will be."