Trump tweets, then deletes, widely inflated Sri Lanka death toll

US President Donald Trump committed faux pas as he erroneously wrote that "138 million people" were killed in the Sri Lanka bombings.

In a Tweet, he expressed condolences to families of the victims of the Sri Lanka explosions - and grossly overstated the death toll.

He wrote: "Heartfelt condolences from the people of the United States to the people of Sri Lanka on the horrible terrorist attacks on churches and hotels that have killed at least 138 million people and badly injured 600 more. We stand ready to help!" 

Within minutes, he deleted the incorrect tweet and sent a new one with the corrected death toll.