He falsely claims that "for Washington, the answer comes down to one thing: skin color."
In modern English the word pretend means "to claim falsely".
For example, any person can post a review falsely claiming to be a former client.
Later, many people falsely claimed to be surviving members of the royal family.
Several entities have falsely claimed to be members of the Endless.
Gamble falsely claimed that he started an investigation of his own immediately after the attack.
These people claimed falsely to be in possession of Church property which they refused to give up to officials.
This judgment will also separate true believers from those who falsely claim to be ones.
He falsely claimed that each judge was a debtor to him in the amount of $300,000,000.