I have a theory that Donald J. Trump never wanted to be President in the first place. He did his best to be so despicable that he’d lose, but he managed to win the White House anyway.
Now that he actually has the job, he can’t stand it.
At least, that’s my theory. I think he’s acting like a teenager with his first grocery store job. He’s doing as bad a job as he possibly can in the hopes of getting fired, since everyone will be all over him if he quits.
Yesterday’s embarrassing display of ineptitude in front of the Irish Prime Minister is just one more bit of evidence that Trump is deliberately trying to screw up his President gig so he can go back to golfing and schmoozing with other rich idiots.
The whole fiasco was recorded on social media both here and in the Emerald Isle.
The first big gaffe occurred when VP Mike Pence greeted the crowd of Irish reporters and officials by saying, “Top o’ the morning to you.” That’s like the worst lame Irish stereotype there is.
https://twitter.com/sssugarhigh/status/842518633997897728
Then there was the moment when Irish American Paul Ryan wanted to give a toast to the gathered crowd. He reached under the podium and pulled out a pint of Guinness that had obviously been poured well in advance of the event. There wasn’t a bubble or a bit of foam to be seen. The Irish were appalled.
First Mike Pence says 'top of the morning', then Paul Ryan holds up this appalling pint, grave missteps by the US pic.twitter.com/U4ktqf0Aag
— Naomi O'Leary (@NaomiOhReally) March 16, 2017
But the biggest goof of the day belonged to the President himself. As surprising as it may be from a President who is so scrupulous about fact checking everything before he says it (ahem), he read a proverb that isn’t a proverb and attributed it to the Irish when it isn’t theirs.
The President stood in front of the crowd and said:
“As we stand together with our Irish friends, I’m reminded of an Irish proverb — and this is a good one, this is one I like, I’ve heard it for many, many years and I love it.”
“Always remember to forget the friends that proved untrue, but never forget to remember those that have stuck by you.”
Nice sentiment, but not exactly familiar to the Irish crowd.
Have literally never heard this in my entire life. https://t.co/3gSBhbvdl2
— Christine Bohan (@ChristineBohan) March 16, 2017
Some people did what apparently the White House staff had done to find a suitable Irish proverb. They looked at a quote site on Google and found the words right away. As it turns out, the lines are part of a poem written by a Nigerian writer. It isn’t a proverb at all.
And it sure isn’t Irish.
Trump reads poem written by Muslim Nigerian poet Albasheer Adam Alhassan, & ignorantly calls it "an Irish proverb." https://t.co/dr2vQx5YA2
— Anne Ω?? (@relevanne) March 17, 2017
A lot of people on social media and in print found it ironic that the President chose the words of a Muslim to represent his warm feelings for the Irish.
At least one Twitter user took that irony one step further and made a suggestion to Trump. Others used it to comment on Trump’s recent actions.
https://twitter.com/LabourJames/status/842787642970460161
Trump's "favorite Irish proverb" is actually a poem written by a Nigerian… and that is why we need public arts funding?
— Hannah Weaver (@hannahweaver001) March 17, 2017
I think my theory is accurate. I think he just hopes something he does will get him the hell out of the Oval Office. I think we can all agree with him on that hope.
Featured image by LenDog 64 via Flickr. (CC BY-ND 2.0)
