Real estate mogul Donald Trump’s Twitter account is already infamous for frequent factual screw-ups, and on Monday he fell for an unfortunate prank that ranks pretty high among his social media gaffes.
Twitter user Philip Bradbury, who goes by the handle @feckhead, tweeted an appeal to the Donald to share a photo of his “parents” who he wrote cited the billionaire as an inspiration. What Trump didn’t realize was that the two people pictured were notorious British serial killers Fred and Rose West.
Donald Trump seriously needs to Google Fred and Rose West pic.twitter.com/zVEMnXcg5B
— BuzzFeed UK (@BuzzFeedUK) September 29, 2014
The Wests killed at least twelve people in the 1970s and committed many of the murders in their Gloucester, England home. The two were arrested and charged in 1994, but Fred West committed suicide before going to trial. Rose West is currently serving a life sentence.
Trump was livid at the prankster and threatened to sue:
Some jerk fraudulently tweeted that his parents said I was a big inspiration to them + pls RT—out of kindness I retweeted. Maybe I’ll sue.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 29, 2014
I thought I was being nice to somebody re their parents. I guess this teaches you not to be nice or trusting. Sad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 29, 2014
