President Donald Trump took a wild stab at African American history Wednesday morning when he described the 19th-century black abolitionist leader, social reformer and writer Frederick Douglass as “somebody who has done an amazing job.”
Trump said during a listening session that he was “very proud” of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened before he took office, for providing a place where people can learn about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and “so many other things.”
“Frederick Douglass is an example of somebody who has done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more, I notice,” Trump said, perhaps unable to articulate Douglass’ historically recognized role as an abolitionist leader and the first black citizen to hold a high rank in the U.S. government.
He went on to name Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks as examples of “black Americans who made America what it is today.”
“A big impact,” Trump said. “I’m proud to honor this heritage. I will be honoring it more and more.”
Twitter had a lot of fun with the Douglass name-drop:
Trump just described Frederick Douglass as “someone who has done a terrific job that is being recognized by more and more people”
— David Frum (@davidfrum) February 1, 2017
President Trump has noticed this guy Frederick Douglass, who “has done an amazing job.” Really. https://t.co/dO1i3fH8tm pic.twitter.com/dPV8PmDzVT
— Jonathan Weisman (@jonathanweisman) February 1, 2017
Credit where due: Frederick Douglass did, indeed, do an “amazing job.” The President is right on that.
— Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes) February 1, 2017
significant chance that Donald Trump does not know who Frederick Douglass is
— Nathan Goldman (@nathangoldman) February 1, 2017
he has zero. clue. whatsoever. who frederick douglass is https://t.co/ZHXPlLjcWk
— joe erbentraut (@robojojo) February 1, 2017
When you get to the essay section of the AP US History test and it’s about someone you’ve never heard of: https://t.co/cIunMOcKWx
— Jason O. Gilbert (@gilbertjasono) February 1, 2017
He’s talkin about Frederick Douglass like he just dropped a mixtape. https://t.co/R2B6WplfRU
— Ashlee 2 Last Names (@AshleeEats) February 1, 2017
you could show trump a photo of tyga, tell him it’s frederick douglass and he wouldn’t flinch pic.twitter.com/htdojSlzE3
— deaux (@dstfelix) February 1, 2017
It… sounds like Trump thinks Frederick Douglass is still alive. He can’t think that. Can he? https://t.co/SmMXk2Z5Zi
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) February 1, 2017
does he know frederick douglass is dead? serious question.
— El Flaco (@bomani_jones) February 1, 2017
Frederick Douglass escaped violence and oppression by traveling with false papers to a place where he could be safe. What do you call that? https://t.co/RC2ycPCgvb
— wikipedia brown (@eveewing) February 1, 2017
Watch his remarks below:
Fake President Trump : “I am also President for the Blacks ? And I shall tell them a story ?”
Edit: Did anyone remind him about the Chinese Lunar New Year and the POTUS’s traditional greeting at that occasion ?
Well, at least Canada has a leader we can be proud of.
And hot too!
(Just keeping it light in dark times)
45 is such an ass.
This is so embarrassing…I WANT to laugh and point and make jokes but…this is the PRESIDENT of the United States. His ‘Congress’ is no better. There IS no ‘working together’. They have suspended the rules to shove through ANYTHING while opining about what ‘victims’ they are. Trump doesn’t know which end is up and his peeps are scurrying around trying to make sense of it and lie us into submission…this is truly and completely horrifying.