President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at the G-7 summit, Saturday, June 9, 2018, in La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada. Image: AP/Evan Vucci
It seems hardly surprising now that United States President Donald Trump made another spelling blunder, this time beyond the realm of Twitter: in a press conference with lawmakers.
Trump’s frequent spelling mistakes have been the object of ridicule and flak by his critics online, mistakes that may have prompted some to wonder if Trump ever bothers to proofread his tweets before sending them out in the ether.
Trump held a press conference yesterday, July 17, after his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on Monday, July 16 faced fury when Trump rebuked the U.S. intelligence community. According to CNN last July 16, the U.S. intelligence community recently made an assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election, a finding that Trump did not endorse.
“I don’t see any reason why it would be [Russia],” Trump was quoted as saying then, a statement that had many crying treason.
Trump has since backtracked on his statement and explained yesterday what he really meant to say: “The sentence should have been: ‘I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be Russia.’ Sort of a double negative.”
But apart from his would-wouldn’t backtracking, Trump’s notes during the conference yesterday were also an object of attention by many. Zoomed-in photos of his notes started circulating around social media and showed that the President, once again, made a spelling mistake. The pictures were shared by David Gelles, CNN executive producer, yesterday on Twitter.
“Trump wrote in big black Sharpie on his printed remarks: ‘THERE WAS NO COLLUSION.’”
Except, Trump actually spelled “collusion” as “colusion”.
Trump wrote in big black Sharpie on his printed remarks: “THERE WAS NO COLLUSION” pic.twitter.com/5wiG4ukGce
— David P Gelles (@gelles) July 17, 2018
“‘Colusion’ because he’s already taking L (loss) on this one?” wrote one netizen (@CptnSkippy) today, July 18.
“colusion” because he’s already taking L on this one?
— Skippy 𝕏-S (@CptnSkippy) July 17, 2018
Another netizen, a certain Willow (@75Tramislate) commented, “He is not saying he didn’t collude, just that he didn’t colude.”
He is not not saying he didn’t collude, just that he didn’t colude
— Willow Tremaine (@75Tramislate) July 17, 2018
“Fun Fact of the Day,” said one Sherry (@VerySherry70). “Our previous 44 presidents spoke English fluently.”
Fun Fact of the Day: Our previous 44 presidents spoke English fluently.
— 🌊Middle-aged and Tired of your BS🌊 (@VerySherry70) July 17, 2018
Meanwhile, Kyle Smith, critic-at-large of the National Review magazine, wrote, “He has to remind himself in case he forgets.”
He has to remind himself in case he forgets
— Kyle Smith (@rkylesmith) July 17, 2018
Kevin Liptak, CNN White House reporter, also targeted Trump on Twitter yesterday, sharing a much clearer photo of the note. It’s apparent that Trump did leave out the other “L” in collusion and wrote “colusion.”
Trump was reading for a typewritten script during his "clarification" moment but he made some handwritten additions, including: "THERE WAS NO COLLUSION" pic.twitter.com/0IfleZm8yJ
— Kevin Liptak (@Kevinliptakcnn) July 17, 2018
A certain David (@davidfmatheson) replied to Liptak’s tweet today and suggested,”He should collude with @MerriamWebster.”
He should collude with @MerriamWebster
— David Matheson (@davidfmatheson) July 17, 2018
Merriam-Webster has since tweeted last July 16 that the word “collusion” had become their top-searched word, thanks to the Trump-Putin summit.
📈'Collusion' is our top search from statements made at the #TrumpPutinSummit. It last spiked in October after the first indictment of Paul Manafort. https://t.co/Df0tubqOLz
— Merriam-Webster (@MerriamWebster) July 16, 2018
Last June, Merriam-Webster also corrected Trump for misspelling “border” as “boarder.” Cody Cepeda/JB
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