Trump’s tweet scolds wrong May in UK

U.S. President Donald Trump / AP File Photo

LONDON—A British woman inundated with unwanted attention after US President Donald Trump sent her a scolding tweet intended for Prime Minister Theresa May said on Thursday she was waiting for an apology.

Theresa Scrivener, who used her middle name to set up the Twitter account @TheresaMay in 2009, has received scores of messages and phone calls after the overnight tweet caused a diplomatic spat.

Trump’s message was promptly deleted and reposted with the correct Twitter handle, but not quickly enough for Scrivener’s account—with its six followers and handful of posts—to escape notice.

“If I wanted to be famous I would have gone on ‘(The) X Factor,’” the unimpressed 41-year-old told Britain’s Press Association, referring to the popular TV talent contest.

Speaking from her home in Bognor Regis, a seaside town 89 kilometers southwest of London, she said: “It’s amazing to think that the world’s most powerful man managed to press the wrong button.” “I’m just waiting for a call from the White House with an apology.”

Surreal

Trump’s message told May to focus on her own affairs after she rebuked his decision to retweet anti-Muslim videos published by the deputy leader of a British far-right group.

Scrivener described the “surreal” experience of waking up Thursday to phone calls from media outlets around the world.

She revealed that most messages received so far were supportive, including many from Americans apologizing for their president’s conduct.

‘Mom’

“He needs to think before he tweets. We—Theresa May and I—are so different. Our profiles are completely different. She runs the country, I’m a mom from Bognor,” she said.

“I hope now I’ve said my piece I will be left alone.”

Prime Minister May repeated on Thursday that Trump was wrong to retweet anti-Muslim videos posted by a British far-right group.

Islamophobic posts

Speaking to reporters during a trip to Jordan, May stood her ground, defending her record on tackling extremism, including by the far right.

Trump’s retweets of videos and messages from a small group with no political representation known for its aggressively anti-Muslim stance have drawn condemnation in the United States and in Britain, where there were renewed calls for his planned state

visit to the United Kingdom to be canceled.

The White House claimed that by retweeting the Islamophobic posts, Trump had “elevated” the debate about security. —AFP