Donald Trump’s big comeback rally – a large indoor rally held during a pandemic – in Tulsa, Oklahoma was a major disaster when the white supremacists and evangelicals he’s courted failed to show. After touting that “a million” people had requested tickets, the campaign was humiliated when only 6200 people showed up, leaving the stadium two-thirds empty and an outside “overflow” section abandoned.
Social media being what it is, memes and snark have further embarrassed the notoriously thin-skinned president.
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While Trump’s campaign blamed “fake media” coverage of the pandemic and his tweets that encouraged racist violence, K-Pop fans and Tik-Tok users claimed credit for the inflated interest in tickets. Thousands had signed up to attend with no intent to show up, leaving the campaign flat-footed after the throng they expected failed to materialize.
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Adding to the unintended humor, during his speech, Trump responded to chatter about his health after he spoke at a graduation ceremony at West Point and had to use both hands to hold a glass of water. The president also said he walked off the stage slowly because the ramp was “brutal” since he was wearing leather soled shoes.
Trump reportedly threw several tantrums after he found out that “overwhelming” crowd he had touted all week failed to show up. But by the time he landed back at the White House, he looked utterly defeated, which social media users dubbed his “walk of shame.”
Told ya'll he exaggerates about the size of things.
— Stormy Daniels (@StormyDaniels) June 21, 2020
I think I sold that same place out in five minutes. 😹 #donkeyshow pic.twitter.com/JNOwjIQ3hB
— P!nk (@Pink) June 21, 2020
Today I released my first campaign ad. It was produced by my kids. Let me know if you like it.https://t.co/OeXvghcnGv pic.twitter.com/CuFKMzdrZB
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) June 21, 2020
Your campaign was so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. pic.twitter.com/cfAAkGLttH
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) June 22, 2020
Holy shit! Trump can drink water with one hand (without help), while standing upright!!!! That’s it. Election’s in the can!!! https://t.co/oNRESZJA1O
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) June 21, 2020
the wiggles concert vs trump rally pic.twitter.com/HHizW9eDmo
— Tyler (@Tyler_Wiggle) June 21, 2020
6200. That could have been a Zoom meeting.
Same energy, minus the #coronavirus risk. https://t.co/Ozh77k6ixF
— Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) June 22, 2020
I actually feel sorry for… the bird.
— Gabe (@CrepuscularOhio) June 22, 2020
Nickelback had a larger crowd to their concert at BOK Center in Tulsa than Trump could get. That says a lot! #TrumpCoronaVirusRally
— Mrs. Krassenstein (@HKrassenstein) June 20, 2020
Posted by Ed Kennedy on Monday, June 22, 2020
— Jane Lynch (@janemarielynch) June 21, 2020
Elect women.
They can lift heavy glasses with one hand. pic.twitter.com/Ma11glpNvw
— Rhuta Bhayga (@RhutaBhayga2) June 21, 2020
Best thing about the TikTok & Kpop fans reserving tickets is that it actually didn’t block anyone from attending, the tickets don’t reserve seats. That small crowd was legit. They just blew up Trump’s expectations and killed their data haul. #tiktokteens #Emptyseats
— Caitlin Bennett (@caitlinfxbg) June 21, 2020
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