Critics of President Donald Trump mocked him mercilessly on social media after he referred to Iran as the “Islamic Republic of Japan,” and made several other stunning gaffes during press conferences at the NATO summit Wednesday.
Trump, who is the oldest person elected president and recently celebrated his 80th birthday, made several errors on Wednesday, including messing up the name of a social media app, confusing leaders of nations and even getting the names of countries he is bombing wrong. While taking questions alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the president told reporters that the “Islamic Republic of Japan” had launched 111 missile shots at a U.S. aircraft. Trump seemingly meant the Islamic Republic of Iran.
But lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, used the gaffe to bash the president, claiming his “rambling, unhinged, confused performance this morning was an embarrassment to our country on the world stage.”
“Imagine if that was Biden? We’d still be hearing about cognitive decline, fitness for office, and the 25th Amendment weeks later,” one X user noted.
“Only Trump could turn Iran into the Islamic Republic of Japan. Next he’ll blame Pearl Harbor on Tehran. Legend,” another added.
Later during the presser, Trump asked reporters, “Do you have a question for President Putin?” while seemingly gesturing toward Zelensky. Later, Trump clarified that he would call Putin to ask the questions.
The Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump PAC, pointed out Trump’s mistakes and asserted: “His brain is mush.”
When asked about the president’s gaffes, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement, “President Trump delivered a marathon, high-energy performance at the NATO summit, holding four separate press availabilities plus a solo press conference and taking unscripted questions from reporters on a wide range of topics.”
“The President commanded every room, gave our allies some much-needed tough love, and left the summit with a stronger NATO and more united free world,” Leavitt added.
But others mocked Trump for making the mistake.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a prominent Trump opponent, joked on X: “Don Jr. frantically placing bets on the US responding majorly to the Islamic Republic of Japan.”
Pennsylvania State lawmaker Malcom Kenyatta wrote, “Big, if true.”
Joe Walsh, a former Republican lawmaker, called for the 25th Amendment, which, when invoked, can forcibly transfer presidential powers to the Vice President if the president is incapacitated.
Some pointed out the hypocrisy of Trump’s constant bashing of former President Joe Biden for making gaffes or physical missteps while he was in office. Former congressman Adam Kinzinger, also an outspoken Trump critic, wrote: “BUT Biden once didn’t know where the exit was!
“Would be great if our MSM held him accountable. If this was Biden constantly flubbing, it would be on every front page,” an X user stated.
“He used to make fun of Biden and look at him now. That’s karma for you,” another added.
Trump often invokes Biden’s name during press conferences or rallies, claiming his predecessor was unfit to serve as president because he lacked mental acuity. Trump famously bestowed the nickname “Sleepy Joe” on Biden, who was the oldest person to serve as president.
CNN reporter Aaron Blake pointed out that in 2018, Trump tweeted reminding people that former President Barack Obama accidentally said he visited “57 states” instead of “51 states”
“When President Obama said that he had been to ‘57 States,’ very little mention in Fake News Media. Can you imagine if I said that…. Story of the year!” Trump tweeted at the time.
Later on, Trump held another press conference for reporters where he called TikTok, the social media app, “Tic Tac.” It’s the second time in days that the president has referred to the social media app by the wrong name.
“Orange Tic Tac, presumably?” one social media user slyly noted.
