What would it mean for a social media Q&A; to ‘backfire’ in September 2015, for presidential candidate Donald Trump? Trump has been mocked and attacked constantly since he entered the race, and for years before that as he played a wacky reality show character and occasional politician. Trump is genuinely repellant and offensive in pretty much every way, and the fact that he’s even a real candidate drawing real support is a sign of dire times in America. But after Trump visited Twitter headquarters in New York for a question and answer session today, many news outlets declared the event “backfired” or was the “the worst idea of the 2016 campaign season”. But it’s hard to say why.
Trump made his name by being a figure of ridicule, and surely he and his campaign knew that Trump opponents would tweet angry things at him during the Q&A.; Since Trump has no grasp on policy, he thrives on empty, aggressive statements and verbal fights. He is all spectacle, and this provided a fine venue for more. While the Twitter Q&A; likely won’t push Trump’s popularity to greater heights, there’s no reason that angry liberals comparing clever barbs would convince any Trump supporters to jump ship.
Here are the things people said to or about Donald Trump. Many are very funny or cutting, but none mean the Q&A; will hurt him in any way (and to be fair, none of the tweets’ authors probably expected them to).
If you build a wall to keep Mexicans out of the US, how will you get your suits into the country? #AskTrump pic.twitter.com/g4OECUskeL
— Franchesca Ramsey (@chescaleigh) September 21, 2015
https://twitter.com/LiamPLEdwards/status/645976313954742272
Do these mass shooters look Mexican to you? #AskTrump pic.twitter.com/TF2nSwTPjq
— BIG B (@bennyr82) September 21, 2015
how does it feel to be partly responsible for two men's decision to beat and piss on a homeless man #askTrump
— chris hooks (@cd_hooks) September 21, 2015
Is it true that if you say Donald Trump 3 times in the bathroom mirror, the hair in the drain will rise up to shout racial slurs? #AskTrump
— P a t r i c k (@ruinedbyreality) September 21, 2015
#asktrump If one train was leaving San Francisco at 8am & another was leaving NYC at 10am how long before you say s'thing racist?
— Bitch, You Tried It. (@thewayoftheid) September 21, 2015
how does it feel to be partly responsible for two men's decision to beat and piss on a homeless man #askTrump
— chris hooks (@cd_hooks) September 21, 2015
Trump answered some of the more softball tweets without really saying anything, and ignored the mocking ones. He is still leading the polls for the Republican nomination for the presidency. He likely either never saw all the jokes aimed his way, or read them and laughed.
I just wrapped up a Q&A @TwitterNYC. Thanks for all your questions! #AskTrump pic.twitter.com/zpbcRHfxy6
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 21, 2015