Trump unveiled new props at bizarre COVID-19 briefing that spurred instant memes

by Walter Einenkel

Daily Kos Staff

Monday, May. 11, 2020 Monday, May. 11, 2020 at 2:32:35pm PDT

US President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference on the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC on May 11, 2020. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) — That cost taxpayers money.

Donald Trump held a bizarre pep rally press conference type thing on Monday. Trump and others spoke in the Rose Garden with two identical posters hung on each side of Trump’s dumb head, boasting a lie about America’s primacy in testing for the novel coronavirus. Americans with even the smallest level of critical thinking could see what was happening. Trump is attempting to sell America Trump steaks made out of Grade Z beef.

The signs, in big sans serif lettering, said: “AMERICA LEADS THE WORLD IN TESTING.” This was a last second deal and as George Orwell’s 1984 has taught us, simple bold lettering is how you drive home propaganda. Of course, simple bold lettering on a blank white background is also wildly easy to photoshop, so Twitter decided to have a field day with the tragicomedy that is this administration.

There’s the painful fact.

Done..... pic.twitter.com/ZEIKOZCp34
— InnerVoices (@N_Random_Twit) May 11, 2020

And there’s this other brutal fact.

pic.twitter.com/WJ6jIGGkXp
— Ivan the KÃ¢ÂÂ¢ (@IvanTheK) May 11, 2020

And the actual numerical fact.

Stole this. pic.twitter.com/cB9rn1euKc
— PaigeÃ°ÂÂÂ¨Ã°ÂÂÂ¦ (@Paige42Canada) May 11, 2020

And this simple fact.

This one is more accurate. pic.twitter.com/d121svngAE
— Ann Kriss (@akriss253) May 11, 2020

And here’s a recent American history lesson

pic.twitter.com/xGcjpELUmE
— Jennifer Hayden (@Scout_Finch) May 11, 2020

But there is also this sad reality.

pic.twitter.com/76CN0c8wgg
— (((Mezzo))) (@cate_walt) May 11, 2020

And remember when this was the sad fact?

pic.twitter.com/j0zfk4X3Zs
— I only exist to let dogs in and out That's it Ã°ÂÂÂ¨Ã°ÂÂÂ¦ (@USA_For_Can) May 11, 2020

And what is being said.

pic.twitter.com/YoArSAlG9Y
— Ed Gruberman (@E_Gruberman) May 11, 2020

And a reminder.

WeÃ¢ÂÂve seen this before... pic.twitter.com/iKP0ymevyH
— Denise Wu (@denisewu) May 11, 2020

But Trump is the first reality television host president.

The Rose Garden meets Home Shopping Network, virus testing edition.
— Casey Nikoloric (@CaseyNikoloric) May 11, 2020

And finally.

In the Rose Garden. #TrumpPressConference pic.twitter.com/L5dHtrrdrg
— Hard 2 Follows (@carriesmith1123) May 11, 2020