In a call for simpler times, ahead of the unprecedented global pandemic and civil unrest across the country, supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden have co-opted a notorious prank made by President Trump four years ago in the election campaign.
The year was 2016, and the Iowa assemblies were only two weeks away. Donald Trump, a reality TV star and property mogul, was the Republican favorite, and he was, well, confident in his chances.
“I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot someone, and I wouldn’t lose any voters, okay?” Trump said, imitating shooting a gun with his fingers, at a campaign stop in Iowa. “It is, like, incredible.” Later, Trump tweeted: “My speech was very well received. Truly great people! Full house, overflow!
“Their audience loves it,” wrote NPR journalist Don Gonyea at the time: “They say, ‘Yes, it does give me the chills sometimes, but I still like it and still think it’s the right thing for America.'”
But now Biden’s supporters are co-opting the joke on Twitter, for their own amusement, even jokingly offering to take a bullet as a sign of how passionate the November election is preparing.
“Joe Biden could shoot me in the middle of 5th Avenue and apologize for using one of his bullets and then crawl on my hands and knees through an invented proven class to the polling place to vote for him on November 3. [sic]”Wrote @rmertel.
In response, @PattysYorkie tweeted, “I may find it difficult to do all of that, I’m a little old. But I would be damned if I didn’t try!
“Joe Biden could shoot me on 5th Avenue and ask the ambulance to drop me off at the polls,” wrote @maryruthedk.
“Joe Biden could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot Joe Biden and still vote for him,” added @if_you_see_kaye.
“Joe Biden can stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot 100 people and we are still voting against Trump,” tweeted @FrankXMjr. “The scam is over.”
“Joe Biden could shoot me on 5th Avenue and if he survived I would vote for him, if I didn’t, my last words would be … he did it in self-defense, so vote for Joe,” wrote @Hamsteronstilts.
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