Donald Trump usually makes sure his public appearances include crowds of supporters, but a recent outing made it impossible for the President to escape his critics.
The President and First Lady Melania Trump visited the Supreme Court to view the casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a lifelong proponent of gender equality and expanded voting rights whose vacancy Trump is determined to fill before the November election.
When the crowd waiting to view Ginsburg's casket saw the President, many began booing, followed by chants of "Vote him out!" and "Honor her wish!" The latter alluded to Ginsburg's dying wish that a new Supreme Court Justice not be appointed "until a new President is installed."
Watch below.
Trump booed by crowd as he visits Ruth Bader Ginsburg's casket on the steps of the Supreme Court pic.twitter.com/iASjgYYQjU
— Zach Purser Brown (@zachjourno) September 24, 2020
The White House is largely dismissing the moment, with White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany calling the chants "appalling" but unsurprising in the "heart of the swamp."
But the President claims the boos weren't that loud.
Watch his response below.
President Trump on boos at Supreme Court: "We could hardly hear it." pic.twitter.com/CsJ1aRZaJC
— The Hill (@thehill) September 25, 2020
Trump said:
"I think that was just a political chant. We could hardly hear it with where we were. Somebody said there was some chanting, but they were right next to the media, but we really couldn't hardly hear too much."
Others begged to differ.
Uh-huh. Sure. https://t.co/gBKi5gViqM
— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) September 24, 2020
He lies https://t.co/Ya8SKp0x2k
— Jen✍🌻🐾🐝 #PlanYourVote (@zookeeper125) September 24, 2020
Another lie to add to the 20k plus!!! He does not stop. Its killing him to hear it https://t.co/6K5w6caF3y
— Vernon Page (@VernonP26633699) September 25, 2020
Of course he “couldn't" 🙄 https://t.co/jYtXWmTHQ7
— Asa-Monae (@AsaMonae) September 25, 2020
Oh he heard. That's all he heard. https://t.co/mZ7galFLyE
— melinda browne (@gardeningnut2) September 25, 2020
“Couldn't hardly" is a double negative.
“Couldn't hear" is fine. “Couldn't" is one negative.
“Could hardly hear" is also fine. “Hardly" is another negative.
“Couldn't hardly hear" is like math. Two minuses equal a plus.
It means Trump heard the protesters loud and clear.
— Rhysdux (@Rhysdux) September 24, 2020
While Trump may claim the chants fell on deaf ears, others say the moment was one of the most satisfying of the week.
The best part of my day was watching Donald Trump get booed.
— Stef Garlander BB 🌴 (@SGarlander) September 25, 2020
I thought Twitter had a policy against porn
— Jason Boyd, Expert Soup Marksman (@JasonBoydWrites) September 24, 2020
My kink is watching Trump get booed
— brentt VOTE harshman (@BrenttHarshman) September 24, 2020