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A video clip has surfaced of Eric Trump attending a Federal Emergency Management Agency meeting, and nobody can figure out why.
Trump is not a part of FEMA's operations, does not have any expertise in emergency management and doesn't live or have any known connection to the area's impacted by Laura's landfall.
Given that, his presence confused many journalists when the video clip surfaced Thursday.
Looks like independent businessman Eric Trump doesn't even know why he was at FEMA today. https://t.co/7h9oqqumqH— The Recount (@The Recount) 1598554273.0
The meeting, which both President Trump and Vice President Pence attended, was held to discuss Hurricane Laura's path and impact so far.
In the video, Eric Trump stands awkwardly in the back of the room near the exist, seeming to pace back and forth as if he himself doesn't know why he's there.
Reporters who were present said that he did not say anything during the meeting, and was never acknowledged or introduced by the President or any FEMA official present.
While Trump is an officer in his father's company, he does not have a role in the White House or in any other governmental or political capacity, so his presence raised eyebrows among the press pool present.
For his part, the President's behavior in the meeting also struck some reporters as odd. At one point, when a FEMA official commented upon the deaths and injuries that have occurred so far due to Hurricane Laura, Trump responded with a non sequitur about Mike Pence's speech at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday.
"I just wanted to say Mike did a fantastic job last night. I think you deserve the honor of making your statement right now. You made a big statement last night, let's make a smaller one now."
On Twitter, many people were confused, unnerved and angered by Eric Trump's lurking in the meeting.
@PaulaReidCBS Just incredible. The Trumps are acting like some sort of Royal Family - where the young Princes have… https://t.co/z5MFMI0JN8— John Shewchuk (@John Shewchuk) 1598563920.0
@PaulaReidCBS The eye of the storm literally passed over my house in the wee hours of the morning. Laura changed th… https://t.co/qNPTD56GTo— Purple in the Bayou (@Purple in the Bayou) 1598561049.0
@PaulaReidCBS Eric can show up to this meeting and he is not a government employee but can’t show up for the subpo… https://t.co/4615aPA2I2— Ana 🇺🇸🇵🇷 (@Ana 🇺🇸🇵🇷) 1598562257.0
@PaulaReidCBS And his security clearance is exactly what again? Not that the meeting is necessarily sensitive but o… https://t.co/WHG5HlxB80— John (Get da shot!) (@John (Get da shot!)) 1598553628.0
And many had theories as to why Eric was in attendance.
@PaulaReidCBS You already know why. You've seen it enough times to know that they treat the executive branch as a s… https://t.co/yWbypF8srU— Nick (@Nick) 1598554073.0
@PaulaReidCBS He wants to see how funds can be diverted to trump organization!!!— Nancy Hernandez (@Nancy Hernandez) 1598565134.0
It’s “Bring Your Son to Work Day”. For some reason, Eric Trump (who works for the Trump Organization, and has nothi… https://t.co/VsrUUINw8X— Mike Sington (@Mike Sington) 1598559706.0
@CMargaronis @PaulaReidCBS @dcherring He's like "oh sh** didn't realize there would be cameras in here. ,😀😀😀😀— NancyS91 (@NancyS91) 1598564259.0
And of course, some couldn't help but make a few wisecracks.
@PaulaReidCBS Eric Trump under the exit sign seems appropriate.— Will N DUMP THE GOP (@Will N DUMP THE GOP) 1598562721.0
@PaulaReidCBS Eric wanted to “go bye-bye big plane”, so Daddy said, “only if you stay in the back and don’t speak.”— d'Aulan (@d'Aulan) 1598553616.0
As of this writing, the White House has not responded to press inquiries about the nature of his son's presence at the FEMA meeting.