For many people, former Republican President Donald Trump's name has become something of a forbidden four-letter-word since he left office. And if White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki's recent pithy comments are any indication, that includes the new occupants of the White House.
During a recent press conference, Psaki revealed that she and her colleagues in the administration of Democratic President Joe Biden refer to Trump not by name, but rather as "the former guy." And people are absolutely loving the subtle shade.
Psaki revealed the nickname while responding to a question about Trump from journalist Andrew Feinberg.
You can see it below.
Psaki: Obviously we take the rhetoric of the former guy as we like to say quite seriouslypic.twitter.com/PjQ4zWHqSd— Acyn (@Acyn) 1624297654
Feinberg asked Psaki about the administration's feelings about campaign-style rallies that Trump is holding this weekend in the state of Ohio. Feinberg queried whether the Biden Administration had concerns over Trump's continual insistence that the 2020 election was fraudulent and if they worried that Trump's claims that he actually won "could result in people being hurt or killed."
Psaki replied with the simultaneously blunt but vague nickname.
"Obviously we take the rhetoric of the other... the former guy, as we like to say, quite seriously as everyone should."
President Biden has referred to former President Trump as "the former guy" before, including in his first televised town hall as President back in February. Held by CNN in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the town hall focused on Biden's plans for tackling the pandemic.
Before later lamenting that he was "tired of talking about Donald Trump," Biden contrasted his approach to the pandemic with that of "the former guy."
"You had the former guy saying that, 'Well, you know, we're just going to open things up and that's all we need to do.' We said no, you've got to deal with the disease before you deal with getting the economy going."
The phrase became a popular way to refer to Trump on social media, but Psaki's use of the term is the first indication that the nickname has stuck within the walls of White House, as well.
And on Twitter, people absolutely loved the shade.
Jen Psaki calls Trump *the former guy* from the White House podium todaypic.twitter.com/OSYwajW7yR— Bob Poe (@Bob Poe) 1624307500
Jen Psaki calling him former guy, hahaha!!— UhhhhhGreg? (@UhhhhhGreg?) 1624308491
Spooky ... \u201cObviously, we take the rhetoric of ... (pause) ... the former guy, as we like to say, quite seriously.\u201d Jen Psaki, WH Press Secretary\n\nDamn, even the White House treats Trump as if he was the he-who-can-not-be-named evil character of our story.— Alfonso Rodriguez (@Alfonso Rodriguez) 1624308045
pic.twitter.com/YnEGhUwDTg— Radical Liberal \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Radical Liberal \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1624297805
pic.twitter.com/cVTm0pmwui— LorifromCalifornia (@LorifromCalifornia) 1624300785
\u201cFormer Guy\u201d.— CB is Big Baby Jesus. (@CB is Big Baby Jesus.) 1624303019
"the former guy" bahahahahahaha— Sarah Clapp (@Sarah Clapp) 1624298081
.\n\nQuote Of The Day\n\n 'We take the rhetoric of the former guy quite seriously'\n\n-Jen Psaki— Dr. Jeff Rabinowitz (@Dr. Jeff Rabinowitz) 1624308810
"The former guy" will hold his rally in the town of Wellington, Ohio this weekend, and will be his first rally address since the January 6 "Stop the Steal" rally in Washington that many believe resulted in the deadly coup attempt on the U.S. Capitol that day.
@PreetBharara/X
@RepBrendanBoyle/X
@twesq/Bluesky
@christopherharris/Bluesky
@evangelinewarren/X
@FrankC164/X
AMC