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In yesterday's White House press conference, President Trump trotted out one of his favorite criticisms of Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election: the use of teleprompters.
Trump attacked his 2020 Democratic opponent Joe Biden for using the device, which Trump falsely claimed he himself is "not allowed" to use.
Trump on Biden: “They ask questions and he starts reading the teleprompter. He says move the teleprompter a little… https://t.co/P7abkLQHJH— The Daily Wire (@The Daily Wire)1599766964.0
He then immediately flew to Michigan for a campaign rally where aides set up a teleprompter for him.
WH Communications staffers set up Teleprompter for Pres Trump at Michigan campaign rally, hours after he ridiculed… https://t.co/KBDRYFVrI6— Mark Knoller (@Mark Knoller)1599775822.0
During the White House press conference, Trump mocked Biden's use of a teleprompter while discussing the pandemic, implying that it was somehow insincere.
"Every time I see him he starts talking about the pandemic, he's reading it off the teleprompter."
The comments hearkened back to the 2016 campaign, when Trump not only frequently mocked Hillary Clinton for using teleprompters, but suggested they should not be allowed at all on the campaign trail.
"I've always said, if you run for president, you shouldn't be allowed to use teleprompters. Because you don't even know if the guy is smart."
Not only did he use one in his campaign rally speech, he openly acknowledged and joked about its existence.
Trump was also spotted using a teleprompter at today's 9/11 commemoration ceremony in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
@therecount IF Trump was a real patriot, and since he was born and raised in America, he should know by heart the P… https://t.co/NeVCPpowkQ— CUPCAKE Biden-Harris will MAGA 👍👍👏👏🥳🥳🥳🥳 (@CUPCAKE Biden-Harris will MAGA 👍👍👏👏🥳🥳🥳🥳)1599832891.0
On Twitter, this whole thing elicited a giant communal eyeroll.
@joshscampbell @WajahatAli It's disturbing that he isn't even knowledgeable about the information on the prompter..… https://t.co/u4iNYvnk8R— Courtney (@Courtney)1599783178.0
@joshscampbell Constantly projecting what he is unto his rivals. As long as Trump wins, he doesn't care how it is done.— Le Woo's Hair Oil (@Le Woo's Hair Oil)1599783096.0
Oh. @realDonaldTrump you’re using a teleprompter https://t.co/ONxYLRE0d8— Outspoken (@Outspoken)1599775897.0
What America needs is a Teleporter and Trump as its first passenger. https://t.co/r6tuuP4aXy— Tea Pain (@Tea Pain)1599778823.0
Yes, he thinks we are that stupid. #TeleprompterDon https://t.co/N2z5UbgI1V— I ❤️ Georgia (@I ❤️ Georgia)1599780622.0
Truly remarkable. https://t.co/jQh9sByHGW— The Lincoln Project (@The Lincoln Project)1599783164.0
This presidency in a nutshell. https://t.co/8uP0fNXZxw— Hemant Mehta (@Hemant Mehta)1599784615.0
And some threw his mockery right back at him.
People are outraged at Trump’s hypocrisy for reading off a teleprompter. I’m just stunned he can read.— DJ the Resister (@DJ the Resister)1599788683.0
@joshscampbell I was shocked to learn that Trump could read. Look who’s a big boy!— Emily Brandwin (@Emily Brandwin)1599784018.0
@joshscampbell It's also now clear that he doesn't preview his speeches. I guess that would involve reading.— Joe Hynes (@Joe Hynes)1599782889.0
Trump's relationship to the teleprompter is so contentious he even called for them to be outlawed in 2015.
"I say we should outlaw teleprompters … for anybody running for president."
Perhaps he meant they should only be outlawed for Democrats.