Former President Donald Trump is getting roasted hard after his prophesied "reinstatement" date came and went.
Last month, MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, one of Trump's most devoted followers, insisted that Trump would be reinstated to the White House on August 13.
Lindell had claimed, without providing any evidence, that this reinstatement would coincide with his release of definitive proof that the 2020 general election was stolen.
There was none.
But that didn't happen. "Reinstatement Day" proved to be another fantasy from hardcore QAnon followers eager for Trump's return to prominence.
Trump was resoundingly criticized online as a result.
Consider the following statement from veteran journalist and national evening news anchor Dan Rather.
My bad. I completely forgot to mark #reinstatementday on my calendar. What did I miss?— Dan Rather (@Dan Rather) 1628901553.0
Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, now an oft-cited social media commentator on all things Trump, had a more sobering response.
He reminded his readers that Trump "could be barred from holding office again" for inciting the January 6 insurrection against Congress.
Your reminder that Trump could be barred from holding office again under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bar… https://t.co/DNLLc57qxq— Robert Reich (@Robert Reich) 1628891633.0
A TikTok influencer even mocked Trump by miming Trump's gait and creating a "dance" to commemorate the so-called "reinstatement."
I was up all night practicing my dance for #ReinstatementDay. I think I finally got it. 📼davidvarner4 https://t.co/SxSkvfbXVX— Mel the Enforcer (@Mel the Enforcer) 1628859492.0
Other responses were less eloquent... but no less effective.
"No I'm serious Barack, they ACTUALLY believed that #ReinstatementDay was real." https://t.co/CdOSEHlYWj— Jake Lobin (@Jake Lobin) 1628865214.0
Donald Trump: “I want to see Biden in prison!” Joe Biden: “Why does Trump think I would visit him in prison?” #ReinstatementDay— Andrea Junker (@Andrea Junker) 1628854944.0
Trumpers think Trump will be reinstated in the White House today. That's too funny because Trump can't even get re… https://t.co/TTxKqsiRcY— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@(((DeanObeidallah)))) 1628853511.0
#reinstatementDay better luck next month. https://t.co/LUNo6XAZmB— Gigi🇺🇸💙❤️⭐️ (@Gigi🇺🇸💙❤️⭐️) 1628826826.0
Look at the crowds for Donald Trump!! #ReinstatementDay https://t.co/iQ3JEfqvAy— Jodi Andrea ◍ (@Jodi Andrea ◍) 1628852622.0
The crowds are lining up outside the White House for Trump's #ReinstatementDay --wait, that's just 7 people waiting for a bus.— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@(((DeanObeidallah)))) 1628857600.0
The belief Trump would be reinstated by August had circulated for some time.
In June, New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman revealed Trump had reportedly been telling people he expected he would be "reinstated" to the White House by August. There is no constitutional basis for such a claim.
At the time, Haberman did note Trump's claim was being floated as he faced the "possibility of an indictment" from the Manhattan District Attorney.
Later that same month, Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg would be charged with a slew of financial crimes.
It isn’t happening in a vacuum. It is happening as he faced the possibility of an indictment from the Manhattan DA.— Maggie Haberman (@Maggie Haberman) 1622551371.0
A June Morning Consult poll found 29% of Republicans believe Trump will be reinstated to the White House.
The majority of Republicans—61%—dismissed the idea, though 59% of Republicans said they would like to see Trump take a larger role in the party moving forward.