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
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 bars anyone from holding office who \u201cengaged in insurrection\u201d against the U.S.\n\nThat'd be a great way to honor today's fake #ReinstatementDay, don't you think?— Robert Reich (@Robert Reich) 1628891633
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. \n\ndavidvarner4pic.twitter.com/SxSkvfbXVX— Mel the Enforcer (@Mel the Enforcer) 1628859492
Other responses were less eloquent... but no less effective.
"No I'm serious Barack, they ACTUALLY believed that #ReinstatementDay was real."pic.twitter.com/CdOSEHlYWj— Jake Lobin (@Jake Lobin) 1628865214
Donald Trump: \u201cI want to see Biden in prison!\u201d \nJoe Biden: \u201cWhy does Trump think I would visit him in prison?\u201d\n\n#ReinstatementDay— Andrea Junker (@Andrea Junker) 1628854944
Trumpers think Trump will be reinstated in the White House today. That's too funny because Trump can't even get reinstated on Twitter and Facebook!! \n#ReinstatementDay— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@(((DeanObeidallah)))) 1628853511
#reinstatementDay better luck next month.pic.twitter.com/LUNo6XAZmB— Gigi\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83d\udc99\u2764\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f (@Gigi\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83d\udc99\u2764\ufe0f\u2b50\ufe0f) 1628826826
Look at the crowds for Donald Trump!! #ReinstatementDaypic.twitter.com/iQ3JEfqvAy— Jodi Andrea \u25cd (@Jodi Andrea \u25cd) 1628852622
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
Hey y'all, because it's #ReinstatementDay I know we're worried about each other. \nJust you know, my status is....pic.twitter.com/rTr6PWoBsw— Save Texas from the GQP (@Save Texas from the GQP) 1628850890
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\u2019t happening in a vacuum. It is happening as he faced the possibility of an indictment from the Manhattan DA.— Maggie Haberman (@Maggie Haberman) 1622551371
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.
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