Last night's first installment of the Democratic National Convention had plenty of memorable moments, but without a doubt former First Lady Michelle Obama's closing speech was the highlight of the night. It was the kind of speech that had everyone talking.
The USA and world needed this ❤️ #MichelleObamaSpeech #BeTheChange4USA #AmericaPleaseVote https://t.co/yfKF9sZkhQ— E Mhlongo (@E Mhlongo) 1597762534.0
So naturally, President Donald Trump couldn't help but put in his two cents.
And in so doing, he dealt himself a truly astonishing self-own.
In his comments, delivered while speaking at an event celebrating women's rights, Trump attempted to rake Mrs. Obama over the coals for giving the wrong pandemic death count in her pre-taped speech.
"She was over her head, and frankly, she should've made the speech live, which she didn't do, she taped it. And it was not only taped, it was tape a long time ago, because she had the wrong [virus] deaths."
It's true that Obama misquoted the death count—which she stated as "more than 150,000"—but that's because deaths are rising so rapidly that another 20,000 people have died since she recorded her speech.
The U.S. pandemic death toll now stands at more than 170,000.
It was just one of several angry comments the President has made about Mrs. Obama's speech, which politely but unequivocally excoriated his presidency, calling him "the wrong President for our country" and saying that he is "in over his head."
But fighting back by mocking the former First Lady because she gave him a 20,000 death credit in her speech is not exactly the zinger the President seems to think it is.
On Twitter, hordes of people expressed disbelief and schadenfreude at the President's self-own.
Pointing out that 20,000 more Americans have died from COVID on your watch than were stated in a previously recorde… https://t.co/tso8VBYADW— Jake Tapper (@Jake Tapper) 1597763884.0
Trump says Michelle Obama should've made her speech live: "It was taped a long time ago b/c she had the wrong (COVI… https://t.co/V4eK3m8Nfn— Peter Alexander (@Peter Alexander) 1597759220.0
Donald Trump notes that more people have died of COVID since Michelle Obama recorded her convention speech and pres… https://t.co/UWS7RUPQ72— Ryan Lizza (@Ryan Lizza) 1597762097.0
Kind of a self-own on Trump's part that the speech would have to be live for the COVID stats to be accurate, Americ… https://t.co/tj6vmjqMdg— Rokey *No Unity Without Accountability* 🇺🇸 (@Rokey *No Unity Without Accountability* 🇺🇸) 1597762986.0
"Her remarks were obviously taped -- I've killed 20,000 more Americans than she said!" -- shorter Donald Trump in t… https://t.co/tijYMiiODR— GOPocalypse Now (@GOPocalypse Now) 1597762911.0
So what about @realDonaldTrump blasting Michelle Obama’s speech this morning? Her former aide @KrishVignarajah take… https://t.co/fNYaGXAPsl— Hallie Jackson (@Hallie Jackson) 1597761881.0
MICHELLE OBAMA: Too many have died of coronavirus under Trump. TRUMP: Even more, actually! https://t.co/4Sq7dN2QDl— Eric Columbus (@Eric Columbus) 1597760417.0
I don’t think the Michelle Obama “had the wrong death” count because thousands more died in the last few days while… https://t.co/WoGaGnuV3r— Kathryn Watson (@Kathryn Watson) 1597760833.0
owning the libs by pointing out that thousands of Americans are dying each week from a communicable disease you ref… https://t.co/fsgGWCxO5U— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1597759495.0
So Trump is calling attention to how fast COVID deaths are rising on his watch? https://t.co/J5neHEALMZ— Melissa Jo Peltier (@Melissa Jo Peltier) 1597761405.0
“I’ve killed tens of thousands more than she said I did in her speech.” is a notably strong self-own. https://t.co/aRYc2oi0Yw— Ryan Call (@Ryan Call) 1597786806.0
President Trump also complained Obama's speech was "divisive" and she didn't deserve the "rave reviews" she received.
Many saw his comments as confirmation that the former First Lady had gotten under the President's notoriously thin skin.