On Monday, former President Donald Trump called into Fox Business for an interview with host Stuart Varney, where much of the focus was on Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, and President Joe Biden's response to it.
Just ahead of the invasion, which occurred late last month, Trump praised Putin's strategy as "smart" and even "genius," a continuation of Trump's penchant for praising authoritarian leaders. Trump also predictably insisted that Putin never would've invaded the fledgling democratic nation that formed from the collapse of the U.S.S.R. in 1991 if Trump had been in the White House.
Things took a turn when Trump noted Putin's use of the "N-word."
Watch below.
Trump refers to talk of nuclear strikes as "the n-word" pic.twitter.com/vRZ726Ih23
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 21, 2022
After a shocked look from Varney, it soon became clear that the "N-word" Trump was referring to meant "nuclear," and not the racist slur he's been frequently accused of using himself.
Trump said to Varney:
"I listen to [Putin] constantly using the N-word. That's the N-word. And he's constantly using it, that nuclear word. And we never talk about—we say, 'oh he's a nuclear power,' but we're a greater nuclear power."
One of the primary reasons for western allies' hesitation to intervene in Ukraine with troops is concern that the conflict would escalate further, potentially even resulting in nuclear strikes, as Putin has threatened to carry out.
Trump's bizarre description of "nuclear" as the "N-word" generated a wealth of reactions.
"The what" https://t.co/fQlgsLIUk4 pic.twitter.com/cgVxx8Kf0Q
— Doctor Sex (Intern) (@Kontatheking1) March 21, 2022
how is this reality and how is he a person we still have to hear about? oh right the threat of him becoming president again is very very real because we are collectively stupid as americans https://t.co/qkinEWMRmu
— 𖤐 ᵀᵒᵗᵃˡˡʸ 𖤐 ᴮᴵᵀᶜᴴᶜᴬᴷᴱˢ 𖤐 (@meatballsndwch) March 21, 2022
the 2024 campaign is really going to be something https://t.co/BxZRcD1JCs
— Matthew Zeitlin (@MattZeitlin) March 21, 2022
Do you think that someone ran up to him and hastily wrote “N WORD MEANS SOMETHING ELSE” on a napkin https://t.co/YIxOzvkQrb
— Ed Zitron (@edzitron) March 21, 2022
The one he won’t say. https://t.co/BhS07tHEpH
— Terminate and Stay Resident (@TermStayRes) March 21, 2022
had me wondering for a good 2 minutes who he would even be calling that https://t.co/rgqPuuZO8Y
— Blonde Do Bronx Enjoyer (Lean GKer) (@uhvaimorre) March 21, 2022
Some couldn't help but laugh at Trump's inadvertent humor.
Trump could’ve easily been the funniest comedian of his generation. But, his father never told him he loved him so here we are. https://t.co/Z1upXox2If
— Hamid Carside to Go (@MikeyWTyler) March 22, 2022
One of history’s great posters with an *unbelievable* piece of timing. I *promise* that you’re not ready for the twist: pic.twitter.com/D4SOlFtJ4j
— William Kedjanyi (@KeejayOV3) March 21, 2022
Ok I laughed https://t.co/In9SCltySS
— Eric Cunningham 🇺🇦 (@decunningham2) March 21, 2022
Wow.
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