Once again, President Donald Trump has the world wondering about his mental health because of a now-deleted tweet sent out early Sunday. Not only was every point in the tweet false, but he also managed to turn Mark Esper, the United States Secretary of Defense, into someone else almost instantly. And of course, all of Twitter pounced on him instantly.
The most glaring error in the tweet concerned misstating Sec. Esper’s name as “Mark Esperanto,” an error quickly memed and no doubt screenshotted hundreds if not thousands of times. What’s scary is that he was attempting to praise Sec. Esper for something that isn’t actually happening.
He said:
“Mark Esperanto, Secretary of Defense, ‘the Ceasefire is holding up very nicely. There are some minor skirmishes that have ended quickly. New areas being resettled with the Kurds.’ USA soldiers are not in combat or ceasefire zones. We have secured the Oil. Bringing soldiers home!”
Although it’s a nice sentiment and would be great news if the troops were coming home, it’d be even better if it were actually true. In fact, are going to be redeployed in western Iraq. Plus we definitely did not “secure the oil.”
After that error-ridden tweet was shared thousands of times, Trump replaced it with an almost identical one with the only difference being that he omitted the part about bringing the troops home.
Trump’s tweets were so bizarre that the journalist riding along with Trump and Esper pointed out that he was indeed there, and didn’t remember Esper stating anything of the sort that Trump quoted.
I’m not sure who Trump is referring to, but I’m travelling with Defense Secretary Esper and cant recall the quote Trump is using. While speaking with us Enroute to Afghanistan, Esper also made no mention of new areas being resettled with Kurds or oil. pic.twitter.com/VAN9IQ13At
— Idrees Ali (@idreesali114) October 20, 2019
And a fitting response to the fitting response:
Well yeah of course you didn’t hear Mark Esper say this. The quote is from Mark Esperanto. https://t.co/qZDy4omfkF
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) October 20, 2019
Needless to say, Twitter had a field day with Trump’s tweet:
Mark Esperanto was preceeded in the office by James Mattilingo. pic.twitter.com/289qFWu3r6
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) October 20, 2019
Trump: The troops are coming home.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper: No they’re going to western Iraq.
Trump: Come on Mark Esperanto, just repeat my lies.
Esper: That’s not my name.
Trump: Esperanto, why don’t you come to your senses?
Esper: That’s Desperado.
— Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) October 20, 2019
“Are you Mark Esperanto?” pic.twitter.com/dT6JWPp1LX
— Jason (@my_good_karma) October 20, 2019
My name is Mark Esperanto, Secretary of Defense. Prepare to be defended! pic.twitter.com/DBBXFmMju8
— Jeremy Newberger (@jeremynewberger) October 20, 2019
Mark Esperanto = Mark Esper
Tim Apple = Tim Cook
Mike Pounce = Mike Pence
Mike Bolton = John Bolton
Betanyahu = Netanyahu
Ron Ryan = Paul Ryan
Steve McCarthy = Kevin McCarthy
Marillyn Lockheed = Marillyn Hewson
Donald Trump = Donald Trump— Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) October 20, 2019
Featured Image: Screenshot via Twitter.