Moya Lothian-McLean
Aug 07, 2020
We all have brain farts from time to time.
But when you’re the leader of the ‘free’ world, those can be rather more embarrassing.
Especially if, as president, you’re meant to have an encyclopedic knowledge of other countries and the correct way to refer to them and their population (remember George Bush and the ‘Grecians’?).
Which is why Donald Trump’s latest bizarre incident has prompted ridicule, as the president referred to ‘Thailand’ as “Thighland” in a speech where he lambasted companies supposedly sending jobs overseas to east Asian countries.
President Trump pronounces Thailand "thigh land" before correcting himself." https://t.co/P2uWWcJ0kn— The Hill (@The Hill) 1596743281
Speaking to an audience at a Whirlpool factory in Clyde, Ohio, Trump said:
Four or five years ago this place was a disaster.
In 2017 Whirlpool won relief from the ITC (US International Trade Commission) once again. Once more, your foreign competitors moved their factories to prevent a level playing field, and to avoid liability.
Shifting production to Thighland, and to Vietnam.
The blunder comes just days after he referred to Yosemite (pronounced Yoh-sem-it-ee) National Park as “Yo-semite”.
Of course, people were immediately tickled.
Some were reminded of their own fond memories of ‘Thigland’.
I used to frequent a strip club called "Thighland". Great happy hour. https://t.co/9m5t6j2T5Q— ralphgarman (@ralphgarman) 1596743443
Others quickly worked up catchy little ditties.
This land is your land, this land is thigh land. https://t.co/k3LgxudGYX— Alysen Miller (@Alysen Miller) 1596751255
There were compilations of Trump’s greatest linguistic hits.
Yo, Semite! Let’s meet up in Thigh Land. You know, the country southeast of Nipple. I know a great covfefe place. https://t.co/rfZFtVbpYr— Erica Buist (@Erica Buist) 1596746023
But people were also distracted by other aspects…
WHY IS HE PAINTED GOLD? 😭😭😭 https://t.co/W61TTEwM2M— Kiya 🌒🌕🌘 (@Kiya 🌒🌕🌘) 1596780725
Some high-profile Republicans also tried to defend Trump’s error.
I’m highly amused to see supposedly sophisticated media types snickering at @realdonaldtrump for saying “Thighland.… https://t.co/jm4otQMzGJ— Dinesh D'Souza (@Dinesh D'Souza) 1596758993
Which led to further laughs.
Many moments of levity.
donald trump, a keen student of southeast asian history going back to the founding of the ayutthaya kingdom by king… https://t.co/gqKt7d9RxU— Christopher Hooks (@Christopher Hooks) 1596770960
Wonder how the pandemic is being handled in Thighland?
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