Donald Trump Jr tried to attack Pete Buttigieg and it backfired badly.
Earlier this week, the president's son attempted to mock Buttigieg with a screenshot from the Democratic presidential candidate’s campaign website.
In news that will surprise no-one, Trump Jr completely misrepresented the statement and claimed Buttigieg was dismissive of history.
Did you know @MayorPete says we can’t find greatness in the past?! Someone teach him about George Washington, Abrah… https://t.co/AueEOuqzy5— Donald Trump Jr. (@Donald Trump Jr.) 1555439130
But that isn’t what the Indiana mayor, commonly known as Mayor Pete, was saying.
In what looks like a dig at Donald Trump’s 'Make America Great Again' slogan, he wrote about how the US needs to embrace change and find ways to make new technology work for all Americans.
Under the statement quoted by Trump Jr, Buttigieg wrote:
There is no honest politics that revolves around the word again. In the era of automation and globalisation, major changes are going to happen whether we’re ready or not.
The question isn’t: 'Can we stop these changes and go back to the past?' The question needs to be: 'How can we make sure these changes work for us?' America is at its best when we master change for the benefit of every American.
However, that wasn’t the only problem with Trump Jr’s tweet.
Who remembers that great historical moment “the collapse of the Berlin War”?
@DonaldJTrumpJr @MayorPete Yeah, that Berlin War collapsed real nicely.— Andrew Kornblatt (@Andrew Kornblatt) 1555442654
@DonaldJTrumpJr @MayorPete Who doesn't remember the epic quote: Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this war!— Leon 🐾😽 (@Leon 🐾😽) 1555490252
The Berlin War/Wall mistake isn’t the first time a member of Trump’s team has had a difficult time with history.
White House advisor Kellyanne Conway was ruthlessly mocked in 2017 for referring to the nonexistent “Bowling Green massacre”.
And users were more than happy to remind Trump Jr of that mistake.
@DonaldJTrumpJr @MayorPete I remember when the Berlin War collapsed too. That was just after the Bowling Green Mass… https://t.co/Qhk7dBUHAt— Jeremiah (Lunchbox Zero-Six) (@Jeremiah (Lunchbox Zero-Six)) 1555439889
Also Trump Jr somehow managed to use a fake Buttigieg account in his tweet – even though the correct account is literally called @PeteButtigieg…
Hahahah Jr didn’t even use the correct Pete Buttgieg account. #PeteForPresident https://t.co/HUMvLBl7l1— Future POTUS Pete (@Future POTUS Pete) 1555440294
Mayor Pete is going to face some tough attacks now he's emerged as one of the frontrunners for the Democratic nomination, but this was not one of them.
All in all, it was another masterclass in owning yourself by Don Jr.
HT: HuffPost