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Lowenna Waters
Jul 18, 2018
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Getty Images / Mark Wilson
On Tuesday, president Trump said that he meant to say 'wouldn't' rather than 'would' regarding a controversial remark he made at a press conference with president Putin of Russia.
During the press conference, which was held in Helsinki, Trump had been asked by a journalist whether he accepted president Putin's denial that the Kremlin had interfered with the 2016 presidential election.
At the press conference, president Trump had said:
President Putin just said it’s not Russia. I don’t see any reason why it would be.
After making the claims, Trump faced wide-spread backlash and criticism from both Democrats and Republicans for dismissing the US intelligence community's assessment that Russia had indeed meddled in the 2016 presidential election.
After the criticism, Trump backpedalled, and issued another statement:
I would like to clarify, in a key sentence in my remarks, I said the word ‘would’ instead of ‘wouldn’t'.
The sentence should have been: ‘I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be Russia.’
Right...
That may be Trump's excuse, but not many people are buying it. Needless to say, Twitter wasn't really convinced.
Politicians have smelt a rat.
Even though English was the second language I learned, I know the difference between 'would' and 'wouldn't'.— Rep Jose E. Serrano (@Rep Jose E. Serrano) 1531855494
I just don’t buy the President’s comments today. If he wanted to take a stand on Russian election interference, he… https://t.co/nDnMkoBj6R— Mark Warner (@Mark Warner) 1531857215
Many journalists are equally unconvinced.
i obviously meant to shout "I DON'T OBJECT" sorry that i ruined your wedding— Alexandra Petri (@Alexandra Petri) 1531855439
I wouldn't not say the Russians are not without responsibility for no form of election meddling. Clear?— Jeet Heer (@Jeet Heer) 1531866753
Trump is deathly afraid of being laughed at. News flash, Mr President: The world is laughing at you. This is the si… https://t.co/e9RT75MDC0— Max Boot (@Max Boot) 1531854933
And of course, it quickly became a meme.
DON’T MAKE AMERICA NOT GREAT AGAIN https://t.co/3hG4Z3ThVg— ElElegante101 (@ElElegante101) 1531855071
Oh sure but women are the ones who get “but when you said no did you really mean it? In that tank top?” #wouldnt— Michelle Wolf (@Michelle Wolf) 1531877223
Trump was very upset about coverage of his Putin presser. He is not going to be happy with coverage of "would vs. wouldn’t."— MJ Lee (@MJ Lee) 1531854648
Trump yesterday: "I'm gonna go fondle my sweaters." Trump today: "Ah, uh - no I didn't. I said... fondue the chedd… https://t.co/0kZfnqsEXb— Titus Anjawnicus (@Titus Anjawnicus) 1531854069
Some focused on his supposed use of a double negative.
“I can’t see any reason it wouldn’t be Russia. You know, like I can’t believe it’s not butter. A double negative.”— Ben Shapiro (@Ben Shapiro) 1531856436
i can't not believe this is happening— Dave Itzkoff (@Dave Itzkoff) 1531854067
And others were simply baffled.
"But you WOULD expect me to say that they #Wouldnt have interfered with our election, so clearly I cannot choose th… https://t.co/C63DlKrBS5— Richard Jeter (@Richard Jeter) 1531863508
Who among us hasn't not used accidentally on purpose what wasn't not surely unlikely to be perhaps certainly correc… https://t.co/pf6WMfLeXL— Rich Schoenstein (@Rich Schoenstein) 1531855578
Clear as mud.
@richschoenstein @DStewart541 Reading this gave me a stroke.— Kristi Powell (@Kristi Powell) 1531856874
Nice try, Trump. Better luck next time.
HT Huffington Post
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