Donald Trump’s insult towards Vice President Kamala Harris, calling her “dumb as a rock,” quickly sparked backlash on social media. Following President Joe Biden’s endorsement of Harris for reelection, Trump’s derogatory remark led to the phrase trending online. However, the majority of responses were not in support of the former president. Instead, critics used the opportunity to highlight some of Trump’s most notorious claims and comments, such as suggesting injecting disinfectant as a COVID-19 treatment, blaming windmills for causing cancer, and looking directly at the sun during an eclipse. The irony of Trump’s insult was not lost on social media users, who pointed out the absurdity of his criticism given his own history of questionable statements.
Social media users seized the opportunity to turn Trump’s insult back on him, using examples of his past statements and actions to undermine his credibility. From spreading misinformation about windmills causing cancer, to suggesting absurd solutions like nuking hurricanes and drinking bleach, Trump’s track record became the focal point of the backlash. Tweets mocking his intelligence and decision-making skills flooded the platform, highlighting the irony of someone with such a history of outlandish claims calling someone else “dumb as a rock.” The responses showcased a collective effort to hold Trump accountable for his past words and actions, using humor and sarcasm to challenge his credibility.
The criticism of Trump’s insult towards Harris as “dumb as a rock” extended beyond his questionable statements and actions, as users also highlighted his lack of basic knowledge and understanding in various areas. From incorrectly stating that stealth bombers are invisible, to believing that batteries in boats could electrocute individuals, Trump’s ignorance on certain subjects was brought to light. The tweets emphasized the absurdity of Trump’s insult, pointing out that someone who lacks basic knowledge and understanding in various areas should not be the one criticizing others for their intelligence. The online responses served as a reminder of Trump’s shortcomings and painted him as a hypocrite for making such a derogatory remark.
In addition to highlighting Trump’s past statements and lack of knowledge, social media users also drew attention to his tendency to make false claims and conspiracy theories. From drawing on a weather map with a sharpie to create the illusion of altering a forecast, to believing in conspiracy theories such as the existence of Hannibal Lecter as a real person, Trump’s track record of promoting misinformation was under scrutiny. The tweets sarcastically pointed out the absurdity of Trump’s behavior and beliefs, highlighting the irony of someone with such a history of false claims criticizing others for their intelligence. The online backlash portrayed Trump as a purveyor of misinformation and conspiracy theories, further undermining his credibility.
The online backlash against Trump’s insult towards Harris as “dumb as a rock” showcased a collective effort to hold the former president accountable for his past statements, actions, and beliefs. Social media users used humor and sarcasm to highlight Trump’s history of making false claims, promoting conspiracy theories, and displaying a lack of basic knowledge and understanding. The tweets emphasized the irony of Trump criticizing others for their intelligence, while showcasing his own shortcomings and lack of credibility. The online responses served as a reminder of the importance of fact-checking and critical thinking in the face of misinformation and false claims, and illustrated the power of social media in challenging and holding public figures accountable.
