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‘It’s tremendously big and wet!’ A round-up of Trump’s 9/11 tweets

Donald Trump was pictured doing a double fist pump ahead of a memorial. Source: Getty.

As the world came together on Tuesday to remember the victims of the horrific 9/11 terror attacks and pay tribute to the heroes who helped save thousands more, Donald Trump has come under fire for a series of tweets and tributes throughout the day.

The controversial US president first sparked outrage in the morning of the 17th anniversary when he was pictured pumping both his fists in the air as he landed with his wife Melania for a solemn memorial service in Pennsylvania.

However, it was just the start of a stream of backlash from his followers, beginning early in the day as Trump chose to tweet about Russia instead of posting an early tribute to the thousands of people who died in the attacks.

“‘We have found nothing to show collusion between President Trump & Russia, absolutely zero, but every day we get more documentation showing collusion between the FBI & DOJ, the Hillary campaign, foreign spies & Russians, incredible’. @SaraCarterDC @LouDobbs,” he tweeted at the start of the day.

It got an angry response from his followers, as they questioned his timing, with one writing: “It’s September 11th and you are attacking our DOJ and FBI. UNBELIEVABLE!!” Another added: “Good god. Don’t you know what day it is? Have some respect and empathy.”

Around an hour later however, he shared his first tribute by re-posting a photo of himself signing a document at his Oval Office desk designating Patriot Day 2018 to “honour the memories of the nearly 3,000 lives lost on September 11, 2001, and of every hero who has given their life since that day to protect our safety & our freedom”.

He added the hashtags #NeverForget #September11th to his post.

In a complete roller coaster however, he flipped back to the DOJ and FBI shortly after by writing: “New Strzok-Page texts reveal “Media Leak Strategy.” @FoxNews So terrible, and NOTHING is being done at DOJ or FBI – but the world is watching, and they get it completely.”

He added: “‘ERIC Holder could be running the Justice Department right now and it would be behaving no differently than it is.’ @LouDobbs.”

Within the same hour, he then singled out former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and called him a “true warrior” in a fresh tribute for 9/11. This time, he wrote: “Rudy Giuliani did a GREAT job as Mayor of NYC during the period of September 11th. His leadership, bravery and skill must never be forgotten. Rudy is a TRUE WARRIOR!”

While Giuliani has been hugely praised for his efforts on the tragic day, many Twitter users questioned why Trump had singled him out when so many others did so much. One follower commented: “Firefighters, cops and civilians also did a great job right? People of all colour and races came to each others aid.”

Another added: “No the Warriors were the emergency responders and the other volunteers who helped, and the search dogs.”

Ignoring the critics, Trump then caused the most controversy yet as he posted a year-old photo of himself, his wife Melania and his former staff standing in front of the White House. As the president didn’t specify that it was taken last year, it immediately sparked outrage as many followers claimed he was trying to pass it off as being taken on the day.

He captioned the photo: “Departing Washington, D.C. to attend a Flight 93 September 11th Memorial Service in Shanksville, Pennsylvania with Melania. #NeverForget.”

One angry user wrote: “It’s cloudy and dreary in DC today, you lying putz,” while another added: “NICE TRY, YOU’RE BUSTED!” and one wrote: “Ummm…. you been standing out there for a year?”

The photo appears to include staff members who are no longer working at the White House, including Omarosa Manigault Newman and Hope Hicks.

Once again ignoring the criticism, Trump continued his day by posting a bizarre one-line statement, simply writing: “17 years since September 11th!”

A few hours later he continued to pay tribute by retweeting a video of a memorial speech, before moving away once again to praise small business success in the US. This time, he shared a news story with the headline: “Small Business Optimism Soars to Highest Level Ever.”

Around three hours after that, he took time away to release an on-camera statement about Hurricane Florence, set to hit the US in the coming days. He insisted they’re “sparing no expense”, and added: ‘The safety of American people is my absolute highest priority. Heed the directions of your State and Local Officials. Please be prepared, be careful and be SAFE!”

However, he bizarrely referred to the huge storm system as “tremendously big and tremendously wet” in an appeal to reporters during a press conference shortly after. He apparently said: “They haven’t seen anything like what’s coming at us in 25, 30 years, maybe ever. It’s tremendously big and tremendously wet. Tremendous amounts of water.”

He followed that two hours later by retweeting a video of him visiting the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania, before recording his own message on camera.

The president is heard saying: “It’s September 11th and as I stand on the really beautiful lawn of the rose garden at the White House, I think of the 3,000 lives lost in the horrible attack on New York City, the World Trade Centre and the attack on our nation.”

An hour later, he flipped over to former FBI director James Comey as he shared a quote apparently from US lawyer Alan Dershowitz on Tucker Carlson’s show, stating: “You know who’s at fault for this more than anyone else, Comey, because he leaked information and laundered it through a professor at Columbia Law School.

“Shame on that professor, and shame on Comey. He snuck the information to a law professor who collaborated with him in giving the information, and causing the appointment of a Special C without having the courage of his own convictions.”

Trump added on the end: “In other words, the whole thing was illegally and very unfairly set up?”

He finished his day of tweets by slamming Californian Democrat Maxine Walters and writing: “Crazy Maxine Waters: ‘After we impeach Trump, we’ll go after Mike Pence. We’ll get him.’ @FoxNews Where are the Democrats coming from? The best Economy in the history of our country would totally collapse if they ever took control!”

What do you think of Trump’s tweets throughout the day? Do you think they were offensive? Or do you like the tributes he gave?

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