Social media users have ridiculed former President Donald Trump for his signature thumbs-up pose in a photo alongside Fox News host Laura Ingraham. Despite some supporters praising his appearance, Trump faced criticism online for the gesture.
The incident occurred during a Fox News town hall in South Carolina, where Trump was fact-checked by Ingraham regarding his claims of voter fraud, as he positioned himself as the GOP frontrunner for the upcoming presidential election.
During a pre-recorded event, Trump claimed that the use of mail-in voting systems inherently results in fraud. Ingraham promptly responded by pointing out that Florida employs mail-in voting, and Trump secured a substantial victory in the state. Trump’s margin of victory over Biden in Florida was approximately 371,686 votes.
According to Pew Research data released in November 2020, about 46 percent of voters reported using absentee or mail-in ballots to participate in the presidential election.
The former host of The Apprentice persists in asserting that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him, despite the absence of any evidence supporting this claim. Leading up to the election, he consistently argued that the adoption of mail-in voting facilitated fraud. “As far as the ballots are concerned, it’s a disaster,” he remarked in September 2020.
During this week’s town hall, Trump stated, “When you enter a polling location, such as one in a state that is properly managed, they examine you, you present voter ID, you provide various forms of identification… It would be exceedingly difficult to engage in widespread cheating.”
While discussions around alleged voter fraud and various other topics captured viewers’ attention, a seemingly unremarkable photo from the town hall has become viral on X, previously known as Twitter.
On Tuesday, Ron Filipkowski, an attorney and frequent critic of Trump, shared an image of the former president and Ingraham smiling while posing together. Filipkowski captioned the photo, “[That’s] a wrap on another Fox-sponsored primetime infomercial for the Trump campaign. Quality journalism right here.”
That a wrap on another Fox free primetime infomercial for the Trump campaign. Quality journalism right here. pic.twitter.com/CzPvnhjBLd
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) February 21, 2024
Many users on X expressed similar sentiments, mocking Trump’s decision to give a thumbs-up in the photo.
“Ugh, not that thumbs-up again,” wrote one user, while another questioned, “What’s with the constant thumbs-up?”
Another user humorously asked, “Is his thumb stuck in that position?”
Reflecting a similar sentiment, another post stated, “Is his thumb permanently stuck like that?”
“Why does he insist on flashing that tiny thumb and smirk?” questioned another critic.
Despite the backlash, a few Trump supporters lauded the town hall. “Hats off to President Trump for another outstanding town hall & addressing the genuine concerns of the American people!!!” praised one supporter.
Another individual described Trump as “amazing,” stating: “If I hadn’t already made up my mind and felt confident about voting for him, I certainly would now. He’s capable of uniting this nation and restoring prosperity for all Americans. Vote Trump 2024.”
Newsweek has reached out to a representative of Trump via email for comment.
During his town hall with Ingraham, Trump also hinted that he has at least six names in mind for his potential vice president.
During the town hall, Host Ingraham queried Trump about six potential candidates: Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Byron Donalds, Kristi Noem, Tim Scott, and Tulsi Gabbard.
“Are they all being considered for your shortlist?” Ingraham asked.
“They are,” Trump confirmed. “Honestly, all of those individuals are strong candidates. They’re all solid.”
Trump leads as the GOP frontrunner, currently polling at 77.7 percent nationally, as per an average compiled by FiveThirtyEight. In a recent Morning Consult poll of 6,321 registered voters conducted from February 17 to 19, Trump stands at 45 percent while Democratic President Joe Biden is at 41 percent.
Prior to the Fox News interview, Trump had refrained from disclosing his potential vice presidential pick.
Trump had previously criticized DeSantis, who withdrew from the Republican primary race before endorsing Trump, giving him the nickname “Ron DeSanctimonious.”
Scott, the senator from South Carolina, withdrew from the presidential race in November and threw his support behind Trump. Ramaswamy, who also ran in the GOP primaries previously, has endorsed Trump as well.
Noem, the governor of South Dakota, is another staunch supporter of Trump, closely associated with the MAGA movement.
Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman and presidential candidate in 2020, has transitioned into a regular presence in conservative media circles.
Rep. Donalds, a Republican from Florida, has previously identified himself as a “Trump-supporting, gun-owning, liberty-loving, pro-life, politically incorrect Black man.”
It’s customary for presidential candidates to unveil their choice of running mate in the period leading up to the party conventions. Until then, speculation about Trump’s potential running mate will persist.
