Trump Spends 74th Birthday Weekend Insisting That, Yes, He Can Walk Down a Ramp After Viral Video

Adam Carlson

14 June 2020 at 10:59 am·3-min read

President Donald Trump turned 74 on Sunday and was set to spend most of it at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey.

His only public appearance will be his return trip to Washington, D.C., on Sunday night.

By Sunday morning, however, he had already spent significant time over the weekend on Twitter, his favorite website, where he complained about his treatment by the social media company and re-posted messages from supporters.

His critics, though, were numerous as well: Various anti-Trump hashtags were trending with tens of thousands of messages, reflecting the fierce reaction his divisive style provokes.

In a particular snake-tail-swallowing moment, the president on Saturday night tweeted to defend himself from widespread mockery on the left over a video of him descending a ramp after his commencement speech for West Point graduates.

The short clip shows he steadied himself at the top of the ramp before taking delicate steps down to the ground. (Another clip from his speech shows him awkwardly lifting his water glass.)

Trump, who has a long history of insulting and attacking other people on Twitter, had once criticized predecessor Barack Obama for how he moved — which was quickly revived this weekend.

"The way President Obama runs down the stairs of Air Force 1, hopping & bobbing all the way, is so inelegant and unpresidential," Trump had written in 2014. "Do not fall!"

Doug Mills/The New York Times-Pool/Getty President Donald Trump

NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images President Donald Trump

"Get yourself a president who can drink water, walk down a ramp, AND not escape from the American people in a bunker. #RampGate," one critic wrote on Twitter on Sunday.

Another user, referring to another video of the president awkwardly handling an umbrella, wrote: "Donald Trump's mortal enemies are ramps, umbrellas, and cognitive thought."

The president responded on Saturday night, tweeting: "The ramp that I descended after my West Point Commencement speech was very long & steep, had no handrail and, most importantly, was very slippery. The last thing I was going to do is 'fall' for the Fake News to have fun with. Final ten feet I ran down to level ground. Momentum!"

He also re-posted a message from another user suggesting Twitter as a company was downplaying his birthday.

Elsewhere on Sunday, the president's re-election campaign shared birthday messages — urging supporters to sign a virtual birthday card for him, along with their personal information, in a standard campaign strategy — and his family shared well wishes as well.

"Happy Birthday Dad! We love you!" daughter and senior aide Ivanka Trump wrote on Instagram along with throwback and family photos.

Son Eric Trump posted a similar message, writing on Instagram: "Happy Birthday Dad! We love you very much!"

First Lady Melania Trump had not posted a public message as of Sunday morning.

Australian Associated Press
Mixed news on two Eagles stars for Demons clash
West Coast have decided to save Elliot Yeo for next week's clash with Adelaide, but Jeremy McGovern has been cleared to take on the Demons on Sunday.
Australian Associated Press
Souths hope to turn season around in Wighton's 250th
South Sydney will look to milestone man Jack Wighton to provide some much-needed energy as they hunt their first NRL win in six games against North Queensland.
Australian Associated Press
Jailed man's digger drug-haul story 'makes no sense'
A construction boss claimed to have no idea an excavator he paid far too much for and then cut into for several days contained MDMA when he bought it.
Australian Associated Press
Roll out the barrel: regional NSW gets business boost
Rural and remote airstrips will be upgraded and country towns will get money for child care under state funding aimed at kick-starting regional businesses.
Australian Associated Press
Star skipper charged over A-League betting scandal
Three players at A-League club Macarthur are facing serious charges after suspicious betting triggered an investigation into alleged yellow-card manipulation.
Australian Associated Press
Jeweller, wife and accused bandits deny staged robbery
A jeweller's alleged plot to rob his own city-centre store before claiming money from insurers will be aired when he and four others face a scheduled trial.
Australian Associated Press
Brazil win vote to host soccer's 2027 Women's World Cup
Brazil have won the right to host the next Women's World Cup, in 2027, after a FIFA member vote chose them over a Belgium, Netherlands and Germany joint bid.
Australian Associated Press
Jake Gordon not angry at RA for blocking France dream
Waratahs captain Jake Gordon says it would have been a good experience playing in France, but he understands why Rugby Australia aren't releasing him.
Australian Associated Press
Timberwolves blow out Nuggets, force deciding Game 7
Anthony Edwards has led Minnesota to a thumping second-round playoff win over defending NBA champions Denver to force a deciding Game 7 in the West.
Australian Associated Press
Nurses open beds after pay agreement with government
Nurses and midwives have suspended escalated industrial action after reaching an in-principle agreement with the Victorian government over pay and conditions.
Australian Associated Press
Man shot in neck, car fired at in separate incidents
A man is in hospital after being shot in the neck during a robbery and a driver has fired at a packed car in separate incidents south of Brisbane.
Australian Associated Press
Paralympians feel empowered modelling 2024 uniforms
The Australian Paralympics team has unveiled their specially-tailored uniforms as part of Australian Fashion Week ahead of the competition in Paris.
Australian Associated Press
Developers using 'workarounds' to dodge donations laws
Property developers are dodging NSW political donation laws with methods that instead funnel money to federal accounts, the state's corruption watchdog says.
Australian Associated Press
Video shows vandals toppling colonial premier's statue
A "civil resistance" group has posted a video of people cutting down the statue of a controversial former colonial premier and surgeon.
Australian Associated Press
Missing campers made divorce pact before deaths: friend
The friends of a man who was allegedly murdered while camping with his childhood sweetheart have told a jury about his secretive affair with the woman.
Australian Associated Press
D-Day for PNG as NRL bid not a done deal: V'landys
Peter V'landys says talks with the Australian government will determine if the PNG NRL bid proceeds, and confirmed he wants Wayne Bennett as coach.
Australian Associated Press
Knifepoint abduction of mum and baby at shopping centre
The hunt is on for a man who randomly abducted a mother and baby at knifepoint from a shopping centre and forced them to drive him to electronic stores.
Australian Associated Press
Notorious disgraced cop gets parole tick on drug charge
An ex-top cop at the NSW Crime Commission has been cleared for parole after being jailed for drug offences but still faces hurdles before his release.
Australian Associated Press
Protesters to meet with university staff over camps
One of Australia's biggest universities is trying to reach an agreement with students who have occupied a campus building in support of Palestine.
Australian Associated Press
Rental vacancies ease as political housing brawl stirs
A small lift in vacancy rates offers a ray of sunlight for renters as challenges in the housing market become a sharper focus for the major political parties.

Latest stories