As the Dow Jones Industrial Average continued to plummet—down another 623 points as of 5:10pm Friday—President Donald Trump looked to make light of the situation while taking a jab at a former Democratic presidential candidate.
Trump—who spent most of his presidency to date trading on the economic upturn created by President Barack Obama to indicate his own success—took to Twitter Friday afternoon and posted:
"The Dow is down 573 points perhaps on the news that Representative Seth Moulton, whoever that may be, has dropped out of the 2020 Presidential Race!"
The Dow is down 573 points perhaps on the news that Representative Seth Moulton, whoever that may be, has dropped o… https://t.co/j3NWi1lbI5— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1566586880.0
Most economists blame the Dow's drop on the trade wars Trump chose to start with most of the United States' trading partners and the GOP's massive tax cuts to corporations and the wealthy—while removing exemptions and deductions for the middle class. Also not helping was another Trump tweet "hereby ordering" companies to find alternatives to China.
Stock Market Plunges 223 Points in 5 Minutes After Trump's Stunning China Tweets https://t.co/2LNRbmFPnv via @mediaite— Ana Kasparian (@Ana Kasparian) 1566579090.0
Some cited an even more nefarious purpose to the President posting tweets with the potential to drop the Dow.
In a nutshell: 1. Trump tweets about his trade war. 2. Stock market drops. 3. Trump crime family buys lots of stoc… https://t.co/Sw5GR5JQda— Andrea Junker (@Andrea Junker) 1566575563.0
As for Trump's attempted joke, if the President truly did not know who Massachusetts Democratic Representative Seth Moulton was, he quickly got an education.
@4everNeverTrump/Twitter
@realDonaldTrump Seth Moulton earned the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for valor and the Bronze Star for… https://t.co/3FFIvOD05C— Pé Resists (@Pé Resists) 1566587880.0
@realDonaldTrump I am not a big fan of Seth Moulton but he is far far far better person than you can ever hope to be.— Pé Resists (@Pé Resists) 1566588079.0
@4everNeverTrump @realDonaldTrump Where the information came from is not important, what's important is he research… https://t.co/3oRxczyYgA— John Peddle (@John Peddle) 1566591069.0
@4everNeverTrump BUT Cadet Bone Spurs WANTED a purple heart. https://t.co/L1IYGHsyqV— Mary Elizabeth Smythe (@Mary Elizabeth Smythe) 1566595705.0
@realDonaldTrump I thought you loved the military. Moulton served our country, unlike you. #FakeBoneSpurs— Hillary Won (@Hillary Won) 1566596962.0
@realDonaldTrump Seth Moulton is the man you NEVER will be #caderbonespurs— UktoUSmomma (@UktoUSmomma) 1566596028.0
Moulton may be familiar to many online after his response to the Orlando nightclub shooting in 2016 where a man with a semi-automatic rifle and pistol murdered 49 people and injured 53 more.
Moulton—elected in 2015—posted:
I know assault rifles. I carried one in Iraq. They have no place on America's streets. #Orlando https://t.co/ibKQE2PpqF— Seth Moulton (@Seth Moulton) 1465918517.0
In an almost ironic twist, President Trump recently spoke to military veterans at the AMVETS 75th National Convention.
People called Trump out for once again insulting a veteran.
@JoyceWhiteVance Moulton served 4 combat tours in Iraq. This is how he talks about vets.— Kelley (@Kelley) 1566588675.0
@bratknits @JoyceWhiteVance Sadly...yes...this is how he talks about vets, treats vets, and takes benefits from vets.— Stephen Elpop (@Stephen Elpop) 1566588878.0
@bratknits @JoyceWhiteVance Seth served 4 tours, Trump ran away from 5 drafts, so Trump is a -9. So Seth is 9 times the man Trump is.— Cavsuwv (@Cavsuwv) 1566589160.0
@bratknits @JoyceWhiteVance I’m not saying this for any other reason except that it’s truth: Trump is one of the, i… https://t.co/nYmJOsMUOA— Maureen Tracey 👩🏼🦰🕯🎶🌷🛍 (@Maureen Tracey 👩🏼🦰🕯🎶🌷🛍) 1566589688.0
@bratknits @JoyceWhiteVance Nothing new here....remember the way he spoke about John McCain & the Gold Star Khan fa… https://t.co/B8WjYAgQHu— Boo (@Boo) 1566588951.0
In addition to the attack on United States Marine Corps veteran Moulton, people found jokes about the failing economy distasteful.
@realDonaldTrump Here we go again! 🙏🏼🇺🇸 ‘Mr. Art Of The Deal’ tanks the stock market with a single tweet about… https://t.co/rfohsBzm7C— ʝεɳ🌊 (@ʝεɳ🌊) 1566586922.0
@jennerific713 @realDonaldTrump It's worse because he's not off to a country club, he's on his way to the G7 summit in France.— Desi's Gettin' Impatient 😬 (@Desi's Gettin' Impatient 😬) 1566588456.0
@realDonaldTrump We've seen this movie before, manure mind. https://t.co/R1MWRGwpAB— John Pavlovitz (@John Pavlovitz) 1566587630.0
@realDonaldTrump Causes a plunge in the Dow, then uses it to attack Democrats. Cool.— Charles Johnson (@Charles Johnson) 1566587056.0
@Green_Footballs @realDonaldTrump I don't even understand what the attack is. I know it's bullying Moulton somehow,… https://t.co/jBrM6KAofO— slakmehl (@slakmehl) 1566587399.0
@daniel2e @Green_Footballs @realDonaldTrump see, he's obviously the real cause. that's the joke!!— wneirlw12 (@wneirlw12) 1566587699.0
@WNeilrlw12 @Green_Footballs @realDonaldTrump Ah ha, so the idea is that he's pleased with himself that he can move… https://t.co/gFgtBrHWx6— slakmehl (@slakmehl) 1566587942.0
@realDonaldTrump Maybe in your timeline. Here is what happened in ours ‘chosen one.’ 🙄 ‘Dow closes down more tha… https://t.co/ChodnKhajt— RynheartTheReluctant (@RynheartTheReluctant) 1566591184.0
Although one person thought the attempted online bullying of Representative Moulton had another reason.
@realDonaldTrump Trump was literally watching MSNBC and freaked: Seth Moulton Blasted Trump on MSNBC Minutes Before… https://t.co/azNwpKN9Y0— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@(((DeanObeidallah)))) 1566590120.0
Trump previously tried to blame the faltering economy on the media.
Moulton did not respond to the President's insults. Instead he focused on those who helped with his campaign...
Running for president with you behind me was one of the greatest honors of my life. Thank you for everything. https://t.co/cfLhb7aoH3— Seth Moulton (@Seth Moulton) 1566584929.0
...and helping his fellow veterans.
Millions of Americans deal with post-traumatic stress. I’m one of them. We have to improve access to and quality o… https://t.co/ldoD7hYr4L— Seth Moulton (@Seth Moulton) 1566506245.0
Representative Seth Moulton may be out of the presidential race, but the 2020 election will determine a direction for the future.
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