‘Ooops! … I Did It Again!’ The vintage Britney Spears song couldn’t have been more appropriate, if his people had wanted to steal a pop tune as the soundtrack of Trump’s Champions Lunch with the US Men’s Olympic Hockey Team…
There he is: Standing proudly behind a mountain of Fast Food Burgers as he
makes his official welcome to the US Men’s Olympic Hockey Team…
The US Men’s Olympic Hockey Team brought home Gold for the first time in 40 years earlier this month. And as is custom, the President invited them to lunch to celebrate. But – strangely, according to many – he repeated his embarrassing faux pas of 2019, when he served Junk Food to the national Varsity Football Champions at a similar lunch…
He had an excuse, then
Trump has what some admitted was a valid excuse in ’19. The White House staff responsible for or-ganizing and preparing state luncheons and dinners were working to rule over a labour issue.
But this time… It appears he thought he was observing some sort of new ‘tradition’.
Anyway, there was hell to pay over the stunt, in the mainstream media and across the social media platforms.
Redditors speak up
A dedicated thread erupted almost immediately on Reddit when the news broke.
Some commenters noted, wryly, that the Women’s Team – which also won a gold medal – refused Trump’s invitation to lunch. In favour of a friendlier, altogether classier meal.
“The US Women’s Hockey Team got a fancy meal in Milan with Stanley Tucci,” one Redditor wrote. “The Men’s Team got McDonald’s in the White House with a dictator. The women are the winners here. Thank you, Stanley Tucci. A class act all the way.”
Another scoffed: “What is it with the White House and McDs? They have a fancy ass kitchen and staff, or could get catered food from one of many good restaurants, but they choose fast food burgers?”
The Men’s Team players also got slammed for their acquiescence to the Fast Food repast.
One exasperated fan commented: “This has to be some sort of sitcom. This is absolutely mind-boggling.”
“We live in a post-satire society,” another user wrote.
And a third cast their own satire upon the thread: “Lol! They look [like] children who just won the pizza party for reading the most Hardy Boys books this month.”
My take
I have to agree with the folks who trashed Trump for his luncheon stunt.
But I have trouble casting aspersions on the Men’s Team players for their reaction – and tame behaviour – in the face if such an insult.
And I have to point out – you had no excuse this time around, Mr. President!
~ Maggie J.