This is what Trump derangement syndrome looks like.
The White House recently took to social media to call out Democratic Senator Chris Murphy as a “moron” after he made an erroneous claim about a post he believed came from Lara Trump. The Connecticut senator had reacted to a social media post that he thought was from Lara Trump, calling for the arrest of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). Murphy’s outburst was fueled by what he thought was an endorsement from Lara Trump regarding the arrest of Ocasio-Cortez over her involvement in helping illegal immigrants avoid deportation.
However, Murphy’s accusation quickly backfired. The post he referred to was not from Lara Trump but from a parody fan account. Recognizing the mistake, the White House’s new “Rapid Response 47” social media account responded bluntly, calling Murphy out. “You are a moron, Chris,” the message stated. “It is obvious this page is not affiliated with President Trump, his family, or the administration. We do, however, support your right to make such a statement, no matter how imbecilic it makes you look.” This message was a direct response to Murphy’s unwarranted attack, which was based on misinformation.
The White House’s response also pointed to the new “Rapid Response 47” account launched earlier this year, aimed at confronting what the administration considers “fake news.” In his initial post, Murphy had attached a screenshot of the alleged Lara Trump tweet, which came from an account titled “Lara Trump Page,” a parody account with no official connection to Lara Trump. The fan page had shared a post questioning whether Ocasio-Cortez’s actions related to illegal immigration would lead to legal repercussions, but it was clear to many that the message was not from a legitimate Trump family account.
As the situation unfolded, Murphy continued to argue that the Trump administration had “gall” in discussing free speech while allegedly threatening Democrats with legal action for promoting rights awareness. However, a community note quickly corrected Murphy’s misstep, informing him that Lara Trump had no such post. The parody account’s message, which Murphy had believed to be real, was more likely referencing Ocasio-Cortez’s “Know Your Rights” webinar, which advised illegal immigrants on how to avoid deportation. The post about potential legal consequences was based on statements made by Tom Homan, the Trump administration’s former ICE director, who had raised concerns about whether Ocasio-Cortez’s actions crossed legal lines.
This episode highlights the importance of fact-checking and accurately attributing social media content before making inflammatory statements, especially when they target public figures or political leaders. The White House’s swift and pointed response to Murphy underscores the administration’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for spreading misinformation.