Over in the land of the free, they really, really care about their national songs. It stands in a stark contrast to Australia, where even the staunchest nationalist absolutely does not know the second verse of Advance Australia Fair and will mumble their way through it awkwardly if an event organiser cruelly decides to let the song run through.
So with that in mind, you’d think Donald Trump might make an effort to learn the lyrics to God Bless America before a weird event he threw to venerate his own patriotism. No? Okay, cool. No dramas.
Trump unable to remember words to “God Bless America” at replacement event he commissioned to prove his patriotism: https://t.co/LrMPaCEnen pic.twitter.com/oCcWMX9g39
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) June 5, 2018
Here’s the backstory: you might recall that Trump cancelled a meeting with Super Bowl champioms, the Philadelphia Eagles, after it was revealed a smaller delegation would be attending the visit than expected. Many Eagles players sat this one out, ostensibly in response to Trump’s recent comments denigrating NFL players who kneel in protest of police brutality and systemic racism.
The New York Times reports it was looking pretty dire:
White House officials said that fewer than 10 members of the team were planning to attend the celebration on Tuesday afternoon on the South Lawn despite weeks of planning for the event.
Trump said that the 1000 or so Eagles fans who were invited to attend the meeting could still come – and would be treated to “a different type of ceremony — one that will honor our great country, pay tribute to the heroes who fight to protect it, and loudly and proudly play the national anthem.”
Seems like it would be a shithouse trade, and it indeed was. Instead of getting to see their favourite players, those who did attend – who looked suspiciously like hastily assembled White House staffers and not like Eagles fans – were treated to Donald J. Trump standing front and centre, flanked by men in uniform, as he awkwardly mumbled maybe 50% of the words of God Bless America.
Good effort, Donald.
