It is perhaps not the image the White House wanted to convey, but nonetheless there it is, the president fist pumping upon arrival at a 9/11 memorial service in Shanksville, Pa. Fist pumps are for football games, or getting a raise or celebrating an accomplishment. But a memorial service?
Trump traveled to Shanksville, Pa., for a service at the sight of the United flight 93 crash. It was supposed to be a solemn occasion.
Donald Trump fist pumped on his way to a 9/11 memorial service and it's not going over well https://t.co/fRiq477MSR pic.twitter.com/eXrZy3fSCj
— Mashable (@mashable) September 11, 2018
Before the fist pumps, the day was already off to a rocky start. On the 17th anniversary of the attack on America, Donald Trump began the day by tweeting out Fox “news” conspiracy theories on the Russia investigation, and Hillary Clinton.
“We have found nothing to show collusion between President Trump & Russia, absolutely zero, but every day we get more documentation showing collusion between the FBI & DOJ, the Hillary campaign, foreign spies & Russians, incredible.” @SaraCarterDC @LouDobbs
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 11, 2018
He followed it up with another gem, “17 years since September 11th!” (exclamation point his)
Donald Trumps sparks outrage after performing a double fist pump as he arrived at a memorial service for the 9/11 terror attacks https://t.co/eKcd6gL54O
— Evening Standard (@standardnews) September 11, 2018
But it was the double fist pump that sent eyes rolling again.
Donald Trump first marked the 17th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks with an angry morning tweet about Russia and Hillary Clinton. Now he’s seen fist bumping on his way to the field in Shanksville, PA, where 40 people died after a terror attack was thwarted. https://t.co/QkCgVoNf88
— Chris Riotta (@chrisriotta) September 11, 2018
“I can’t believe he’d screw up memorializing 9/11,” said nobody.
— Ryan Lizza (@RyanLizza) September 11, 2018
Trump was also photographed giving the thumbs up at the memorial site. The occasion was supposed to be about paying tribute to 40 heroes whose overtook hijackers who had seized control of the passenger jet. Earlier this week a memorial tower was dedicated to the victims of Flight 93.
Groundbreaking 'Tower of Voices' Flight 93 memorial erected in Shanksville, Pennsylvania ahead of 9/11 anniversary. It stands at around 93 feet tall and is the embodiment of a musical instrument holding 40 wind chimes, honoring the 40 victims. https://t.co/Ltdajmh0d9 #911 pic.twitter.com/37LUeuUwiH
— Preston Phillips (@PrestonTVNews) September 11, 2018