In a unique form of political commentary, former President Donald Trump posted a video on his Instagram account featuring President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris with filters applied to their faces.
This post came shortly after Biden’s State of the Union speech, a crucial moment where he addressed millions of Americans on various issues.
The Variety of Filters Used
The video included several filters altering the appearances of Biden and Harris.
One filter enlarged their eyes, another added braided hair in pigtail styles, and additional filters transformed Biden’s face to resemble Pinocchio and placed a dog’s head on his body.
Trump’s Active Social Media Presence
Former President Trump was notably active on social media during and after Biden’s State of the Union address.
Besides the Instagram video, Trump also posted multiple comments on his Truth Social account, reacting to Biden’s speech in real-time and providing his own commentary throughout the event.
Technical Issues on Truth Social
During the State of the Union address, Truth Social, the platform Trump used to communicate with his followers, experienced technical difficulties.
Users reported disruptions and outages, particularly around the time of Biden’s speech, which prevented some from accessing Trump’s posts.
Biden Campaign’s Reaction to Trump’s Posts
According to The Daily Mail, in response to Trump’s social media activity, the Biden campaign issued a one-word email, “sad,” which also featured an image suggesting that Truth Social was malfunctioning.
This was seen as a direct comment on the effectiveness of Trump’s rapid-response operation during the State of the Union.
Public Reception of Trump’s Instagram Video
Trump’s Instagram video received a significant amount of attention, garnering over 1million likes. Many users commented, finding the video humorous and entertaining.
However, there were differing opinions, with some users not finding the humor in the post and questioning its maturity.
The Context of Trump’s Posts
Trump’s posts came during an evening where Biden, without naming Trump, made several pointed remarks likely aimed at the former president.
Trump’s response on social media, particularly the Instagram video, appeared to be his way of countering Biden’s criticisms during the State of the Union.
Focus of Trump’s Critique
Amidst his numerous posts, Trump’s focus on Biden’s appearance and demeanor during the State of the Union, rather than substantive policy issues, stood out.
His comments ranged from observations about Biden’s hair to his emotional expression during the speech.
Trump Criticizes Biden’s Performance and Media Coverage
In a characteristic display of his unfiltered style, former President Trump also suggested Biden was losing his sharpness during the speech, implying this through a remark saying, “THE DRUGS ARE WEARING OFF!”
Additionally, Trump criticized the media’s portrayal of the event, arguing that the coverage was biased, particularly noting the frequency of shots showing Democrats applauding. He implied that this selective broadcasting skewed the perception of the address’s reception, portraying a more favorable view of Biden than he believed was warranted.
Biden Addresses Jan. 6 Insurrection in SOTU Speech
President Joe Biden took a moment during his State of the Union address to confront the January 6, 2021, insurrection directly, challenging the narrative some have tried to minimize or distort.
He stated, “My predecessor — and some of you here — seek to bury the truth about Jan. 6 — I will not do that.”
Biden Claps Back on Immigration During SOTU
Before President Biden’s State of the Union address, former President Trump leveled criticism at him, attributing “horrific devastation” to Biden’s tenure, particularly highlighting the surge in migrant crossings at the Mexican border.
During his address, however, Biden flipped the script on immigration, challenging Republicans by addressing their failure to pass comprehensive border legislation. Amidst heckles from Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, Biden retorted with a call to action: “We can fight about fixing the border or we can fix it, I’m ready to fix it. Send me the border bill now.”
Biden Addresses Age Concerns with Humor
During the State of the Union address, President Biden didn’t just focus on policy and political issues; he also tackled the critiques about his age head on.
Acknowledging the elephant in the room, Biden quipped, “I know it may not look like it, but I’ve been around a while.” He added “when you get to be my age certain things become clearer than ever. I know the American story.”
