When it comes to performing well at the first televised presidential debate, Hillary Clinton‘s already off to a bad start with her misspelled first name on the event’s tickets. Thanks to a poorly written joke, a lame delivery of said joke, and the invention of Twitter, however, the Democratic nominee’s “Trumped up” jab at Donald Trump will go down as the first worst thing about Monday’s debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York.
“The kind of plan that Donald has put forth would be trickle-down economics all over again. In fact, it would be the most extreme version — the biggest tax cuts for the top percents of the people in this country — that we’ve ever had,” Clinton explained in response to Trump’s remarks regarding his proposed economic policies. “I call it ‘Trumped up trickle-down,’ because that’s exactly what it would be.”
To her credit, Clinton thought the joke was a good one and stuck with it — despite the fact that no one in the audience audibly responded. (Then again, per the rules outlined by the Commission on Presidential Debates beforehand, the audience isn’t allowed to respond to the debate unless instructed to.) As for Trump, he quickly recognized what Clinton was trying to do and elicited his snarky, orange-peeled smile for the camera.
Then Twitter got involved, which made things about as well as you’d expect.
“Trumped up trickle down”
It’s early.
— Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) September 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/Bro_Pair/status/780575991810953216
Whoever came up with "Trumped up trickle down" was trying way too hard.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) September 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/RosieGray/status/780575828480520192
https://twitter.com/robinthede/status/780575821094322176
https://twitter.com/sadydoyle/status/780575800219275264
https://twitter.com/davelozo/status/780575774579589122
https://twitter.com/ziwe/status/780575756833398784
She practiced "Trumped up trickle down" for hours. #debatenight
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) September 27, 2016
"I guess we can say"
"No Hillary no"
"Trumped up stiffle down economics"— Brent (@Brentweets) September 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/NicolasEichen/status/780582848302637056
That "Trumped Up Trickle Down" line was a real humdinger, though, right? We say it ranks right up there with "delete your account."
— J Burton (@JBurtonXP) September 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/RosieGray/status/780580202162323456
https://twitter.com/mckaycoppins/status/780580168117223425
https://twitter.com/SaraJBenincasa/status/780577683528749058
"Trumped-up trickle down." I'll buy that T-shirt. @HillaryClinton #debatenight
— Jeff (Gutenberg Parenthesis) Jarvis (@jeffjarvis) September 27, 2016
Trumped Up, Trickled Down is my favourite CW series. #debatenight
— anne t donahue (@annetdonahue) September 27, 2016
"I call it 'trumped-up trickle-down.'" A Clinton campaign intern just high-rived another intern.
— Ryan Teague Beckwith (@ryanbeckwith) September 27, 2016
"I call it trumped up trickle down." #debatenight pic.twitter.com/D0sZPVerJI
— Chris Harnick (@chrisharnick) September 27, 2016
