President Donald J. Trump may become the third president to be impeached. Perhaps the inquiry launched by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi Wednesday will fail; perhaps he’ll resign before impeachment à la Richard Nixon. Whatever happens, the former reality TV star, as well as his eternally loyal entourage, has not been taking the news well, not in press and public appearances nor over social media, where he has long been a constant and oft-abusive presence.
Saturday morning, Trump took to Twitter to attack his many enemies, such as teenagers begging people in power to not condemn them to a dying planet. This time he decided it would be presidential to hit some of his most prominent critics — among them Jewish representatives and people of color — with a loaded slur.
Can you imagine if these Do Nothing Democrat Savages, people like Nadler, Schiff, AOC Plus 3, and many more, had a Republican Party who would have done to Obama what the Do Nothings are doing to me. Oh well, maybe next time!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 28, 2019
“Can you imagine if these Do Nothing Democrat Savages, people like Nadler, Schiff, AOC Plus 3, and many more, had a Republican Party who would have done to Obama what the Do Nothings are doing to me,” Trump wrote. “Oh well, maybe next time!”
As usual, there’s a lot to unpack here, but people particularly seized upon two things: the word “savages” and the character-saving term “AOC Plus 3.” The latter was his way of referring to “The Squad,” comprised of first year congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayannah Pressley, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib. Many found the president’s tweet baldly offensive.
AOC Plus 3 means Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley. Say their name, Say their name!
You acting kinda shady
Ain't callin' them by their name, baby https://t.co/naOuvgBYYB— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) September 28, 2019
See how he does that? More than 200 House Democrats support impeachment, but the ones he singles out as “Savages” are two Jews and four women of color. https://t.co/OBEHTphXSv
— Dana Milbank (@Milbank) September 28, 2019
wow he’s calling two Jews and a Hispanic “savages.” It’s all out in the open now. https://t.co/g0UVqDq8xK
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) September 28, 2019
Savages? The N word will soon come from the mouth of the most powerful office holder in the land. Who are AOC plus 3 and many more? Is that new racist speak for you people? https://t.co/k64mzsgJyq
— LainScape (@landis_lain) September 28, 2019
“Savages” right? 4 women of color (AOC plus 3) & 2 Jewish men #ThingsThatYouGoHmm
Our dehumanization of the Negro then is indivisible from our dehumanization of ourselves; the loss of our own identity is the price we pay for our annulment of his.
James A. Baldwin #AMJoy #uppers
— Blacque Willow (@BlaqueWillow) September 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/Jane_Elgin/status/1177961875650285570
Others found it both offensive and worth mocking.
https://twitter.com/remizmomma/status/1177957080084439041
AOC Plus 3 are living rent free inside dotards head. pic.twitter.com/1Iy0ZxyRtA
— Quiet Star (@QuietStarNJ) September 28, 2019
“AOC Plus 3” sounds like the kind of math equation that Donald Trump would never be able to solve.
— Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) September 28, 2019
I’m not in school so I don’t know how math has changed. I remember “u + me = us” but what does “AOC plus 3” equal?
— Mr. Mark Potts (@mrmarkpotts) September 28, 2019
Dear @BarackObama, Please make a Netflix special called ‘AOC Plus 3’ so Trump’s pumpkin head will explode. https://t.co/nrIZNgzSMC
— Bipartisan Report (@Bipartisanism) September 28, 2019
My favorite American dramas are Kate Plus 8 & AOC Plus 3 @realDonaldTrump @AOC
— Alex Stone (@AlexSto28778226) September 28, 2019
There were a number of band jokes, too.
Quick! Someone name a band “AOC Plus 3” and arrange a tour with Savages! pic.twitter.com/bU4Hwm2J9j
— Richard Leighton (@texastabx) September 28, 2019
Retweet if you’d attend a concert featuring "Democrat Savages," "AOC Plus 3," and "The Do Nothings.
— David Leavitt 🎲🎮🧙♂️🌈 (@David_Leavitt) September 28, 2019
I play rhythm guitar in AOC Plus 3.
— Gabino Iglesias (@Gabino_Iglesias) September 28, 2019
And others were simply exhausted after four-plus-years of Trump as an active politician.
https://twitter.com/SheriAWilkinson/status/1177961163461709824
Of course, there’s a chance he might be leaving soon enough.