The most viral moments from the early days of Trump's first term, explained
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President-elect Trump, Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (center) and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (left) put their hands on an illuminated globe in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2017. Photo: Bandar Algaloud/Saudi Royal Council/Handout/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
We may have just gotten our first viral moment of the new Trump presidency: President-elect Trump eating McDonald's on his plane alongside Elon Musk, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Donald Trump Jr. and House Speaker Mike Johnson.
- The photo created a stir online, especially given Kennedy has dissed Trump's diet. But as D.C. knows, it's likely only the first viral moment of many.
Why it matters: Chronically online DMV residents live for a presidential meme-able moment, and Trump's first administration offered up a smorgasbord of viral tidbits.
- Remember the lawnmower kid? The whole McDonald's being served at the White House thing? Or what about Tim Apple?
As D.C. prepares for Trump's inauguration, many Washingtonians have found themselves recalling the montage of pop culture moments circa 2017-2021 stored away in the hard drives of our brains.
- Here are some memorable ones from his early presidency.
"Soft sensuality"
No, this isn't the title of a Spotify slow jams playlist: When asked about the plans for Trump's 2017 inauguration, the then-chairman of the inaugural committee said the vision was to "surround [Trump] with the soft sensuality of the place," rather than a "circus-like celebration."
- No word yet if the January 2025 ceremony will be "soft" or "sensual," but we are softly and sensually crossing our fingers.
"Don's Johns"
The internet was puzzled over reports that the signs on portable restrooms from the Virginia-based company Don's Johns were being covered up prior to Trump's 2017 inauguration.
- While some speculated it was a literal cover-up of a name that too closely resembled the commander in chief's, a spokesperson for the Architect of the Capitol said the signs were covered to adhere to advertising restrictions on Capitol grounds.
Covfefe
During the spring of Trump's first year in office, he sent a now-infamous tweet that read "Despite the constant negative press covfefe."
- And that was it. That was the whole tweet.
Social media immediately began speculating about what Trump meant, with some tweeting pleas to Merriam-Webster to define the made-up word.
- "The president and a small group of people know exactly what he meant," said then-press secretary Sean Spicer. (Also the subject of many Spice-y viral moments.)
Fast forward several years, and "covfefe" has now been chiseled into the hallowed tablets of pop culture history: You can get the word on items like hats, T-shirts and, of course, covfefe … er, coffee mugs.
The glowing orb
Trump put the "orb" in "Orb-al Office" when he touched a literal glowing orb in 2017 with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and President of Egypt Abdel Fattah al-Sisi while visiting a newly opened center targeting extremist ideology.
- As is standard, the internet lost it, prompting the Church of Satan to eventually tweet "For clarification, this is not a Satanic ritual," above a photo of the three leaders and said orb.
The solar eclipse
You know where this is going: In 2017, Trump did the one thing you're really not supposed to do during a solar eclipse. Yes, he stared directly at it.
- Cue the memes.
💬 Mimi's thought bubble: With the holidays approaching, I'm remembering the White House's cheery days of yore under the Trump administration: Clearly, I am referring to the Blood Trees.
What we're watching: Which Trump 2.0 moments will take social media by storm, obviously.