Political Tribune

Donald Trump, Opinion, Politics, Social Media, World

Trump Just Made A Wild New Claim—And The Reality Check Was Instant

The timeline struck back

561
561 points

Donald Trump stood on the National Mall Wednesday night to kick off the Great American State Fair and used the occasion to make a claim that collided almost immediately with the public record.

“As you know very well, a short time ago we were a dead country. We were dead. Now we’re the hottest country anywhere in the world. We’re respected by everybody. Nobody’s laughing at us anymore. Two years ago, they were laughing. Now, we’re the most respected anywhere — think of it — anywhere in the world.”

The internet did not need long to remember otherwise. Within minutes, people were reposting years of clips showing world leaders laughing at Trump. The 2019 NATO summit hot mic, in which Justin Trudeau, Emmanuel Macron and Boris Johnson appeared to joke about him, resurfaced alongside footage from 2025 of European leaders laughing after Trump repeatedly mixed up Albania and Armenia.

Others pointed to comments from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who shared a similar view last year. “I’ve had the privilege of meeting a lot of foreign leaders,” Newsom said during a Politico event. “They’re laughing behind his back.” The White House never responded to those remarks

Fresh polling released just one day before Trump’s speech painted a very different picture.

A new Pew Research Center survey found that fewer than one in four adults across 36 countries expressed confidence in Trump’s handling of global affairs, while only 37% viewed the United States favorably overall.

Canada showed one of the sharpest shifts. In 2022, 83% of Canadians described the United States as a reliable global partner. By 2026, that figure had fallen to just 35%, marking one of the steepest drops recorded in the survey’s history.

The X reaction to Wednesday’s speech covered the expected range, and then some.


Featured image via X screengrab

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Terry Lawson

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Terry is an editor and political writer based in Alabama. Over the last five years, he’s worked behind the scenes as a ghostwriter for a range of companies, helping shape voices and tell stories that connect. Now at Political Tribune, he writes sharp political pieces and edits with a close eye on clarity and tone. Terry’s work is driven by strong storytelling, attention to detail, and a clear sense of purpose. He’s skilled in writing, editing, and project management — and always focused on getting the message right. You can find him on X at https://x.com/TerryNotTrump.

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