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Trump's 'covfefe' Twitter gaffe
The internet piled on US President Donald Trump for appearing to make a typing error in a tweet posted on Wednesday.
Washington: Social media is trying to make sense of Donald Trump after a nonsensical late-night tweet set off a storm of jokes about the US President.
The Twitter post, sent shortly before midnight in the US, reads "Despite the negative press covfefe", in an apparent reference to the press coverage that Trump has often derided as "fake news".
The post was available for more than three hours on his Twitter feed before it was taken down.
Minutes after the post was removed, Trump sent out a new tweet making direct reference to the likely gaffe.
Who can figure out the true meaning of "covfefe" ??? Enjoy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2017
Using the hashtag #covfefe, Twitter users speculated over the reasons behind the original tweet. Was the President tired? Drunk? Had he perhaps just given away a secret nuclear code?
Taking aim at Trump's controversial relations with Russia, one woman on Twitter quipped that she had translated #covfefe into Russian, attaching a doctored image that showed the gibberish word to be a translation of "I resign".
This is #covfefe translated from Russian. pic.twitter.com/1Im7ZzLO0Y
— Kristina Wong ❄️ (@mskristinawong) May 31, 2017
Before long, the word had its own Urban Dictionary definition: "When you want to say 'coverage' but your hands are too small to hit all the letters on your keyboard."
Social media users were also planning to sell T-shirts with the theme, although none had materialised at time of publication.
Others speculated White House staff were too scared to knock on Trump's door to work out why he stopped mid-tweet.
When asked about the tweet, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters : "I think the President and a small group of people know exactly what he meant."
The Democratic Party's candidate for the last election Hillary Clinton said "it was a hidden message to the Russians".
"And just before you serve it, you hit it with a dash of #Covfefe" pic.twitter.com/fm9CAF4Iyz
— Charles M. Blow (@CharlesMBlow) May 31, 2017
"And the orb, having bestowed upon you the power to smite your enemies, can be invoked using the simple code word '#covfefe '" pic.twitter.com/jKx255mWDN
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) May 31, 2017
The Pope to Trump: "Do you have any sins you would like to #covfefe?" pic.twitter.com/Q38m64UqWo
— Lisa❄️ (@lisadw323) May 31, 2017
#covfefe is gone. But not before 160k likes. pic.twitter.com/zFzBNSbWsR
— Jason Newborne (@JasonNewborne) May 31, 2017
what makes me saddest is that I know I'll never write anything funnier than #covfefe
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) May 31, 2017
I HAVE BEEN SUMMONED.
— Covfefe the Strong (@CovfefeS) May 31, 2017
Wakes up.Checks Twitter....Uh...... Lookups fo......Regrets checking Twitter.Goes back to bed.
— Merriam-Webster (@MerriamWebster) May 31, 2017
Good afternoon. As at 16:30 services are #covfefe
— Trains Info (@TrainsInfo) May 31, 2017
Werribee trains completely #Covfefe today
— Alberto Garza (@pelongarza) May 31, 2017
I'm calling in sick Wednesday.
— Ed Joyce (@EdJoyce) May 31, 2017
I've got #covfefe again.
Don't even care if everyone knows... Just changed all my passwords to #covfefe pic.twitter.com/NgEDsBmKXF
— Jerry O'Connell (@MrJerryOC) May 31, 2017
If you have a #covfefe that lasts more than 4 hours, please see this doctor: pic.twitter.com/eCKcBP7Hjs
— The Daily Edge (@TheDailyEdge) May 31, 2017
Finally figured out what Bill Murray whispered in Scarlett Johansson's ear at the end of "Lost in Translation" #covfefe pic.twitter.com/fDFJUYlEz8
— Jordan VanDina (@Shrimptooth) May 31, 2017
They can take our lives, but they will never take our #covfefe pic.twitter.com/AsmZwCgr6u
— Not A Comedian (@obvnotacomedian) May 31, 2017
Don't worry! Everything is under #covfefe pic.twitter.com/FhmHH5xYzW
— Donald J. Trump (@reaIDonaldTrunp) June 1, 2017
This is one of the best #covfefe pic.twitter.com/Pu8l49odQV
— Mikie (@mjscores) June 1, 2017
President Trump always sets the narrative.... #covfefe pic.twitter.com/uCQEHQHJvk
— Bob Marzulli (@budswdrbobbillw) June 1, 2017
Reasons we need new media #342,335 @realDonaldTrump is pulling the USA out of the #Parisclimateaccord but the MSM is talking about #Covfefe
— Josh Fox (@joshfoxfilm) May 31, 2017
DPA, AP
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