Trump claims 1775 revolutionary army 'took over airports'
Critics of President Donald Trump were flying high on Thursday after his jaw-dropping gaffe in his Independence Day speech that the US Army took over airports during the Revolutionary War.
Trump, clearly reading from a teleprompter, talked about how the Continental Congress in 1775 "created a unified Army out of the Revolutionary Forces encamped around Boston and New York." The army suffered a "bitter winter of Valley Forge, found glory across the waters of the Delaware and seized victory from Cornwallis of Yorktown," Trump said.
Here's where it goes off the rails: "Our Army manned the air, it rammed (or 'rand') the ramparts, it took over airports, it did everything it had to do," Trump added. "And at Fort McHenry, under the rockets' red glare, had nothing but victory. When dawn came, the star-spangled banner waved defiant."
The White House did not provide Trump's complete prepared speech, so it wasn't clear where exactly or how the the goof-up occurred. The president suddenly zoomed ahead from the Revolutionary War to the War of 1812, which involved Fort McHenry (he called it "McHendry")— and the "rockets' red glare" and the "star-spangled banner" of Francis Scott Key's national anthem. He seemed to be squinting while reading the teleprompter and struggled with some of the words.
The nation's maiden plane voyage by the Wright Brothers didn't occur until 1903. Trump referred to that flight elsewhere in his speech.
Twitter foes were doing verbal loop-de-loops over the blunder. "Even back then, there were always flight delays on Colonial Airways, since there were no planes," quipped one wag. Some takedowns involved colonial fighters writing home to lovers about being stranded on planes that didn't yet exist.
Dear @realDonaldTrump, It just occurred to me that you & my great, great, great grandpappy were on the same flight in 1812. The family stories of the emergency landing during the red flare are absolutely riveting. Just curious, what time do you start sundowning? xoBette #BeBette
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) 5 July 2019
Apparently we took La Guardia Airport from the Brits in 1776 and have been trying to give it back for 243 years.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) 5 July 2019
We beat the British because they had to connect through Atlanta. #RevolutionaryWarAirportStories
— Steve Kish (@skishman) 5 July 2019
My Dearest Rose,
I'm afraid I must be the bearer of bad news. My flight has already been delayed a fortnight, and I fear it will be longer. The army has shut down the airport and the airplane will not be invented for 6 score and 7 years from now.#RevolutionaryWarAirportStories— JackWBower (@Trumpet1984) 5 July 2019
My Dearest Rose,
I'm afraid I must be the bearer of bad news. My flight has already been delayed a fortnight, and I fear it will be longer. The army has shut down the airport and the airplane will not be invented for 6 score and 7 years from now.#RevolutionaryWarAirportStories— JackWBower (@Trumpet1984) 5 July 2019
That moment when Hamilton and Lafayette seized our airports was truly a surprise move. I thought they were riding through a marsh.
— William Shakespeare (@Shakespeare) 5 July 2019
#RevolutionaryWarAirportStories
Soldier's letter to home: "wait for me my love, the battle of Jet Blue will soon end and I will return to you post haste on standby through ATL on Delta"— Indivisible TDCA (@I_TDCA) 5 July 2019
Attention Attention, Will passenger Cornwallis of Yorktown please report to Gate 1814 for the War of 1812, Thank You! #RevolutionaryWarAirportStories
— CJ (@ChukuJones) 5 July 2019
Dearest Jebediah,
Our flight has been delayed again. Waiting on the tarmac, our supplies of honey roasted peanuts and Fresca are almost depleted. We are talking about rebellion against first class. Please tell the children I love them.#RevolutionaryWarAirportStories— Granny Weatherwax's Smirking Revenge (@dadamstowel) 5 July 2019
National Archives discover new pictures of the War of Independence. #RevolutionaryWarAirportStoriespic.twitter.com/dvGaLYQoYE
— Acdcnut (@Acdckcnut) 5 July 2019
Martha,
Trying my damndest to make the 5:15 flight out of Philly, but the Valley Forge traffic is a nightmare. Leave a lantern on for me...
Your, George#RevolutionaryWarAirportStoriespic.twitter.com/ynerShnylr— Laura E. Hess (@LauraEHess2) 5 July 2019
#RevolutionaryWarAirportStories
Even back then, there were always Flight Delays on Colonial Airways, since there were no airplanes.
The good news was the Baggage Claim lines were always short. Just ask Wilbur Ross who worked there/#TrumpParade#IndependenceDaypic.twitter.com/Yqi7aofUh5— Covfefe Jones- King Of Shade👑 (@King_Of_Shade) 5 July 2019
- This article first appeared on HuffPost