So What Happened Last Night In Sweden? Donald Trump Saw It On Fox News – Update
Updated 2:07 pm Sunday, with Trump response President Donald Trump has explained his Sweden comment: He saw it on Fox. “My statement as to what’s happening in Sweden was in reference to a story that was broadcast on @FoxNews concerning immigrants & Sweden,” he’s just tweeted.
My statement as to what's happening in Sweden was in reference to a story that was broadcast on @FoxNews concerning immigrants & Sweden.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 19, 2017
The president’s tweet came just minutes after CNN reported that White House deputy press secretary Sarah H. Sanders said Trump “was talking about rising crime and recent incidents in general and not referring to a specific incident.” Sanders also said Trump “may have seen” the Fox News report, CNN said.
The barbs arrived on cue…
Wait. So "last night in Sweden" means "last night on Fox News about Sweden?"
You find new and innovative ways to embarrass us. https://t.co/GP43Su4v4a
— Greg Poehler (@GregPoehler) February 19, 2017
Clearly what happens in Sweden stays in Sweden… xo m
— Marcia Cross (@ReallyMarcia) February 19, 2017
Trump says he got his info on Sweden by misunderstanding a Fox report. Doesn't he know he would have gotten intel briefing on such a thing?
— Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) February 19, 2017
My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Sweden
tonight. #WeAreAllSweden
— Warren Leight (@warrenleightTV) February 19, 2017
Previous, Sunday morning So what exactly happened last night in Sweden? Or more accurately Friday night, which is when President Donald Trump suggested during his rally in Florida yesterday that something terribly terroristic had occurred.
“Last night, we listened to Abba,” was one response coming from a country entirely unaware that it had been attacked.
Trump made the seemingly off-the-cuff remark during his Florida rally, carried live on the news channels, while discussing the impact of refugees on violence overseas. “You look at what’s happening last night in Sweden,” he said. “Sweden. Who would believe this? Sweden. They took in large numbers. They’re having problems like they never thought possible.”
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The comment prompted a Bowling Green Massacre of Twitter mocking, with tweeters taking up imaginary arms. Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt led the charge by asking “What has he been smoking?”
One of the more popular memes was a riff on IKEA’s famously simple – or at least international – how-to instructions:
Naturally, Alec Baldwin couldn’t resist:
I think Trump, w his ADD, asks about the latest terror event at same time that Kushner says, "I like these meatballs. Where are they from?"
— ABFoundation (@ABFalecbaldwin) February 19, 2017
Nor could:
The other half will go to their graves always believing Sweden had their own 9/11 last Friday night – and nothing will change their minds. https://t.co/NZlsS4gNlh
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) February 19, 2017
In honor of the fallen, the President will watch Bergman's "The Seventh Seal". "I didn't know they had seals in Sweden. Beautiful fish".
— Brent Spiner (@BrentSpiner) February 19, 2017
Our hearts and thoughts are with Sweden for the imaginary terror attack that our President pulled out of his ass. At least he's not yours.
— Christopher Titus (@TitusNation) February 19, 2017
@realDonaldTrump watched @edhenry filling in for @TuckerCarlson, #FakeNews re Sweden – makes ass of himself in #Melbourne #SweedenIncident
— Montel Williams (@Montel_Williams) February 19, 2017
Both Chelsea Clinton and Keith Olbermann referenced Kellyanne Conway’s now infamous (and fictitious) Bowling Green Massacre:
What happened in Sweden Friday night? Did they catch the Bowling Green Massacre perpetrators?
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) February 19, 2017
Bullshit McGee has his own fabricated "Bowling Green Massacre" now #LastNightInSweden https://t.co/vgrsipnKjY
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) February 19, 2017
And these:
Victims being prepped for dignified burial. #LastNightInSweden pic.twitter.com/wlSaDUMptM
— Tony Aiello (@AielloTV) February 19, 2017
Sweden ?????????
This is DEFINITELY DELUSIONAL ( See Swedish PM's comment )
— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) February 19, 2017
Please pray for my son Glavynn who lost a buttock in yesterday's Feminist terror attack in Sweden. #MAGA
— rob delaney (@robdelaney) February 19, 2017
Sweden, you ok? Call me.
— Stephen Mangan (@StephenMangan) February 19, 2017
The hashtag #lastnightinsweden WINS THE DAY!!!
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) February 19, 2017
Even the Swedish Embassy has no answers:
@fuadmb About #swedenincident #lastnightinsweden unclear to us what President Trump was referring to,have asked US officials for explanation
— Embassy of Sweden US (@SwedeninUSA) February 19, 2017
But the sharpest responses came in a series of tweets from someone fast enough to grab the Last Night in Sweden handle.
Last night, "Ivanka" was the name of a cheap piece of furniture at IKEA. #LastNightInSweden
— Last Night In Sweden (@LastNiteNSweden) February 19, 2017
Everyone had healthcare. #LastNightInSweden
— Last Night In Sweden (@LastNiteNSweden) February 19, 2017
America, if you start to identify with your captor-President, please call. We can help. #LastNightInSweden #StockholmSyndrome
— Last Night In Sweden (@LastNiteNSweden) February 19, 2017
Last night, we were mature adults. Today, we are all giggling about Trump's tiny hands. #lastnightinsweden
— Last Night In Sweden (@LastNiteNSweden) February 19, 2017
Last night, we listened to ABBA. Today, we are listening to an angry yam. #lastnightinsweden
— Last Night In Sweden (@LastNiteNSweden) February 19, 2017
So what did happen in Sweden? The likeliest explanation for Trump’s confusion is a Fox News Channel report that aired Friday during Tucker Carlson Tonight, which included an interview with filmmaker Ami Horowitz about immigration and violence in Sweden. In other words, “what happened last night in Sweden” is Trump-speak for “what I saw on Fox last night about Sweden.”
Or maybe, Republican Senator Rand Paul has an explanation. On ABC’s This Week With George Stephanopoulos this morning, Paul said, “There was a New Year Eve altercation, I think, a year ago where there was quite a few things that were happening that did involve refugee populations. And I believe that was in Sweden.”
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