Trump Revives Emotional Supporter Anecdotes with New 'Crying on Me' Twist
Former President Donald Trump brought back a familiar element of his public speeches during an event in Clive, Iowa, this week: stories of supporters spontaneously bursting into tears in his presence. However, this latest iteration included a novel twist that deviated from his typical tales.
The Iowa Anecdote: Tears and Makeup on a Suit
While addressing the crowd, Trump described a recent encounter with a group from Iowa. "I just left a great group of people from Iowa, and half of them were crying as they talked to me," he claimed. He elaborated that these were not tears of disappointment but of gratitude, stating, "I don't think they're crying because I'm doing a bad job. You know, in theory, you cry if you do a bad, they were crying because I've done a good job."
Trump then incorporated his signature "sir" detail, recalling that supporters told him, "Sir, you've brought our country back," while allegedly weeping. The story took an unusual turn as he described one woman's actions. "One woman was fantastic," Trump said. "She grabbed me, and she put her head right there, and her tears are pouring all over my beautiful suit. I figured, I get it, and I checked it out, and there was a lot of makeup all over. I said, 'What the hell am I gonna do? Get myself in trouble!'"
He concluded this segment by noting that he advised the woman, "Don't cry. Be happy. Be happy."
A History of Tearful Tales
This is not the first time Trump has shared stories about emotional supporters. His repertoire includes:
- In 2024, he told Fox News host Maria Bartiromo about "steel people that every time they see me, they start to cry," hugging him and crediting him with saving their industry.
- In 2023, he claimed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis "begged" him for an endorsement with "tears coming down from his eyes."
- Variations often feature "tough guys" who supposedly never cried before, such as in 2019 when he described a man weeping over regulatory cuts, saying, "Sir, you give me back my life and my property."
- In 2018, he recounted a "strong, tough guy" crying and thanking him for "saving America."
Notably, a 2017 event with farmers and ranchers that Trump described as tearful was captured on video without showing obvious tears, raising questions about the accuracy of these anecdotes.
Critics Respond with Skepticism and Mockery
Reactions to Trump's latest story were swift and dismissive from critics, who expressed doubt about its veracity. Many pointed out the lack of video evidence despite ubiquitous smartphone usage. Key criticisms included:
- Accusations that the story is "completely deranged" and fabricated, with one critic calling it "way beyond dementia."
- Questions about why such emotional encounters are never recorded, with observers noting, "Everyone has a phone!"
- Mockery of the recurring "sir" and tear elements, described as "the most cliche of Trump lies."
- Skepticism about Secret Service protocols, with one critic asking how a random person could grab the president and cry on him unnoticed.
Overall, the response highlighted a pattern of disbelief, with critics rolling their eyes rather than shedding tears over Trump's latest anecdotal addition to his political narrative.
