In a rare prime-time address Sunday evening, President Obama called last week’s shooting in San Bernardino, California, an “act of terrorism” and outlined his plan to fight the terror threat abroad and at home, calling for a reinstatement of a federal assault weapons ban and a ban of people who are on no-fly lists from purchasing firearms.
“The threat from terrorism is real,” President Obama said, “but we will overcome it”:
We will destroy ISIL and any other organization that tries to harm us. Our success won’t depend on tough talk or abandoning our values or giving into fear. That’s what groups like ISIL are hoping for. Instead, we will prevail by being strong and smart. Resilient and relentless. And by drawing upon every aspect of American power.
While the President addressed the nation from the Oval Office, one man seeking to replace him gave a real time rebuttal, of sorts, via social media. Donald Trump, ever the business man, heavily promoted his Sunday evening Twitter session ahead of the President’s address:
BIG NIGHT ON TWITTER TONIGHT. I WILL BE LIVE TWEETING PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SPEECH AT 7:50 P.M. ( EASTERN). MUST TALK RADICAL ISLAMIC TERRORISM!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2015
I will be live-tweeting President Obama's prime-time speech tonight starting at 7:50 P.M. (Eastern).Will he finally state the real problems?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 6, 2015
Before the speech began, Trump encouraged his supporters to share their hot takes in 140 characters or less for a chance to be retweeted to his more than five million followers, although it became evident that most his followers snoozed through Obama’s speech:
I will be re-tweeting some of your better, most imaginative and hopefully insightful tweets. Make them good (great)! Important stuff.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2015
"@10inchpolitics: @realDonaldTrump air strikes? Who's air strikes??"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2015
"@JFK4701: @realDonaldTrump he is reading off the TelePrompTer." But that is O.K. in this case.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2015
"@homefreeee: @realDonaldTrump He needs to stop all Visas not look at them!"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2015
Trump offered a few thoughts of his own he shared live:
The podium in the Oval Office looks odd! Not good, but the words will be the key.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2015
Wish Obama would say ISIS, like almost everyone else, rather than ISIL.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2015
Should have gone after the oil years ago (like I have been saying).
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2015
Well, Obama refused to say (he just can't say it), that we are at WAR with RADICAL ISLAMIC TERRORISTS.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2015
"@WiggintonRandy: @realDonaldTrump He will never say it, therefore he will never have a solution!"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2015
Obama said in his speech that Muslims are our sports heroes. What sport is he talking about, and who? Is Obama profiling?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2015
Is that all there is? We need a new President – FAST!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2015
Ultimately, The Donald was left disappointed by the brevity of Obama’s speech and found the aesthetics lacking, leading to this assessment from a supporter:
"@nepafortrump: ONLY @realDonaldTrump WILL Conquer ISIS & WILL #MakeAmericaGreatAgain! = #PotusYoureFired!! VOTE #Trump2016"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2015
Watch President Obama’s Oval Office address on ISIL below:
Watch President Obama’s address to the nation on the threat of terrorism and keeping the American people safe. https://t.co/A16eYXCpOf
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 7, 2015
