Trump asks Hurricane Laura responders to sell his autograph for $10k, Internet says it's 'not worth a dollar'
President Donald Trump traveled to Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Saturday, August 29, 2020, to inspect the damage from Hurricane Laura and attend a briefing about the disaster's impact and the federal response. He took a moment to hand out autographed photos of himself to emergency officials and advised them to put his autographs up for auction on eBay.
After taking questions from the reporters, the president began signing autographs for emergency officials of those in attendance, quipping that they could sell them on eBay that night for $10,000. "Come here fellas, get over here. I want a little power," he said after he was asked to sign an autograph. Handling an autographed paper to a local official he said, "Sell this on eBay tonight, you'll get $10,000." Trump told another official that he is intentionally not putting his name on as it will be worth more without it. The event was part of a tour of Louisiana and Texas to survey the damage and to talk to the local state leaders about what efforts are needed to curb the crisis.
No sooner did the incident make its way to the micro-blogging site and people started slamming Trump for it. A user said, "That sh*t is not even worth a dollar on eBay. A broken DSLR on is worth more than a Trump pen." Another made fun of him saying, "Trump buying his own autographs off eBay for 10k!" Another user commented: "Down in Mississippi accessing damage, in the middle of all that, he's asked for his autograph. YOU TELL ME HES NOT A PEOPLE PERSON! Sell it on Ebay!!! Lol TRUMP 2020... proving himself everyday!!!"
That shit is not even worth a dollar on eBay. A broken DSLR on is worth more than a Trump pen. https://t.co/jyZBnYFLU3
— Air Pikachu (@nelmospeaks) August 29, 2020
Down in Mississippi accessing damage, in the middle of all that, he's asked for his autograph. YOU TELL ME HES NOT A PEOPLE PERSON! Sell it on Ebay!!! Lol TRUMP 2020... proving himself everyday!!! pic.twitter.com/gtkXxVIjvR
— ThatKat (@ThatKat10) August 30, 2020
An angry user said, "Our country is in the middle of an economic crisis, a pandemic and natural disasters all over the country. Trump is concerned about how much his autograph will sale on EBay. They call disaster an “Act of God”, maybe God is trying to tell US something. How much Trump’s an idiot?" "Seriously? Sell a Trump autograph on eBay? I’d rather poke my eyes out with hot dagger than even touch his autograph," said another.
Our country is in the middle of a economic crisis, a pandemic and natural disasters all over the country. Trump is concerned about how much his autograph will sale on EBay. They call disaster an “Act of God”, maybe God is trying to tell US something. How much Trump’s an idiot?
— Patti P (@1John4GodisLove) August 30, 2020
Seriously? Sell a Trump autograph on eBay? I’d rather poke my eyes out with hot dagger than even touch his autograph.
— Rapscalliana (@Rapscallianna) August 30, 2020
Another tweet read, "The future of disaster relief in America: if your house is destroyed you receive a Trump autograph to sell on eBay." "I’m trying to give him the benefit of the doubt here and I’m not sure why, but maybe he’s saying “tonight 10k,” so his people can buy them back, thus “donating” the money? Idk, I can’t wrap my head around this video," said one.
The future of disaster relief in America: if your house is destroyed you receive a Trump autograph to sell on eBay.
— Scott Knowles (@USofDisaster) August 30, 2020
I’m trying to give him the benefit of the doubt here and I’m not sure why, but maybe he’s saying “tonight 10k,” so his people can buy them back, thus “donating” the money?
— Mrs. Dong Copter (@HitCockBottom) August 29, 2020
Idk, I can’t wrap my head around this video.
"In the 50 years that I’ve been on this Earth, I have never felt hatred towards another person like the hatred I feel towards Donald Trump. I can’t even put into words how much I hate Trump. I’m trembling with rage as I write this," another user said.
In the 50 years that I’ve been on this Earth, I have never felt hatred towards another person like the hatred I feel towards Donald Trump. I can’t even put into words how much I hate Trump. I’m trembling with rage as I write this.
— FDJT 🗽🌊📬 (@orrutjs) August 29, 2020
Hurricane Laura, which had wind speeds of 150mph, was a Category 4 storm. It was much stronger than 2005's Katrina, a Category 3 storm. The nine feet surge that did strike the Gulf Coast was still highly damaging. According to a report by Independent, the death toll of the two hurricanes differs greatly as Laura missed more densely populated areas. Presently, 16 people are confirmed dead; more than half died from carbon monoxide poisoning due to the unsafe operation of mobile generators in the aftermath of the storm. Whereas, more than 1,800 people died in the wake of Katrina.