During a recent rally in Pennsylvania on September 23, former President Donald Trump sparked controversy—not for his political views, but for his misguided attempts to quote Shakespeare while boasting about his crowd sizes in comparison to historical figures like Winston Churchill. The 45th president’s remarks quickly became fodder for social media commentary, with many users criticizing his understanding of literature and history.
At the rally, Trump kicked off his speech with a familiar boast about his crowds, which he has often compared to those of notable figures. He praised Winston Churchill as “this great speaker,” before making an eyebrow-raising claim: “I get much bigger crowds than him, but nobody ever says I’m a great speaker.” This declaration is not new for Trump; he has a long history of inflating crowd size comparisons, claiming larger audiences than icons like Elvis Presley and even civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. during his March on Washington, told to The Independent.
But the crowd-size boasting took an unexpected turn when Trump attempted to venture into literary territory by quoting Shakespeare. While criticizing President Joe Biden, he asserted, “Did you ever hear Shakespeare? He was ‘hail and hearty and well met,’ but he wasn’t a smart person.”
The problem? Trump’s attempted quote was a significant misstep. The phrase “hail and hearty and well met” does not originate from Shakespeare’s works. Instead, Trump appeared to be mixing up this phrase with “hail-fellow-well-met,” an old idiom used to describe someone who is sociable but possibly insincere. This phrase has historical roots but is not attributed to the Bard, further highlighting Trump’s literary faux pas.
As if mocking Biden for his previous slip-ups—such as confusing Ohio and Iowa during the 2020 campaign—wasn’t enough, Trump also turned his attention to Vice President Kamala Harris, whom he referred to disparagingly, stating, “But she is a very dumb person and we can’t do that.”
Social media erupted following Trump’s comments, with critics quick to pounce on his botched Shakespeare reference and his fixation on crowd sizes. One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “I hope he keeps talking. Every time he does, more people realize what a buffoon he is.” Another chimed in, “A total ignorant quoting Shakespeare, what a laugh.” Some took the opportunity to question Trump’s familiarity with classic literature altogether, with one insisting, “I assure you Trump has never read one word of Shakespeare.”
Amid the mockery, one user cleverly twisted a famous line from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, posting, “‘Friends, Russians, mistresses, lend me your ears,’ Trump added.” This playful jab captures the prevailing sentiment on social media, showcasing how Trump’s attempt at literary reference has turned into a moment of comedic criticism rather than the insightful dialogue he likely intended.
As the fallout from the rally continues to unfold, it remains evident that Trump’s dual efforts to claim superiority over historical figures while grappling with Shakespeare’s legacy will not soon be forgotten—nor will the humorous reactions they sparked across the internet.
