Tiffany Trump posts ‘tone-deaf’ birthday message for Eric Trump amid Capitol riots: ‘Read the room’
‘Tone-deaf is an understatement,' one person commented on the birthday message posted amid Capitol riots
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Tiffany Trump has publicly wished her brother Eric Trump a happy birthday just hours after a violent mob of pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol Building.
“Happy Birthday @erictrump I love you and I’m so grateful to always have you by my side!” the president’s daughter tweeted Wednesday, minutes before a 6pm DC curfew went into place as riots continued in Washington.
Alongside the message, the 27-year-old shared photos of herself and her brother, who turned 37 today, including one in which they can be seen posing in front of the Washington Monument.
The “tone-deaf” birthday post was met with immediate criticism on social media, where hundreds urged Ms Trump to “read the room”.
“Please tell me this was a pre-scheduled tweet. You might want to read the room and delete it. Or maybe, I don't know, text him,” one person tweeted at the president’s daughter.
Another said: “Are you kidding me?? Turn on the news.”
“You don’t even have to read the room, it’s shouting at you,” someone else said.
Similar responses filled the comments of Ms Trump’s Instagram, where she also shared the post, with many encouraging her to delete the birthday message.
Ms Trump’s birthday wish comes hours after the president’s son also acknowledged it is his birthday on Twitter, despite the turmoil in the US capital.
“Never thought I would have 150,000 people sing me happy birthday on the National Mall in Washington DC!” Mr Trump tweeted shortly before some of the thousands who had gathered in support of his father’s attempts to overturn the presidential election made their way to the Capitol Building.
“You are aware of the riots, right? Anyways: Happy birthday!” one person tweeted at the president’s second-eldest son in a display of apparent sarcasm.
Unlike her sister Ivanka, who referred to the rioters as “patriots” in a since-deleted tweet, Ms Trump did not address the riots apart from retweeting her father’s Twitter posts, in which he asked for the violent mob to “remain peaceful,” and adding: “Peace above all.”
The chaos in Washington broke out earlier today after a mob of pro-Trump supporters clashed with police to gain access to the Capitol Building in an attempt to stop Congress from confirming the results of the 2020 presidential election.
The riots saw tear gas deployed and one woman killed, with the president eventually addressing the mob in a video message, in which he said it was time to “go home”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments