Disney unveils Donald Trump robot in 'Hall of Presidents', and it really doesn't look quite right
'Disney gave the job of Trump in the Hall of Presidents to Jon Voight and I can’t stop laughing,' says one Twitter user
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Your support makes all the difference.The animatronics team at Walt Disney World’s “Hall of Presidents” has unveiled its robotic version of President Donald Trump, but the public has been quick to point out that it may not be the likeness they were after.
Many had dreaded how the Trump-bot would appear among robotic versions of widely-beloved presidents, such as Abraham Lincoln. But after the animatronic president was unveiled conversation centred on the figure's face.
“Disney gave the job of Trump in the Hall of Presidents to Jon Voight and I can’t stop laughing,” one person wrote on Twitter.
Other people suggested Disney’s team had first started creating a Hillary Clinton robot, under the assumption she would win the 2016 election, but had to redo it after Mr Trump won.
“The more I see of Disney’s ‘Hall of Presidents’ Trump, the more I’m convinced they made a Hillary one first and had to redo it,” one person wrote.
Parkgoers who visit the “Hall of Presidents” are seated in a dark auditorium where they watch a 25-minute presentation performed by the presidential animatronic figures.
Crowds first started visiting the Hall of Presidents at Disney World in 1971, the New York Times reported. Since 1993, the park’s research and development group, Walt Disney Imagineering, has worked with the sitting administration to produce close replicas of the current president that also features his own dialogue.
The Liberty Square attraction had been closed since last January as the park’s team revamped it to include the 45th President.
The figure of Mr Trump stands next to a seated Abraham Lincoln robot in the centre of the stage. Several of Mr Trump’s distinctive features are present: his signature hair, his unbuttoned suit jacket and a tie that dangles extra low.
“Above all, to be American is to be an optimist — to believe that we can always do better — and that the best days of our great nation are still ahead of us,” the Trump-bot says.
A Change.org petition began circulating six months ago to prevent the animatronic Mr Trump from having a speaking part in the programme.
“Donald Trump ran a Presidential campaign on hateful speech, misogyny, racism and xenophobia. In doing so, he has tainted the legacy of the American Presidency forever,” the petition stated. “The Magic Kingdom at Disney World is a place specifically designed for the enjoyment of children and families. Therefore, it is not an appropriate place for a Donald Trump speech. We ask that Walt Disney World take a stand against divisive and hurtful rhetoric.”
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