President-elect Donald Trump came under fire for a tweet he sent out Saturday (Dec. 17) morning about China's seizure of a U.S. drone, because he described the move as an "unpresidented act," incorrectly spelling the word "unprecedented."
Trump's original tweet read: "China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters -- rips it out of water and takes it to China in unpresidented act."
Let's just say the Internet did not take the spelling error lightly.
Trump deleted it, but not before I saved it. Freudian slip? We can all hope he, too, soon will be "unpresidented." #LearnToSpell pic.twitter.com/tRjYEYVMJl
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) December 17, 2016
Actor and activist George Takei tweeted a screen grab of Trump's since-deleted tweet.
China steals United States Navy research drone in international waters - rips it out of water and takes it to China in unprecedented act.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 17, 2016
Here's the corrected tweet he sent out some time after the first tweet.
Donald J. Trump is unpresidented.
— Brittany Packnett (@MsPackyetti) December 17, 2016
Donald J. Trump is unpresidented.
Donald J. Trump is unpresidented.
Donald J. Trump is unpresidented.
The "new term" took on a whole new meaning for some people.
Good morning! The #WordOfTheDay is...not 'unpresidented'. We don't enter that word. That's a new one. https://t.co/BJ45AtMNu4
— Merriam-Webster (@MerriamWebster) December 17, 2016
You know things are getting real when Merriam-Webster steps in.
Even though Trump's #unpresidented slip is funny, what's not funny is the tension he's creating w/China. That's nothing short of dangerous.
— Ugene's Politics (@UgenesPolitics) December 17, 2016
Some thought the joke overshadowed the more pressing matter re: China-US relations.