Despite his initial promise, Republican frontrunner Donald Trump backed out of his scheduled California debate with Democratic frontrunner Bernie Sanders, thus inspiring the viral Twitter hashtag #ChickenTrump.
The plans for the anticipated debate first arose when Trump appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Wednesday night. Kimmel read a note from the Sanders campaign inviting Trump to debate, to which Trump quickly agreed. "If he paid a nice sum for charity, I would love to do that," Trump said.
The next day at his campaign's North Dakota rally, Trump confirmed his willingness to debate Sanders, so long as the two campaigns were able to raise "$10 million or $15 million for charity," Sputnikreports. Investment company Traction and Sale, Top Rank Promotions, and Young Turks, among others, quickly coughed up that amount, but Trump officially backed out Friday.
"Based on the fact that the Democratic nominating process is totally rigged and Crooked Hillary Clinton and (Debbie) Wasserman-Schultz will not allow Bernie Sanders to win, and now that I am the presumptive Republican nominee, it seems inappropriate that I would debate the second-place finisher," reads a statement from Trump's campaign.
Twitter predictably seized the opportunity to bash Trump for backing out of the debate, creating the hashtag #ChickenTrump to supplement the ridicule.
Vocal Sanders supporter Sarah Silverman quickly hopped on board the #ChickenTrump wagon with a derisive tweet that poked at Trump's apparent lack of courage.
A Sanders-supporting European account made a meme for the occasion that questioned Trump's ability to make America great again.
Yeah, can't say that about #ChickenTrump. Low energy! Weak! Will not #MakeAmericaGreatAgain! pic.twitter.com/bXoWEiGRH1
Hend Amry, the so-called the Queen of Muslim Twitter, invoked Trump's history of inappropriate behavior to ridicule his backing out of the debate.
like this guy ever made decisions based on appropriateness. #ChickenTrump #ChickenDrumpf https://t.co/U2xnmgmh07
UK spoof publication News Thump took the opportunity to hit Trump below the belt—literally.
BREAKING! @realDonaldTrump proves the only thing smaller than his hands, are his balls #chickentrump pic.twitter.com/1dnzYnaACQ
On-point political cartoons predictably began to surface.
What did I miss here? #ChickenTrump pic.twitter.com/wkrMxoL94y
Thank you for calling attention to this disturbing resemblance, @shebagrundy.
when I'm done laughing I gonna figure out whether I'm more grossed out or intrigued by this #ChickenTrump pic.twitter.com/nazeSHqJ7G
And a clever "Why did the chicken cross the road?" take on the ordeal.
Prev record was 100k tweet views in 24 hrs
Thx 2 #ChickenTrump 2nite I had 137k views in 3 hrs #FBImWithHer helped pic.twitter.com/E8oGC7xSBY
Some more #ChickenTrump Twitter gold for you:
When you realize the person you were going to debate will crush you because he has substance #ChickenTrump pic.twitter.com/OPe7AAgZuj
#ChickenTrump and #ColonelSanders is the greatest thing to come out of this campaign yet. Thank you, internet. pic.twitter.com/QkBVmLzsof
Finally! Donald (the debate dodger) has a nickname: #ChickenTrump https://t.co/4ycVeED3kY https://t.co/tojafPCpny pic.twitter.com/TqmJXdg7uO
