On Tuesday night, President Trump gave his first State of the Union speech. These yearly speeches given by every president since Woodrow Wilson in 1913 don’t tend to be very exciting affairs, as they are long and intended to be directed at Congress. Boredom factor notwithstanding, many paid attention to Trump’s speech anyway. Those who did, noticed something they had never heard before in speeches of this kind: Trump clapping directly into the microphone over and over again—and to applaud things he had just said. The resulting sound was uncomfortable and upsetting, much like nearly every single news story about Trump since the beginning of time. Besides the annoying sound, though, it registered as yet another disturbing piece of evidence for Trump's narcissism and childish behavior.
USA Today lost track of how many times Trump clapped for himself at around 10, but it was actually much more than that.
Here's a compilation President Trump clapping for himself during the State of the Union. pic.twitter.com/Zk1QdXpisL
To be totally fair, situations like this must be a little like a birthday party, when you have your family and friends gathered around you, as you stare at a birthday cake that symbolizes one more year you’ve survived on this steaming garbage pile that is the Earth, and everyone stars singing “Happy Birthday to You.” When they start clapping, do you go along with them? But then you’re clapping at yourself, which is more than a bit obnoxious, but then what do you do with your hands? You can only smile for so long. Maybe it’s a little bit like that, and Trump just didn’t know what to do with his hands.
Except for the fact that this is nothing like a birthday party, this is the State of the Union Address by the President of the United States. There is very little that is spontaneous about such an event. He should’ve had plenty of time to practice what to do with his hands during the moments when applause was to be expected. Besides, plenty of people think a little bit of humility would look great on Trump.
The sound of Trump clapping, coupled with the smugness of the fact that he was clapping at all, was not lost on many Twitter users.
Well at least we know that the soundtrack to the 9th circle of hell is Trump clapping his meaty palms together repeatedly 4.5 inches away from a hot mic
Why is Trump clapping for himself? It's almost like he's a narcissist or something. #SOTU
the isolated sound of trump clapping is how i imagine the white house sounds most evenings, just the sound of his hands slapping together echoing down empty hallways over the low din of the tv
Love the strategy of Trump clapping for himself during his own speech. I’m going to start doing this intermittently when placing fast food orders at drive through windows.
Trump clapping at himself during his own speech for things he didn’t accomplish is a metaphor for his entire existence.
Even Trump’s clapping is obnoxious
In honor of Trump’s Speech last night I’m walking around in the office clapping for myself.
While we’re here and talking about clapping, keep in mind that there are plenty of other State of the Union speeches given by other presidents that can be easily accessed online. Should you want to give Trump the benefit of the doubt—maybe he had no idea his tiny little hands could make such a disturbing noise—then feel free to watch President Obama’s speech in 2016 and notice the soothing lack of any loud clapping sounds.
If you have little to no respect for how you spend the next hour and 45 minutes of your life, you can watch the full 2018 State of the Union speech below.
