In a call with President Vladimir Putin after he won re-election in Russia, President Donald Trump ignored the recommendations of his staff and congratulated Putin on his dubious election win.
From the Washington Post:
President Trump did not follow specific warnings from his national security advisers Tuesday when he congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his reelection — including a section in his briefing materials in all-capital letters stating “DO NOT CONGRATULATE,” according to officials familiar with the call.
Trump often ignores his staff’s advice, preferring to trust his own gut to the word of experts. But while his advisers were looking to prevent an international incident, if Trump listened to them, they also would have stopped him from becoming a meme.
The internet loved the story of the president being told not to praise Putin and going ahead and doing it anyway. Everyone jumped on the phrase “DO NOT CONGRATULATE.”
https://twitter.com/Rschooley/status/976304112064069633
https://twitter.com/themaxburns/status/976244317227544578
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) March 21, 2018
The holy trinity of DO NOT CONGRATULATE pic.twitter.com/9t9KyOfoab
— noah (@NoahJAguirre) March 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/kumailn/status/976242577589510144
DO NOT CONGRATULATE pic.twitter.com/jxtNnUKCYB
— Chris Mohney (@chrismohney) March 21, 2018
Sometimes it’s not just international relations you need to keep in mind. You need to think about the internet’s reaction, too.