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Can a hashtag convince Donald Trump to donate to hurricane relief?

Twitter users are hoping #ThanksDonald will convince Trump to give $5 million for Hurricane Sandy relief ... by starting a rumor that he already has.

 

Jordan Valinsky

Tech

Posted on Oct 30, 2012   Updated on Jun 2, 2021, 8:27 am CDT

Donald Trump will keep talking as long as the winds keep howling.

Known Twitter-troll Trump tweeted Tuesday morning his perfectly reasonable response about Hurricane Sandy: that the storm will help President Barack Obama buy the upcoming election.

“Hurricane is good luck for Obama again- he will buy the election by handing out billions of dollars,” tweeted Trump, a part of his ongoing petty war with Obama.

“Not only giving out money, but Obama will be seen today standing in water and rain like he is a real President — don’t fall for it,” he warned. Ever the humanitarian, Trump extended the deadline for Obama to release his college transcripts and passport records in exchange for a donation to a charity of his choice until noon Thursday.

The Donald’s Twitter tantrum didn’t end with the president, as he focused his ginger-hued lasers toward a dangerous dangling crane in New York City. After crowning himself the “best builder,” he tweeted, “[I[f that were my building with the crane mishap, I would have been lambasted from coast to coast.”

Twitter users, incensed at Trump’s senseless remarks, got behind a hashtag that encouraged Trump to donate millions to disaster relief… by acting like it had already happened.

“Everybody be sure to thank @realDonaldTrump for his selfless, no-strings donation of $5 million to hurricane relief efforts!,” tweeted Matilda actress Mara Wilson, using the #ThanksDonald hashtag.

“His hair is where he keeps his heart. #ThanksDonald for donating $5mil to hurricane relief today! @realDonaldTrump,” mused webcomic artist Meredith Gran.

#ThanksDonald, popularized by @cool_pond, eventually became a trending topic on Twitter, although some people misunderstood the joke and believed that Trump had actually made the selfless donation.

Photo via realdonaldtrump/Twitter

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*First Published: Oct 30, 2012, 2:01 pm CDT