Last night’s Democratic presidential debate didn’t bring as many fireworks as expected. The only high drama came when Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) tussled over allegations that he told her that a woman couldn’t win the 2020 presidential election, which he denies.
No matter. Social media to the rescue.
Tom Steyer memes and commentary flooded the feed like sweet manna. Most of the memes featured Steyer standing between Warren and Sanders in an awkward post-debate moment that the billionaire hedge fund manager seemed either delightfully oblivious to or like an umpire getting between a couple of kids fighting at a Little League game.
“Not the most important thing here, but Tom Steyer is really quite poor at reading whether a conversation is in need of a third participant,” commented Eric Levitz of New York Magazine’s Intelligencer.
MSNBC’s Joy Reid was among those who wanted Steyer to spill the details about Sanders’ and Warren’s conversation. “Can Tom Steyer please do some field reporting on what he heard in this exchange? He seemed to be trying to mediate,” she tweeted.
Unfortunately, according to Politico reporter Alex Thompson, Steyer was more intent on fleeing the premises than overhearing what was said. “Whatever they were talking about, I was trying to get out of the way as fast as possible,” Thompson reported Steyer said of the moment.
— /- // |) ,/ (@_ffenberg) January 15, 2020
Here is Tom Steyer's interaction with Sanders and Warren to Curb Your Enthusiasm #DemocraticDebate pic.twitter.com/6m1tZC8aF3
— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) January 15, 2020
First Warren rejected Bernie's handshake and then they appear to go at it. Steyer didn't know what to do. 😂 #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/hr8EWlI1L2
— The Darkest Timeline Numbersmuncher (@NumbersMuncher) January 15, 2020
Steyer is all of us as kids when our parents were arguing pic.twitter.com/VNF8f6SX62
— inspirepragmatism (@inspireprag) January 15, 2020
https://twitter.com/kathrynw5/status/1217306945335459840?s=20
steyer was like https://t.co/PMiP0uZeAW pic.twitter.com/X1BvsEmSJy
— Astead (@AsteadWH) January 15, 2020
CNN and MSNBC when Tom Steyer said he didn’t hear Bernie and Warren’s conversation #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/AlqnfUI6cs
— Rob Francisco (@Robert_aka_smit) January 15, 2020
https://twitter.com/a_bazeley/status/1217307236902604801?s=20
[awkward first day at Steyer Senior Living Community]
— NeverTweet (@LOLNeverTweet) January 15, 2020
"No. I'm telling you, Mr. Steyer: she steals my heart pills." pic.twitter.com/CMLySypC5P
tom steyer watching warren and sanders fight after the debate: pic.twitter.com/d5eJfOn0N7
— Lauren Radicchi (@radicchi_lauren) January 15, 2020
Courtesy of Tom Steyer, we now have a gif for when you interrupt a conversation and immediately regret it. #DemocraticDebate pic.twitter.com/qski5iEYf4
— Billy Freeland 🚴♂️🚠 (@BillyFreelandNY) January 15, 2020
Some poked fun at his expression, which is something akin to resting puppy dog face.
tom steyer looking at the camera as he speaks #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/sz08nwZy5E
— kevy (@mwahkevin) January 15, 2020
#DemDebate
— Jake R (@jt77593) January 15, 2020
moderator: *asks Tom Steyer anything*
Steyer: pic.twitter.com/eMWwqJQFUC
#DemDebate
— worm food 🇵🇸🌸✨🌸🇵🇸 (@frogs4girls) January 15, 2020
Nobody:
Tom steyer to the camera: pic.twitter.com/8bYt39cT8s
Steyer, for his part, seemed unconcerned by the many memes about him. After the debate, he responded to President Donald Trump’s attack on him.
“I said you’re a fraud and a failure — and I’ll expose you,” Steyer tweeted. “Now go to bed.”
The next Democratic presidential debate will be on Feb. 7.
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