Kathrine Frich
And that wasn’t the only name he forgot.
When you stand in front of television cameras every day, a single slip of the tongue is all it takes to dominate the headlines.
Even the most routine government announcements can go sideways in a split second.
For the people at the podium, forgetting a familiar name is the quickest way to turn a policy rollout into an awkward viral moment.
Two awkward blanks
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance stepped into the Oval Office to launch a $25 million anti-fraud initiative.
According to the Irish Star, the 80-year-old president stumbled while introducing his own running mate, calling him “JT” instead of “JD.”
“So, now I am going to ask J.T. to speak, J.T. Vance to speak,” Trump told the room, as quoted by the outlet.
That was not the only name that escaped him. The Daily Mirror reported that Trump also appeared to blank on Republican US Senate candidate Michele Tafoya, who was not at the event, praising her simply as “very talented” without saying who she was.
“They should elect a very talented Republican who happens to be running. But the lieutenant governor knew everything, and she’s a liar,” Trump said, according to the report.
Critics pounce online
Viewers on social media wasted no time mocking the double slip-up. According to the the Irish Star, one user joked that “Vance has to change his name again,” while another laughed and wrote, “You can’t expect him to keep track of every coffee boy.”
Others took a harsher view of the event.
One commenter quoted by the outlet claimed the president was “on the way out,” and another critic wrote, “Using the Oval Office for campaigning, of course.”
Cash for tipsters
Behind the verbal stumbles was the rollout of the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program, known as WHIP. Run by the Justice Department, the scheme pays everyday people up to $30,000 if they send a tip to fraud.gov that leads to a conviction or major federal action, the Daily Mirror noted.
During the briefing, Trump handed a $10,000 check to right-wing influencer Nick Shirley, who filmed a video last year alleging that members of Minnesota’s Somali community used fake childcare centers to pocket federal money.
According to the Irish Star, the White House said a woman shown in Shirley’s clip later pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy.
In a statement reported by the outlet, White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis defended the push.
“Every day, President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud is zeroing in on the rampant abuse of taxpayer dollars and giving Americans the accountability they deserve. This administration has zero tolerance for individuals who steal from Americans,” Bis said.
