Throughout history, unlikely anthems have emerged as emblems of troubled times. Bing Crosby “White Christmas,” for example, wasn’t intended to become shorthand for WWII yearning.
Yesterday, a spiritual descendant emerged from Twitter. Inspired by a tweet by President Trump, user @paullegate spat a sick takeoff on Eminem’s 2002 hit “Lose Yourself.”
Trump’s tweet read, “The Democrats should be ashamed. This is a disgrace! #DrainTheSwamp.” Although at this point, it could have been plucked from a generic folder marked “tweets,” it accompanied something specific: An edited video of clips in which Democratic politicians opined on former FBI director James Comey. (The provenance of this highlight reel was not clear. It was not attributed to any news organization, nor did it bear a YouTube logo.)
The Democrats should be ashamed. This is a disgrace!#DrainTheSwamp pic.twitter.com/UfbKEECm2V
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 11, 2017
The enterprising @paulegate — calling himself “Will-m LeShady”(which was later changed to “InfoWills | InfoShills),” among other variations) — then replied with four stanzas of the Eminem takeoff:
Trump’s palms are sweaty.
Ratings weak. Tweeting heavy.
There’s vomit on Flynn already.
Putin’s spaghetti.
He’s nervous… pic.twitter.com/Yb5xie5tsh— InfoWills❕InfoShills (@williamlegate) May 10, 2017
@realDonaldTrump …but on the surface, you act calm & ready.
To drop bombs, but you keep on forgetting.
What you tweeted down, you just cry so loud. pic.twitter.com/BeAVicZ4et— fakeDonaldTrump (@williamlegate) May 11, 2017
@realDonaldTrump You open your mouth, but lies just come out.
You’re choking, how? Not MAGAing now.
The clock’s run out, time up—impeachment now. pic.twitter.com/nlOFjcLxeS— fakeDonaldTrump (@williamlegate) May 11, 2017
@realDonaldTrump Snap back to reality, oh, there goes legality.
There goes Trump, he choked, he’s so mad, but he won’t.
Step down that easy, no… pic.twitter.com/dZKUI3VSof— fakeDonaldTrump (@williamlegate) May 11, 2017
@realDonaldTrump He knows his whole back’s to the law.
It don’t matter, he thinks he’s the king of it all. pic.twitter.com/78aqyvdutp— fakeDonaldTrump (@williamlegate) May 11, 2017
@williamlegate HANDS DOWN YOU’VE WON THE INTERNET!!!!
— JenniferoftheJungle (@NerfyJen) May 10, 2017
@williamlegate @WisePaxCat Side note: “Putin’s spaghetti!” will be my new “Great Scott!”
— M.L. Millard (@MLMillardauthor) May 11, 2017
@williamlegate Please stop ruining this song by linking it in my brain to 45! lol
— elayne (@ribblefizz) May 10, 2017
Eminem, or whoever is running his official Twitter account, has yet to comment to his nearly 21 million followers. But the rapper has made it clear that he’s no fan of Trump. In a February song released on Big Sean’s new album, Em rapped “I’m anti, can’t no government handle a commando/ Your man don’t want it, Trump’s a b**** I’ll make his whole brand go under.”
He also weighed in on last October’s “Campaign Speech,” in which he said “But you should be afraid of this dang candidate/ You say Trump don’t kiss a** like a puppet/ ‘Cause he runs his campaign with his own cash for the fundin’ and that’s what you wanted / A f***** loose cannon who’s blunt with his hand on the button/ Who doesn’t have to answer to no one.”
Democrats have alleged that Trump’s desire “to answer to no one” lies behind his firing of FBI director James Comey.