Social media users are trolling House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy after the California Republican tried to attack Dr. Anthony Fauci and ended up insulting Donald Trump.
“I just have one rule of thumb,” McCarthy said on Fox News on Tuesday. “I really don’t trust anyone that keeps a mural of themselves in their office.”
Trump is known for having large portraits of himself at his Mar-a-Lago resort and famously lined the walls of his New York office with magazine covers featuring his visage. His post-presidential office even features a small statue of Trump.
McCarthy was attempting to slam Dr. Anthony Fauci, who this week announced he would retire from his positions as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and chief medical adviser to the president.
Now, critics say McCarthy might be making another trip to Mar-a-Lago to seek forgiveness over the gaffe.
Dr. Fauci does possess a portrait of himself. Unlike Trump’s portrait, which he commissioned, the Fauci image was painted in 2020 by singer/songwriter/artist Joan Baez to honor him as someone who has made “meaningful social change without the use of violence.”
In May, audio surfaced of McCarthy ripping Trump as “atrocious and totally wrong” for his actions on Jan. 6, 2021.
The former president has since made it clear that he has not endorsed McCarthy for speaker should the GOP regain control over the House after November’s midterm elections. And if he takes McCarthy’s latest comments personally, that endorsement might never come.
Meanwhile, social media users were quick to troll McCarthy on Twitter:
McCarthy: I really don’t trust anyone that keeps a mural of themselves in their office. I just think those types of individuals should have to come and answer the questions pic.twitter.com/AtFZgENnwQ
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 23, 2022
Hi Kevin https://t.co/AdMpkEyyqA pic.twitter.com/JuATi9DiPD
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) August 23, 2022
Trolling level: master pic.twitter.com/dICHmfRTtR
— Jo 🌻 (@JoJoFromJerz) August 23, 2022
— Paul Leigh 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 I Stand w/Ukraine & Democracy (@Pleightx) August 24, 2022
— Is It Over Yet? (@TaylorGundy) August 23, 2022
https://t.co/H6qXqHSsta pic.twitter.com/Tb9NefzXpz
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) August 23, 2022
That portrait looks like Trump has been taking Alex Jones supplements. It doesn't change anything physically, it just makes you redder.
— PugliticallySpeaking (@puglitically) August 23, 2022
Oh come on. https://t.co/KdSnPOjLo3 pic.twitter.com/DqauzA8gYR
— Hemant Mehta (@hemantmehta) August 23, 2022
Ted Cruz literally has an oil painting of himself arguing before the SCOTUS with himself shown with a halo as if he were the second coming of Jesus.
— 🇺🇸🇺🇦Don’t Call It a Comeback🇺🇦🇺🇸 (@Emily60946744) August 23, 2022
Let’s not forget his fake Time Magazine covers. https://t.co/JwdgYoMaGq
— Robyn J Leader 🇺🇦🌻 (@RobynJLeader) August 23, 2022
I agree @GOPLeader. I don't trust people like that at all. https://t.co/S1lfqOHsKs pic.twitter.com/G01qOoMQN5
— KMG365 ☕ 🥀 🐝 (@starbucksgirl51) August 24, 2022
Everyone can go home Rep. Swalwell had won the internet today. pic.twitter.com/sglO4Z9Wzi
— Chichiplus🇺🇸💉😷🌻 (@RidOfGOP) August 24, 2022