During the total solar eclipse of August 2017, then-president Donald Trump, in a viral moment, defied all safety advice by staring directly at the sun with his naked eyes. Seven years after the infamous incident, Trump has once again thrust himself into the limelight by associating himself with the celestial spectacle.
On Sunday night, the former president shared a bizarre campaign ad on Truth Social where his own likeness eclipses the sun, casting America into complete darkness.casting America into complete darkness.
The video opens with the proclamation “the most important moment in human history is taking place in 2024” displayed over an image of the blazing sun, accompanied by dramatic music.
Scenes depict large crowds gathered to witness the solar event, observing the sky through protective glasses.
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The footage alternates between the mesmerized crowds and the sun, where a massive silhouette slowly traverses its surface.
However, this rare phenomenon isn’t caused by the moon; it’s Trump’s unmistakable outline – complete with his signature quiff, bushy eyebrows, and elongated neck.
As his head obscures the sun entirely, creating its own solar eclipse, a slogan flashes across the screen: “We will save America. And make it great again.”
Some social media users found themselves puzzled by the ad’s message, suggesting that Trump’s eclipsing of the sun signifies plunging America into darkness.
“Ah. So Trump overshadowing Biden will darken America? (You know, just like an eclipse),” quipped one user on X, formerly Twitter.
“You also forgot to include the subsequent frame, you know, the one where the sun reappears. Eclipses are temporary. Just like Trump.”
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Trump’s Truth Social post about today’s eclipse is pure kino
Imagine hating this guy
— Patrick Casey (@restoreorderusa) April 8, 2024
Trump’s portrayal of the April 8 eclipse comes seven years after his infamous moment during the previous solar eclipse.
Joined by then-first lady Melania Trump and their son Barron on the Truman balcony at the White House, Trump opted to watch the rare phenomenon.
While Melania and Barron wore eclipse glasses, the former president was observed repeatedly gazing at the eclipse without proper eye protection.
At one juncture, an aide was heard cautioning, “don’t look,” while Melania also seemed to urge her husband to don the protective eyewear. Directly viewing an eclipse without proper safeguards can result in severe eye damage or even blindness.
The moment circulated widely on social media and has once again resurfaced ahead of Monday’s celestial event.
An estimated 44 million people are expected to be within the path of totality stretching from Mexico to Canada for Monday’s eclipse, with numerous additional visitors flocking to these regions to witness the historic event.
Meanwhile, the majority of the rest of the US will have the opportunity to observe the eclipse in some capacity.
Monday’s eclipse will endure for four minutes and 28 seconds, twice the duration of the last solar eclipse in 2017.
However, meteorologists are cautioning that severe weather could obstruct views of the eclipse across portions of the US, as a severe thunderstorm is forecasted to sweep across the western Plains to the Midwest.
