President Donald Trump is coming out fighting. On Wednesday, the president tweeted a famous photo of Sylvester Stallone as fictional boxer Rocky Balboa -- only this image had Trump's head where Stallone's should be.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 27, 2019
Cue the famed Gonna Fly Now theme song, because Twitter users pulled out their heavyweight jokes and memes.
Trump ready to fight for Thanksgiving just like he fought for Christmas pic.twitter.com/k3sWK7IVsH
— The Great and Unmatched Wisdom of Nero (@GrowtheFKUP) November 27, 2019
I’m embarrassed at how hard this stuff makes me laugh.
— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) November 27, 2019
Wrong Rocky character, Donald. pic.twitter.com/YCb1HS3Zit
— Trent Capelli 🇨🇦 (@TrentCapelli) November 27, 2019
I do not think this is an accurate portrayal of the president of the United States pic.twitter.com/ADtjfb3m5k
— Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) November 27, 2019
Not that anyone was asking, but I managed to make the Trump-as-Rocky photo worse pic.twitter.com/FjntxJjb8h
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) November 27, 2019
He must have those skinny mirrors, like at Barney’s 🤣
— Morticia 💀 (@BrumhildaQ) November 27, 2019
Is this real life? Its like cousin Eddie became prez. pic.twitter.com/szsyvO23zy
— Sayerszy (@sayersc1972) November 27, 2019
Truly the dumbest time to be alive https://t.co/9yM7yQYAUW
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) November 27, 2019
More than one Twitter user saw a resemblance to a famous Simpsons scene where Homer does a little wishful thinking when he looks in the mirror and sees a ripped version of himself.
— Cynthia Perkins (@CindyLooHooTwo) November 27, 2019
While others responded with different manipulated photos, including one of him in the ring with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
No But I made a rebuttal pic.twitter.com/sywPLjh1mh
— Abraham Drinkin’ (@Lincolnbdrinkin) November 27, 2019
— Insónias em Carvão (@insoniascarvao) November 27, 2019
The original photo was a promo for 1982's Rocky III, but many made references to 1985's Rocky IV, which features the American boxer taking on Soviet boxer Ivan Drago. "Sorry, but Rocky beat the Russian," wrote one Twitter user.
Sorry, but Rocky beat the Russian. https://t.co/sC5ZICMr4h
— Josh Comers (@joshcomers) November 27, 2019
This is all wrong.
— Nick Jack Pap-pass the Gravy (@Pappiness) November 27, 2019
Rocky defeated Russia, while Trump continues to hand them victories.
The original photo was from Rocky III, but Trump tweeted his version on the 34th anniversary of the release of Rocky IV, an anniversary ESPN had pointed out in a morning tweet.
On this day in 1985, Rocky Balboa shocked the world, knocking out Ivan Drago in the 15th round 🥊 pic.twitter.com/K7km5lWgWZ
— ESPN (@espn) November 27, 2019
While the faked image seemed random to many, CBS Digital political reporter Grace Segers spotted a possible tie-in, writing, "This is a reference to a comment Trump made at his rally last night where he claimed that his doctors at Walter Reed had said: 'Show us that gorgeous chest.'"
This is a reference to a comment Trump made at his rally last night, where he claimed that his doctors at Walter Reed had said: "Show us that gorgeous chest."
— Grace Segers (@Grace_Segers) November 27, 2019
Request granted. Kind of.
Originally published Nov. 27, 10:53 a.m. PT.