US3 min(s) read
Published 15:27 25 Jun 2026 GMT
Donald Trump has come under fire online after delivering what many viewers described as a baffling and rambling moment during a speech in Pennsylvania, with critics branding the president’s comments “weird” and “embarrassing”.
The 80-year-old was speaking at a Mack Trucks manufacturing facility in the key swing region of Lehigh Valley on Tuesday (June 25), where he addressed a range of topics including inflation and energy prices.
During the speech, Trump argued that falling oil prices would help reduce the overall cost of living.
“That oil is going to come charging down,” he told the crowd. “And with oil comes everything else.”
However, it was another part of the address that quickly gained attention online.
At one point, Trump launched into a lengthy anecdote about a female weightlifter and transgender athletes, acting out parts of the story and mimicking someone attempting to lift heavy weights.
Referring to a fictional weightlifting scenario, Trump said: “You know the weightlifter where he goes up and the record stood for years, and years, years. And this young lady, she’s trying out for the Olympics and she’s going to do it…”
He continued by describing the athlete’s parents watching from the audience.
“But she said her parents are right there in the front, and they’re so proud. The father’s not so proud because he knows she’s not going to do it. Because she’s a woman. It’s a lot of weight. The mother, though, is screaming, ‘Darling, I love you. Do it.’”
Trump then acted out the scene further, telling supporters: “And she gets over the weights and she stares... and the mother’s screaming, ‘Darling, I love you.’
"The father’s looking, saying she has no chance. And she’s like this, you see. Ah, drops them, and she’s devastated for the rest of her life. And then a guy comes along who transitioned.”
The unusual detour immediately sparked discussion online, with many users questioning why the president repeatedly returns to the same weightlifting-themed routine during public appearances.
The impression has become something of a recurring feature of Trump’s speeches, with similar performances previously seen in 2022, 2023, and again earlier this year.
Reaction on social media was swift, with several critics expressing disbelief at the moment.
One user wrote: “Please show me one world leader who has ever behaved like this on TV. He is a b***dy embarrassment.”
Another account simply stated: “Trump did that weird thing again.”
Meanwhile, another user pointed fun a the speech, writing: “Trump, 80, moans on live television.”
The clip quickly spread across social media platforms, adding to the long list of Trump speech moments that have generated debate and divided opinion online.
