Critics mock Trump as he stumbles through Roosevelt Library speech: 'This is painful'
The internet was mocking President Donald Trump as he appeared to have trouble reading the teleprompter in front of a crowd in North Dakota on Wednesday.
Trump was speaking in Medora, North Dakota, where he visited the newly completed Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. The library in the Badlands was slated to open on July 4.
Political commentators noted Trump's demeanor and behavior while the president delivered the remarks — and complained about his teleprompters.
"This is painful to watch. He's struggling to read the prompter, starts riffing off a word he recognizes, then loses his place in his riffing, trails off, and goes back to the prompter," journalist and conspiracy theory expert Mike Rothschild wrote on X.
"Just a couple minutes into his speech, Trump sounds like he is getting winded and is having trouble reading the teleprompter," journalist Aaron Rupar wrote on X.
"I have two teleprompters that aren't working, and here I stand," Acyn, senior digital editor for MeidasTouch, wrote on X.
"Straight back to the nursing home," the political commentary account Grudgie the Whale wrote on Bluesky.
"What is he going on about?" User Vivienne, political activist and frequent commentator, wrote on Bluesky.
This is painful to watch. He's struggling to read the prompter, starts riffing off a word he recognizes, then loses his place in his riffing, trails off, and goes back to the prompter. https://t.co/10xR1vFa6h
— Mike (not a) Rothschild (@rothschildmd) July 1, 2026