Donald Trump reportedly deleted a two-year-old tweet extending his "best wishes" to "haters and losers" on September 11. This is a rare move for the Republican presidential hopeful, who has been blazing a campaign trail seemingly completely unapologetic for any of his comments – no matter how generalizing or demeaning.
Several media outlets noticed this morning that the tweet had disappeared from Trump’s Twitter feed. Screenshots were still available, of course, so anyone who still wanted to could see that Trump used an opportunity to remember the men and women who died on September 11, 2001 by scoffing at who he deems insufficient.
While Trump apparently deleted the tweet, he did not erase all traces of it. Politico reported that Trump’s manual retweet of the message -- also posted on September 11, 2013 -- remained live on Friday morning.
When asked for an explanation, Trump’s spokesperson Hope Hicks told Politico that "the tweet is from several years ago."
Donald Trump deleted this tweet but I'll #NeverForget it. pic.twitter.com/tITjvxKj5d
— Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) September 11, 2015
Around noon on Friday, Trump tweeted a new message in remembrance of the tragedy. However, this was only posted after he touted his evening appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and called GOP candidate Bobby Jindal a "lightweight" on the social network.
Let’s all take a moment to remember all of the heroes from a very tragic day that we cannot let happen again!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 11, 2015
Another example of old tweets coming back to haunt celebrities occurred in March, when The Daily Show host-elect Trevor Noah was accused of anti-semitism, after a number of jokes he made on Twitter between 2011 and 2012 resurfaced.
Meanwhile, several other presidential candidates took to Twitter on Friday to remember the heroes and victims on the 14th anniversary of the September 11 attacks (and maybe include a politically-minded pitch). Hillary Clinton had not yet tweeted by press time.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie issued an executive order to lower the flags in New Jersey and mark Friday as "Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance," The Wall Street Journal reported.
Here is what other presidential candidates had to say on the anniversary of September 11:
On this day in 2001, we mourned as a city, a state, and a nation. Today, we remember those who lost their lives in the attacks.
— Martin O'Malley (@MartinOMalley) September 11, 2015
#NeverForget the men and women who died on #Sept11 and those who everyday put on a uniform to defend our freedoms. pic.twitter.com/qnro57QjrU
— George E. Pataki (@GovernorPataki) September 11, 2015
Today we remember all of those lost & recommit ourselves to freedom & to one another. -John #NeverForget911
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) September 11, 2015
Today my thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the terrible attacks 14 years ago. America will not, and must not, ever forget.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) September 11, 2015
Today we remember the victims of the September 11 terrorist attack: https://t.co/wxup5w1bps #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/8s5mwsXAci
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 11, 2015
We should all take time today to pay tribute to the victims of 9/11, their families & the troops who've kept us safe. #NeverForget
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) September 11, 2015
— Dr. Ben Carson (@RealBenCarson) September 11, 2015
The fitting tribute to the 9/11 victims is to at least be truthful about the enemy we now face. http://t.co/PV4d3r5w4h
— Rick Santorum (@RickSantorum) September 11, 2015
