President Trump referred to Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., as “Adam Schitt” on Sunday, setting Twitter alight as pundits quickly pointed out the similarity between “Schitt” and an expletive.
“So funny to see little Adam Schitt (D-CA) talking about the fact that Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker was not approved by the Senate, but not mentioning the fact that Bob Mueller (who is highly conflicted) was not approved by the Senate!” Trump tweeted shortly after the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee appeared on ABC News’ “This Week.”
Trump calls the incoming House Intelligence chair Adam “Schitt”. Screenshot here in case it’s deleted. pic.twitter.com/WNVwX318um
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) November 18, 2018
Some commentators questioned whether Trump’s language regarding Schiff, a vocal critic of the president, was deliberate.
“You’ll never convince me that this typo wasn’t intentional. Also, special counsels are appointed and don’t require Senate approval,” Yashar Ali, a freelance journalist, wrote.
“Schitt”
You’ll never convince me that this typo wasn’t intentional. Also, special counsels are appointed and don’t require Senate approval. pic.twitter.com/eN3IPJU5Gl
— Yashar Ali ? (@yashar) November 18, 2018
“Schitt” is an interesting typo https://t.co/PdPVt2JJzG
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) November 18, 2018
“Schitt”?
Typo or not. I can’t stop laughing.
— Richard Armande Mills (RAM) (@RAMRANTS) November 18, 2018
Others pointed out the rhetoric was hypocritical from the White House given its calls for a return to civility in politics.
Sarah Sanders on Friday: “There must be decorum at the White House.”
Today, Trump calls a United States Congressman “Adam Schitt” pic.twitter.com/vHYhk3OZYr— Emmet O’Neal (@emmetoneal) November 18, 2018
BREAKING: Trump just called Congressman Adam Schiff “Little Adam Schitt.” This is so disgusting. A toddler for a president. Ridiculous. Absolutely insane. He needs to resign yesterday. What a pathetic disgrace to our country. America deserves better than this whack job man baby.
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) November 18, 2018
Schiff, who is likely to become the next chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said Sunday that Democrats are poised to challenge the appointment of acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker, a Trump ally who in the past has been critical of special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.
“Wow, Mr. President, that’s a good one,” Schiff teased on Twitter in reaction to Trump’s taunt. “Was that like your answers to Mr. Mueller’s questions, or did you write this one yourself?”
On Saturday, Trump told reporters that he will be submitting questions he answered to Mueller next week.
Trump, who has a penchant for giving nicknames to political rivals, has previously dubbed the congressman “Liddle Adam Schiff” and “Sleazy Adam Schiff.”
