Just like people watch NASCAR to see the inevitable car crash, everyone was watching the presidential debate waiting for Hillary Clinton to cough. She’s done it plenty of times at campaign rallies, before congressional hearings, even during interviews. And after her recent bout of pneumonia, the world was just watching, and waiting for the hacking to begin.
Then the unexpected happened.
Within the first few minutes of the debate, it was clear Donald Trump was a man with a runny nose and no tissue. Would he ask Hillary for one? Would he blow his nose into his suit jacket? Would the drip become visible?
Welcome to the world of social media presidential style.
How many times did Donald Trump sniff during #DebateNight? pic.twitter.com/65OERwMoyK
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 27, 2016
MEMORIES OF 2000
Those old enough may remember the beating Vice President Al Gore took when he let out loud sighs during answers by his opponent Governor George W. Bush during their first debate in 2000.
That was before the era of social media. It took the show Saturday Night Live a few days later to immortalize it in debate folklore.
In 2016, Twitterland, one of Trump’s favorite places, was relentless much quicker than 16 years ago.
*sniff*
— Trump Sniff (@TrumpSniff) September 27, 2016
Trump is sniffling because he’s allergic to the Constitution
— Colin Jost (@ColinJost) September 27, 2016
Is the Trump sniffle the new Hillary cough? #debatenight
— Jessica Tarlov (@JessicaTarlov) September 27, 2016
Notice Trump sniffing all the time. Coke user?
— Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean) September 27, 2016
Trump has almost finished that first glass of water.
HE MUST HAVE DOUBLE PNEUMONIA!— Roger Simon (@politicoroger) September 27, 2016
SNIIIIFFFFFFFFFFF. SNIFF SNIFF SNIFF. I’m VERY VERY worried about Trump’s health. What is he hiding? #Debates2016
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) September 27, 2016
Trump is sniffing a lot – I’m worried about his health. #trump health
— Meredith Scardino (@scardinoandsons) September 27, 2016
Trump: "Why am I sniffing so much? Because I know noses; I have the best nose."#DebateNight
— Craig Rozniecki (@CraigRozniecki) September 27, 2016
When asked bout Klan leader, Trump claimed defective earpiece. When asked bout sniffing,Trump claimed defective mike. Maybe defective Trump?
— Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) September 27, 2016
Trump drank a lot of water tonight and he was sniffing…a LOT. Is he ill? Deathly ill? Many people are saying he's very sick. #GoogleIt
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) September 27, 2016
Trump sniffing a lot during #debatenight I'm hearing a lot of people are saying he has a coke problem. I don't know. But they're saying it.
— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) September 27, 2016
Donald Trump keeps sniffing. It's either:
1) Cocaine
2) Nose cancer
3) A sign of impending death. #fb— Twixlen (@Twixlen) September 27, 2016
Why is Trump sniffing so much? Classic sign of dropsy or a brain tumor. Let's get Dr. Drew on the case.
— Max Temkin (@MaxTemkin) September 27, 2016
My god, we're only 7 minutes in and Trump is already sniffing and wheezing. What's wrong with him???
— Cheri Jacobus (@CheriJacobus) September 27, 2016
Trump sniffing like Jerry Seinfeld's accountant.
— Travis Yost (@travisyost) September 27, 2016
trump been sniffing that bieber bro
— Four Pins (@Four_Pins) September 27, 2016
Trump’s runny nose is worse than Al Gore’s sigh. #debatenight
— Jim Heath (@JimHeathTV) September 27, 2016
Trump made many many many billions but not enough to buy generic Sudafed before the #debatenight
— Christopher Rosen (@chrisjrosen) September 27, 2016
Does Trump have the sniffles? A cold? Pneumonia? Where are his health records?
— Andrea Stone (@andreastonez) September 27, 2016
I swear if I was just listening to the audio of this I’d think he was constantly snorting cocaine.
— Adam Scott (@mradamscott) September 27, 2016
Is there some sort of ‘soul’ trying to escape Trumps body via his nose and he’s just sniffing it back down SO HARD? #debates
— Grace Helbig (@gracehelbig) September 27, 2016
Trump is sniffling like a sniffly little sniffle baby
— Brian Lynch (@BrianLynch) September 27, 2016