President Trump, whose Twitter malaprops often set off a deluge of social media criticism, was targeted on today for a linguistic misfire involving the phrase “locked and loaded.”
In a series of tweets this morning Trump outlined why he said he had decided to call off a military strike on Iran he had planned in response to its having shot down a U.S. drone.
He said he decided the estimated death toll of 150 would be a disproportionate response.
“We were cocked & loaded to retaliate last night on 3 different sights when I asked, how many will die,” wrote Trump, an outspoken supporter of gun rights and the beneficiary of $30 million in National Rifle Association campaign spending.
Instead of “cocked & loaded,” Trump probably meant “locked and loaded,” which means to prepare a gun for immediate firing.
Critics swarmed the internet to correct the term, as well as to point out that Trump had meant to say “sites” instead of “sights.”
You…you didn’t ask how many casualties before you were “cocked and loaded”? Comforting.
Also: “sites” https://t.co/beWyjR7W6K— The Rude Pundit (@rudepundit) June 21, 2019
It’s locked and loaded bro. Cocked and loaded…must be reminiscing the Stormy Daniels days.
No offense Stormy! ❤️— ListenLisa (@ListenLisa) June 21, 2019
Amazingly, cocked and loaded is also the Secret Service’s codenames for Eric and Don Jr. https://t.co/HxzULDa3CH
— Jeremy Newberger (@jeremynewberger) June 21, 2019
How ridiculous is this Tweet? Besides the obvious question of how do you fly in water? Cocked and loaded? Really? 3 different sights? He sounds like a child whose father let him hold the steering wheel for the first time. https://t.co/k4Q9gL0hwg
— Rick Tyler (@rickwtyler) June 21, 2019
“cocked and loaded” is the title of your pee tape
— Jeff Tiedrich (@itsJeffTiedrich) June 21, 2019
Sights? Sites?
— Jean (@artteach) June 21, 2019
“Cocked and Loaded” sounds like a new Stormy Daniels film ?
— Bit888 (@Blockchain888) June 21, 2019
Please have someone proofread your tweets.
— Los (@Speaker_of_Os) June 21, 2019
just keeps getting more confusing…in real world standoff with Iran, it’s dangerous, leads to miscalculation & war. Iran has a decision calculus as well, and when POTUS says “cocked and loaded” I sure bet Iran then locks and loads https://t.co/n5czjRRbNS
— Clint Watts (@selectedwisdom) June 21, 2019
This is the POTUS using “cocked and loaded” as if this were a reality television show. It’s not!
— Dianne Callahan (@DianneCallaha16) June 21, 2019
President Trump tweets US was ‘cocked and loaded’ to attack 3 sites in Iran, but pulled back to avoid causing deaths. I have never seen such direct messaging between belligerents over twitter. It’s a moment for social media age.
— Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) June 21, 2019
Love the tough language 'cocked and loaded' sounds like a kid trying to impress his friends
— Deborah Zimmerman (@dsrz) June 21, 2019
"cocked and loaded" – trying to pretend he was once in the Army and served his country proudly! NOT
— Juana (@juanabean) June 21, 2019
Trump did use the proper term “locked and loaded” in August 2017 in saying that “military solutions” were in place to use against North Korea when tensions were high with leader Kim Jong Un.
In 2015, Trump said he had a license to carry a gun and sometimes did so.