The Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump PAC, claimed on Twitter that an attendee of the Republican National Convention called former President Barack Obama a “monkey” while President Donald Trump delivered remarks Monday. The claim was quickly amplified by a number of celebrities, politicians and journalists.
Trump highlighted “spying” focused on his 2016 campaign, and said these efforts involved former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden. Several convention attendees can be heard in the video shouting out in agreement, and one can be heard shouting “spygate,” the unofficial name given to the scandal. The Lincoln Project, among others, claimed they heard differently.
The Lincoln Project tweeted, “When President Trump mentioned Obama, someone from the crowd shouted, ‘Monkey!’ and the president relished in it. Disgusting.”
![The Lincoln Project's since deleted tweet accusing an attendee of The Republican National Convention of calling President Obama a "monkey." [Twitter/Screenshot/Public-- User: @ProjectLincoln]](https://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2020-08-24-at-12.30.04-PM-e1598298020460.png)
The Lincoln Project’s since deleted tweet accusing an attendee of The Republican National Convention of calling President Obama a “monkey.” [Twitter/Screenshot/Public User: @ProjectLincoln]
The Lincoln Project has since deleted their tweet, which included the video clip, but not their reply. They have not yet posted an apology or retraction. (Related: Former US Official Threatens To Blow Up ‘Spygate’)
Actor Ken Olin quote tweeted The Lincoln Project’s original tweet, saying, “After @realDonaldTrump mentions @BarackObama’s name someone yells, ‘monkey’. A few seconds later Trump laughs and makes a joke. It’s inconceivable in 2020 that a despicable comment like this would be treated lightly. The President is sickening.” Olin has now deleted his tweet and has not apologized, retracted or clarified.
![Ken Onlin’s deleted tweet accusing RNC attendee of calling President Obama a “monkey” [Twitter/Screenshot/Public--User: @kenolin1]](https://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2020-08-24-at-12.50.35-PM-e1598298682391.png)
Ken Onlin’s deleted tweet accusing RNC attendee of calling President Obama a “monkey” [Twitter/Screenshot/Public User: @kenolin1]
In what presidential speech since the advent of television is someone audibly caught during a political convention calling the previous president a monkey ???????????? This person is on stage lying lying lying, so let’s see what the media does with it ????
— Khalilah M. Harris (@Ed2BeFree) August 24, 2020
Khalilah M. Harris, a former member of the Obama Administration, tweeted, “in what presidential speech since the advent of television is someone audibly caught during a political convention calling the previous president a monkey?”
When confronted with the possibility that the individual had shouted “spygate” instead, Harris doubled down, saying, “He could have yelled spygate. It still sounds like monkey upon listening again.”
He could have yelled spygate. It still sounds like monkey upon listening again. But the assertion he was saying be nice at sleepy joe is absurd since he himself called him sleepy joe throughout the remarks. Are you also fact checking the president’s remarks?
— Khalilah M. Harris (@Ed2BeFree) August 24, 2020
Contributing writer for the Atlantic Jemele Hill — who recently received backlash on Twitter for suggesting America was just as bad as Nazi Germany — weighed in with, “I listened 10 times and I swore that Trump supporter said monkey and I didn’t even know there was a debate.”
Actually let me back up, I listened 10 times and I swore that Trump supporter said monkey and I didn’t even know there was a debate. Why would Trump say “lets be nice,” if that person said “spygate?”
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) August 24, 2020
New York Times contributing opinion writer Wajahat Ali quote tweeted a since-deleted tweet accusing the attendee of calling President Obama a “monkey,” and ironically said, “Is calling a black man ‘monkey’ racist? Really? Let us discuss on cable news and both sides this.” His tweet has also been deleted.
However, some journalists did rally on behalf of “spygate.” Aaron Rupar of Vox tweeted, “I don’t think this is right. I went back and re-listened. The man yells ‘spygate!’ and then someone in the crowd says, ‘Sleepy Joe!’ That latter remark is the one Trump joked about.”
I don’t think this is right. I went back and re-listened. The man yells “spygate!” and then someone in the crowd says, “Sleepy Joe!” That latter remark is the one Trump joked about. https://t.co/mzVr92MBo8
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 24, 2020
Rafi Schwartz tweeted, “It seems like the hecker [sic] yelled ‘spygate’ not ‘monkey’ so i’m relieved to report that it wasn’t coarse racism, just deranged conspiracy mongering.”
It seems like the hecker yelled “spygate” not “monkey” so i’m relieved to report that it wasn’t coarse racism, just deranged conspiracy mongering.
— Rafi Schwartz (@TheJewishDream) August 24, 2020
Jonathan Franks, vice president of Montel Williams Enterprises, deleted his original tweet accusing the attendee of calling President Obama a “monkey,” and said it seems more like the attendee yelled “spygate” instead.
I agree, the random Trumper yelled “spygate” not monkey and I deleted my tweet. I do think it’s notable the Trump defense is to share @TheJewishDream’s tweet to prove that up? Is the @TrumpWarRoom conceding #spygate is a deranged conspiracy theory?#RNCConvention2020 https://t.co/MKF4NWMinr
— Jonathan Franks (@jonfranks) August 24, 2020