“I Think The [Redacted] Not, Mr. Cheeto”: 9 Extremely Cringey Moments That Flew Under The Radar This Week In Trump’s America

Any one of these things would’ve been front-page news in normal times.

Posted on May 23, 2026

As a Senior Editor at BuzzFeed, I cover books and politics, and I also created the daily vocabulary-boosting word game SAT Scramble.

1. Over the weekend, a prayer event called Rededicate 250 was held at the National Mall. The event was intended as a way to "rededicate" the country to God ahead of the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence, which totallyyy makes sense for a country founded on principles of religious freedom and separation of church and state. President Trump made a pre-recorded appearance "reading" from the Bible, and, well, you just have to see it for yourself:

Trump sent in a pre-recorded video for the Rededicate 250 blasphemy fest instead of speaking in person, and he still could barely read it cogently

(also, note him covering up the disfigured back of his right hand) pic.twitter.com/yhf7Gc3WEc
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 17, 2026

White House / Via Twitter: @atrupar

The way he pronounces the word "prosperously" is taking me out.

Tweet saying, "He reads like a third grader."

2. Many Trump cabinet members posted videos in support of the event, including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, whose post included an...interesting...word choice.

Two hundred and fifty years ago today — on May 17th, 1776 — the Second Continental Congress called for a day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer.

Today, exactly 250 years later, we gather to do the same. To humbly ask once more for God's mercy and guidance — as we enter the next… pic.twitter.com/NS1tzIRYTd
— DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) May 18, 2026

DNIGabbard / Via Twitter: @DNIGabbard

Babe, I think the word you were searching for was "humility," but honestly, the way things are going, "humiliation" fits.

Tweet by @RadioFreeTom: "Apparently she still has her job."

Back to the weirdo Christian nationalist vibe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio got nice and shiny to share a video message around the Rededicate event as well:

From our country’s beginning, for as long as America has embodied freedom and exceptionalism, the soul of our nation has been rooted in the Christian faith.

Today we gather, as our forefathers did on this day centuries ago, to rededicate our nation to God. pic.twitter.com/xVFt8n9IHL
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) May 17, 2026

SecRubio / Via Twitter: @SecRubio

Real sweaty, just like you asked, boss!

Tweet by Doug Henwood questioning the Christian beliefs of some founding fathers, highlighting Jefferson

3. If you're curious, Rededicate 250 got even weirder when Christian author and MAGA media personality Eric Metaxas made an...interesting...claim about God's role in making Donald Trump president (again).

Speaker at the Trump-endorsed Rededicate 250 ceremony claims God made Trump president so Trump could build the White House ballroom pic.twitter.com/x7mZIE5ZUj
— FactPost (@factpostnews) May 18, 2026

White House / Via Twitter: @factpostnews

Tweet by Rabb Wilder satirically claims Jesus took healthcare from the poor for tax breaks for the rich and built a ballroom in Galilee

4. And now, here's Vice President JD Vance saying something I agree with, for once:

JD Vance: "If you want to rebuilt the American dream for the next generation, vote against the crazy leadership in Washington DC" pic.twitter.com/w4gpJetSM2
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 18, 2026

C-SPAN / Via Twitter: @atrupar

November can't come soon enough.

Tweet by Noah Gilbert asking which party controls the House, Senate, White House, and Supreme Court

5. Vance wasn't the only Republican who said something he maybe didn't mean to this week:

GOP Vice Chair Blake Moore:

"Our Republican priority will always be to put government ahead of Americans." pic.twitter.com/VUlaCnnN0c
— FactPost (@factpostnews) May 20, 2026

C-SPAN / Via Twitter: @factpostnews

We know, Blake.

6. Now, let's see a bit of what Trump had to say this week about the new $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization" fund that was established following his settlement with the IRS. The money is being set aside for "victims of lawfare and weaponization." It's not yet totally clear how the funds will be disbursed, but it appears likely that people arrested and prosecuted for their involvement in Jan. 6 may be among the beneficiaries.

Q: The DOJ has a new fund that was announced today -- $1.7 billion. Why should taxpayers pay for the January 6ers?

TRUMP: Well, it's been very well received, I have to tell you. I know very little about it. I wasn't involved in the whole creation of it. This is reimbursing… pic.twitter.com/FNCzO7C0t1
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 18, 2026

White House / Via Twitter: @atrupar

Love when the president says he knows "very little about it," and it seems like something he should kinda know everything about.

Tweet: I guess reparations are cool as long as you're white republican who spent a couple months in jail for trying to overthrow an election...

Later in the week, Trump described the $1.776 billion fund as "peanuts."

Q: Do you have a response to people who are critical of your settlement over the IRS case?

TRUMP: It was the most violent thing I've ever seen in politics -- what they did. And yet if I say, 'let's look at this one,' they say, 'Weaponization! Weaponization!' We think anybody… pic.twitter.com/iS0Duy0s5d
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 20, 2026

Fox News / Via Twitter: @atrupar

Tweet criticizing $1.776 billion as insignificant and calling out perceived misconduct

A person in a suit with a flag pin stands outdoors near vehicles, speaking

A tweet by Glenn Greenwald expressing irony about a politician's popularity in Israel compared to their home country

Trump saying I'm gonna be here in '28. Maybe I'll be here in '32 too. I don't know. Maybe I will

Tweet by user @wolowizard73: "Yeah I think the fuck not, Mr. Cheeto."

9. And finally, on Thursday, he gaslit his own family, saying he might attend his son Don Jr.'s wedding.

Q: Are you attending your son's wedding this weekend?

Trump: Uhh... he'd like me to go. I'm gonna try and make it. This is not good timing for me. pic.twitter.com/6XvOlVAF9a
— Headquarters (@HQNewsNow) May 21, 2026

White House / Via Twitter: @HQNewsNow

Tweet by user @EatTheRich01 criticizes someone for attending UFC but not his son's wedding

Person sitting behind a combat sports ring, observing a match, with fighters in the foreground

Announcement from Donald J. Trump about remaining in D.C. for government duties, congratulating son Don Jr. and his fiancée Bettina on their engagement

“I Think The [Redacted] Not, Mr. Cheeto”: 9 Extremely Cringey Moments That Flew Under The Radar This Week In Trump’s America

Welcome back to The Cringe Report! This is a weekly series where we take a look at the weird, wild, and WTF moments that flew under the radar in all the chaos of President Donald Trump's America.

President Donald Trump's IRS settlement dominated headlines, and the nine stories I've collected for you here may seem small by comparison, but I think it's still important to highlight (and mock) these moments for what they reveal about the people in power in the United States. Let's get into it:

He doesn't really sound like he's ever encountered these words before in this order, which is kinda weird for someone who sold his own edition of the Bible, but okay!

2. Many Trump cabinet members posted videos in support of the event, including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, whose post included an...interesting...word choice.

People were mostly surprised to see that she was still part of the Trump administration, and then, literally as I was writing this post, news broke that she has resigned. Things change so quickly here.

Back to the weirdo Christian nationalist vibe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio got nice and shiny to share a video message around the Rededicate event as well:

3. If you're curious, Rededicate 250 got even weirder when Christian author and MAGA media personality Eric Metaxas made an...interesting...claim about God's role in making Donald Trump president (again).

So godly! Very devout.

4. And now, here's Vice President JD Vance saying something I agree with, for once:

Do you think he knows?

5. Vance wasn't the only Republican who said something he maybe didn't mean to this week:

They're calling it "The mother of all Freudian slips."

People online are pretty pissed about the whole thing.

Later in the week, Trump described the $1.776 billion fund as "peanuts."

So, uh, can we get a few of those "peanuts" for healthcare and cancer research? No? Cool. Cool, cool, cool.

7. On Wednesday morning, Trump threatened Israel, saying, "Maybe after I do this, I'll go to Israel and run for prime minister."

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Any time he's ready to go, I'd be happy to help him pack.

8. Then, later that day, at a Coast Guard commencement ceremony, he threatened America:

I don't even know what to say about this anymore.

9. And finally, on Thursday, he gaslit his own family, saying he might attend his son Don Jr.'s wedding.

Explaining why he might not make it to his son's wedding, Trump said, "You know, this is not good timing for me. There's a thing called Iran and other things." Which is an interesting excuse, given he was at a UFC fight in April when talks with Iran fell apart.

Here's a photo from that event that I will personally never forget, because that's the most contemplative and thoughtful I've ever seen this man look:

Anyway, he later took to Truth Social to announce that he's not going to his son's wedding after all.

And that's all I have time for this week, but I'm sure this is only scratching the surface of the chaos and chicanery of this past week. Let me know what I missed in the comments!

Comments