President Trump’s latest insult hurled at one of the many Democrats vying for the presidential nod in 2020 went right over the target’s head.
In an interview Friday with Politico, Trump referred to Pete Buttigieg as “Alfred E. Neuman,” a reference to MAD Magazine’s boyish mascot.
“Alfred E. Neuman cannot become president of the United States,” he said.
Trump on Buttigieg: "Alfred E. Neuman cannot become president of the United States." https://t.co/7G8GmyA2CW
— Dan Merica (@merica) May 10, 2019
Here is Neuman, the cover boy of Mad Magazine: pic.twitter.com/13ucHniR1I
Buttigieg, who currently serves as mayor of South Bend, Ind., said he had to check with the omniscient Google in order to grasp the gist of the joke.
The presidential hopeful quipped back — not so gently.
“I’ll be honest, I had to Google that,” Buttigieg said. “I guess it’s a generational thing.”
Ouch! Mayor @Pete Buttigieg responds to @realDonaldTrump slam that he is “Alfred E Neuman” —“I had to Google that..I guess it’s a generational thing.” pic.twitter.com/ZL11noISYL
— Carla Marinucci (@cmarinucci) May 11, 2019
Trump, at 72, is almost twice the age of 37-year-old Buttigieg.
Neuman first appeared in MAD Magazine in 1954.
Buttigieg, for his part, admitted that the jab was “kinda funny,” but suggested the president has more pressing matters than incessantly insulting potential challengers.
“I’m surprised he’s not trying to salvage this China deal.”
Considering how often he’s been a @MADmagazine cover this is a classic self-own pic.twitter.com/3fUqWBWVsi
— Steven E. de Souza (@StevenEdeSouza) May 11, 2019
