Patti LuPone throws spectacular shade at Donald Trump over his bizarre balcony performance
Donald Trump stands on the Truman Balcony after returning to the White House from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on October 05, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Broadway legend Patti LuPone has thrown some spectacular shade at Donald Trump, mocking his bizarre balcony appearance upon returning to the White House.
Donald Trump returned to the White House Monday (5 October), having been hospitalised for three nights at the Walter Reed Military Medical Center for COVID-19.
After being dropped off by helicopter, Trump decided to stage a photo op, walking up the steps to the balcony and tearing off his mask.
But his walk up the stairs took it out of him, and he stood on the balcony breathing heavily while saluting for the cameras and giving a thumbs up.
Despite his doctor insisting that he is “not out of the woods”, Trump then entered the White House, still not wearing a mask.
The president’s attitude towards the virus that has killed more than 200,000 Americans has angered many, but no one threw better shade that Broadway icon Patti LuPone.
Trump’s appearance on the White House balcony looked eerily similar to a scene from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita, starring LuPone. Evita also happens to be Trump’s favourite musical.
Who is your favourite Evita? Patti LuPone, Elaine Paige, Donald Trump or Madonna? pic.twitter.com/VxpgM6nPMX
— ellenieanna (@ellenieanna) October 6, 2020
Comparing the two scenes, LuPone wrote on Twitter: “I still have the lung power and I wore less makeup. This revival is closing 3 November.”
I have not stopped laughing for the past three hours over this. Patti LuPone is a national treasure! @realDonaldTrump You are not fit to ascend her balcony!!! https://t.co/zwUvGZWfWr— MsToucanSami (@MsToucanSami) October 6, 2020
Fans insisted that LuPone had “won the internet”, with one writing: “I have not stopped laughing for the past three hours over this. Patti LuPone is a national treasure! Donald Trump, you are not fit to ascend her balcony!”
Love the shade from the greatest of all Evitas. https://t.co/KdaeJbAmLp— Unexpectedactivist (@Unexpectedactiv) October 6, 2020
Another reworked the lyrics of “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina”, writing: “Don’t cry for me, Coronita, the truth is you never left me.
“All through my maskless days, my dumb persistence. I kept my promise, no social distance.”
Addressing his balcony appearance in a video posted to Twitter, Trump later said: “As your leader I had to do that, I knew there’s danger to it, but I had to do it. I stood out front. I led. Nobody that’s a leader would not do what I did.
“I know there’s a risk. There’s a danger, but that’s okay, and now I’m better. Maybe I’m immune, I don’t know.”
