Donald Trump‘s explosive reaction to bright lights has resurfaced on social media, showcasing his theatrical demands and unpredictable temperament that mirrors his current leadership style as president.
The incident unfolded on Feb. 21, 2016, during what should have been a routine Sunday afternoon campaign event in Atlanta.
As Trump addressed his supporters, the lights flickered off and on, and the once warm glow shifted to a sharp brightness.
Trump grew uneasy by the brighter lights.
“No! Get those lights off! Off! They’re too bright, turn them off!” he shouted at the event personnel.
When an Instagram clip of the interaction gained renewed attention, social media users were quick to criticize Trump’s behavior.
Many shared hundreds of laughing emojis, in disbelief at Trump for throwing a “tantrum” like a toddler, including one who asked, “What is He 2 yr Old?”
“Trump is such an embarrassment!!! He wants the lights off so his face doesn’t melt,” said a second person, while another asked, “Why is he shouting? I see [the] microphone in front of him.”
A few individuals suggested someone “Turn off the microphone,” though many preferred to just “Turn off Trump.”
What happened next revealed Trump’s demanding personality in full display, demonstrating the theatrical nature that would become his political trademark. When the lights returned moments later, he began waving his arms frantically and initiated what became an impromptu chant with his supporters.
“Let’s go, ready, turn off the lights. Turn off the lights,” shouted “The Apprentice” boss to the crowd.
They joined in as Trump turned a lighting issue into a spectacle of control, while seizing the moment as an opportunity to criticize the media covering his event.
“They didn’t pay the electric bill,” the former reality television star announced to his supporters with characteristic confidence. “Oh, I like that much better. That’s so much better. Those lights were brutal. Are they coming from the dishonest press?”
Treating the technical crew like his personal staff, Trump pressured the venue workers until they finally dimmed the lights to his liking. Basking in the crowd’s applause, he turned the moment into part of his presidential pitch, quipping, “And because the lights didn’t work, I won’t pay the rent…”
Adding another layer to the unusual episode, Trump later claimed without providing any evidence that a protester had deliberately caused the lighting malfunction.
“They just told me it was the protester that turned the lights off,” he informed his supporters.
Trump’s lighting outburst wasn’t isolated in his 2016 campaign.
Weeks earlier in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on caucus day, he made inflammatory promises to cover legal fees for supporters who attacked protesters, underscoring the confrontational tone that defined his controversial run.
“If you see somebody getting ready to throw a tomato, knock the crap out of them, would you? Seriously, OK? Just knock the hell… I promise you I will pay for the legal fees. I promise, I promise,” Trump had declared on Feb. 1, 2016, setting a tone of aggression that would characterize many of his rallies.
This pattern of rhetoric continued throughout his other campaign appearances. At a Las Vegas rally later that month, Trump criticized security personnel for being too gentle with a protester, saying, “He’s walking out with big high-fives, smiling, laughing. I’d like to punch him in the face, I’ll tell you.”
Similar incidents occurred in Warren, Michigan, where he told supporters, “Get him out. Try not to hurt him. If you do, I’ll defend you in court. Don’t worry about it.”
Trump’s behavior extended beyond campaign rallies to diplomatic stages, where his notorious handshake tactics gained global attention.
Psychology professor Geoff Beattie of Edge Hill University analyzed how Trump weaponized handshakes to assert dominance and gain a psychological advantage over world leaders.
The resurfaced Atlanta lighting incident adds to the ongoing discussion of Trump’s temperament and leadership style, underscoring the theatrical and confrontational tactics that deeply influenced his unorthodox approach to the presidency from the start.
Great Job Nicole Duncan-Smith & the Team @ Atlanta Black Star Source link for sharing this story.
