A recent video of US President Donald Trump walking offstage before being escorted back to sign executive orders on reciprocal tariffs has gone viral, stoking online chatter and political jabs. The moment occurred on April 2 during a Rose Garden ceremony commemorating ‘Liberation Day,’ when Trump announced a national economic emergency and rolled out a broad tariff plan.
Trump’s Brief Exit Draws Comparisons to Biden
At the event, Trump declared a minimum 10% tariff on all countries that trade with the United States, with increased rates for countries deemed the “worst offenders.” But what went viral on social media was a moment when the president seemed to exit the stage too early, before aides steered him back to finish signing the executive orders.
Trump leaves the stage but is guided back to sign the executive orders pic.twitter.com/vhpxNNLBMa
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 2, 2025
The clip went viral in no time, with people comparing the incident to earlier gaffes by former President Joe Biden. One X (formerly Twitter) user commented, “Trump having his first Biden moment was not on my bingo card for 2025.” Another user, who posted the video on X, used the caption, “Donald Trump has to be herded back on stage to sign executive orders on his disastrous tariffs after he wandered away. MAGA would be screeching if this were Biden.”
Internet Responses: Sarcasm and Conjecture
Social media users did not hesitate to post their responses. Some interpreted the clip as innocuous, while others implied it was symptomatic of greater issues. One user joked, “Does he even know where he’s going?”
The moment’s virality highlights the ongoing scrutiny of Trump’s public outings, particularly in the wake of the intense scrutiny placed on Biden’s similar gaffes throughout his presidency.
The Tariff Plan: Economic Sovereignty or Trade War
Though the web was abuzz with Trump’s temporary stage exit, his most important announcement was his combative new tariff policy. Goods from such trading partners as the European Union and China will be hit with higher tariffs, which Trump presented as a retaliatory necessity for years of what he said were unfair trade practices. “It’s our declaration of economic independence,” he declared.
As the video spread, critics and supporters alike argued whether or not the incident was a simple mistake or more. Either way, it’s certainly added fuel to the discussion of Trump’s contentious tariff policy and his administration as a whole.
