Special Poll
Former President Clinton, during a speech to Democrats on Wednesday, humorously criticized former President Trump for his frequent praise of Hannibal Lecter, the infamous fictional serial killer from the 1991 film “The Silence of the Lambs.”
Speaking at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Clinton took a jab at Trump’s recent claim that the world’s respect for America was higher during his presidency. Clinton quipped that Trump made this statement “with a straight face” during a debate with President Biden in June, adding, “He’s a good actor.”
Clinton then questioned how global leaders are supposed to take Trump seriously when he continuously references a fictional serial killer during his rallies. “When you’re sending a message to other countries, whether they agree with you or not, they should at least know you’re sincere,” Clinton remarked, to the applause of the audience. He continued, “But what are they supposed to make of these constant tributes to the ‘late, great Hannibal Lecter’?”
Clinton humorously acknowledged his own past as “Explainer in Chief,” a title once given to him by President Obama. “I’ve thought about it, and honestly, I don’t know what to say,” he admitted, drawing laughter from the crowd.
Trump has repeatedly mentioned the fictional character on the campaign trail, oddly referring to him as a “wonderful man.” Earlier this year, during a speech in New Jersey, Trump bizarrely transitioned from discussing unsubstantiated claims about migrants coming from “insane asylums” to praising Hannibal Lecter, a character created by novelist Thomas Harris.
“Has anyone ever seen ‘The Silence of the Lambs’? The late, great Hannibal Lecter. He’s a wonderful man,” Trump said. “He oftentimes would have a friend for dinner. Remember the last scene? ‘Excuse me, I’m about to have a friend for dinner,’ as this poor doctor walked by. ‘I’m about to have a friend for dinner.’ But Hannibal Lecter. Congratulations. The late, great Hannibal Lecter.”
Vice President Harris’s campaign has labeled Trump’s comments as “weird,” and Anthony Hopkins, the actor who portrayed Hannibal Lecter, has expressed his own shock and dismay at Trump’s remarks.
In response to Clinton’s comments, the Trump campaign fired back, dismissing Clinton as a “total loser.” A Trump campaign spokesperson stated to the media, “Bill Clinton is a total loser who is desperately clinging to whatever attention he can get because no one cares what he has to say.” The spokesperson added, “The sad reality is that he, along with Crooked Hillary, suffers from Trump Derangement Syndrome and has let it rot his brain to the point where he is a shell of the person he once was.”