Harry Sisson, a Gen Z social media influencer, has reposted a video by Acyn, an associate of Aaron Rupar, who is known for posting videos out of context. Sisson’s recent posts question Donald Trump’s absence from public appearances, contrasting it with Joe Biden’s 18 public appearances over 10 days.
Sisson’s posts imply that Trump is hiding and avoiding public scrutiny, while Biden is actively working. This narrative aims to portray Trump as disengaged and Biden as diligent.
However, Sisson’s portrayal of Trump is challenged by the fact that Trump has been actively campaigning. Trump recently held a rally in Doral, Florida, and has another planned in Butler, Pennsylvania. Despite this, Sisson shared a video from the Florida rally where Trump paused for ten seconds during his speech. Sisson used this pause to suggest that Trump is unfit to serve, labeling it as a sign of cognitive decline.
Sisson’s interpretation of the video has sparked a backlash on social media, with many users defending Trump. Critics argue that the pause was a common “pause for applause” and not an indication of mental unfitness.
They accuse Sisson of being inexperienced and misinterpreting normal speech pauses as cognitive issues. Comments mocking Sisson’s lack of understanding of public speaking dynamics flooded the discussion.
Supporters of Trump pointed out that such pauses are typical in speeches and that Sisson’s criticism is hypocritical, given Biden’s own frequent verbal gaffes. They emphasized that one pause does not determine someone’s fitness for office and ridiculed Sisson’s attempt to discredit Trump based on this isolated incident. Some commentators expressed pity for Sisson’s apparent desperation to paint Trump negatively.
The overarching sentiment among critics is that Sisson’s efforts are transparent and ineffective. They dismiss his posts as politically motivated and accuse him of being paid to spread biased narratives. The backlash underscores a broader skepticism about the authenticity and motives behind social media influencers who engage in political commentary, particularly those perceived to be aligned with specific political agendas.