'Have we chosen a new president?': Fire at Trump Tower sparks wild theories online
Although the fire was relatively small, social media erupted with theories, jokes and rumours.
A small fire broke out on the roof of Trump Tower in New York City on Monday morning, 8 January, and the internet has some interesting theories about it. The fire broke out in the 58-storey building's heating and cooling system, injuring at least two people and resulting in smoke billowing from the roof.
New York City fire officials said the blaze began around 7 am local time.
US President Donald Trump was in Washington DC at the time of the fire. Trump Tower was Trump's primary residence before he took office in January 2017.
Eric Trump, one of the president's sons, described the blaze as a "small electrical fire" and said that the fire department responded within minutes. About 84 firefighters and medical crew responded to the incident that was declared under control after about an hour and 15 minutes.
"There was a small electrical fire in a cooling tower on the roof of Trump Tower," Eric Trump tweeted. "The New York Fire Department was here within minutes and did an incredible job. The men and women of the #FDNY are true heroes and deserve our most sincere thanks and praise!"
Although the fire was relatively small, jokes, memes and conspiracy theories immediately broke out across social media.
A Facebook page called "Neon Nettle" claimed that the incident was a "deep state assassination attempt" on the president. Some also speculated that the fire was intentionally set.
Case study in how quickly fake news websites can exploit situations for clicks: a Facebook-verified fake news website has already published a fake story that Trump may have died in the Trump Tower fire. pic.twitter.com/6QxpuYd2TF
— Alex Kaplan (@AlKapDC) January 8, 2018
Meanwhile, many Twitter users pounced on the opportunity to poke fun at President Trump over the incident. Everything from Pope jokes to the new book plaguing his administration, ironically named "Fire and Fury", was fair game.
"That isn't a fire at Trump Tower. It's just Donald declaring himself the new Pope," one Twitter user hilariously wrote.
"Reports that the fire at Trump Tower started in a pair of pants," another person chimed.
Many people also expressed their concern for the safety of the people living and working in the tower.
"Do people realize that #trumptower is primary occupied by companies whose employees have no association to Trump. My wife sells shoes and works there and some comments are disgusting," one person said.
Maybe the smoke at Trump Tower means that we have chosen a new president?
— OhNoSheTwitnt (@OhNoSheTwitnt) January 8, 2018
Fire and Fury
— TK (@TKcity1) January 8, 2018
Note to people being investigated by Mueller: Please don't burn your evidence on the roof.#TrumpTower
— Steve Marmel (@Marmel) January 8, 2018
â¡ï¸ âFDNY responds to a small fire on the roof of Trump Tower in NYCâhttps://t.co/vjya93aHKj
Does this mean Moscow picked a new American president? #trumptower
— 305 Pirate â®ðâ (@305Pirate) January 8, 2018
Left his hair tongs on again..
— Scott Jonathon (@scottjok) January 8, 2018
The real fire is in the Oval Office, something about a con artist who watches tv for 6 hours a day when heâs not golfing.
— Grocery Leadership (@StephenKosloff) January 8, 2018
ð¤ð¶The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire. We don't need no water let the motherfker burn...ð¶
— Erin Faye â (@stardropz) January 8, 2018
There is a fire at another Russian embassy.
— Red T Raccoon (@RedTRaccoon) January 8, 2018
Oops, I mean #TrumpTower. pic.twitter.com/LKFs1E6NmS
BREAKING: Cause of #TrumpTower roof fire revealed pic.twitter.com/lbNLe6ndnJ
— TrivWorks (@TrivWorks) January 8, 2018
âTrump tower is litâ
— David Leavitt (@David_Leavitt) January 8, 2018
âI donât think soâ
âNo look up, itâs literally a dumpster fire ð¥â pic.twitter.com/JU7yoBRuHv
BREAKING: Photo taken moments ago from inside Trump Tower #Genius pic.twitter.com/sWh5lxHM5y
— Mark (@rawlimark) January 8, 2018
I see the tanning machine has finally given up.... #FakeTan #FakeNews #TrumpTower#TrumpTowerFire pic.twitter.com/RK8EYV23Pe
— Darth Vader No1⢠ð (@Darth_VaderNo1) January 8, 2018
Smokey Steve#trumptower https://t.co/1OhQn8Sx1e
— Seamus Conwell (@SeamusConwell) January 8, 2018
Apparently, the fire, fire originated from the flaming pants of a liar, liar. @realDonaldTrump @POTUS #TrumpTower pic.twitter.com/1HbXxIHtid
— Marshall Julius (@MarshallJulius) January 8, 2018
Breaking: Flames still visible at top of Trump Tower. pic.twitter.com/ubPYcESIIY
— Michael Moran (@TheMichaelMoran) January 8, 2018
"Nothing to see here, folksâit's just the President's pants." #trumptower @realDonaldTrump
— John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz) January 8, 2018
Earlier this morning at #TrumpTower...#TrumpRussiaCollusion pic.twitter.com/RYFyjHOCds
— Josh #ResistTrump (@JoshF625) January 8, 2018
New pope?
— Michael Urie (@michaelurie) January 8, 2018
The Stable Genius trying to toast pop tarts againhttps://t.co/pV1zlU3Peo
— voize_of_reazon (@Voize_of_Reazon) January 8, 2018
The countdown begins NOW! How long until Trump blames "Crooked Hillary" for starting the fire at Trump Tower?#TrumpTower
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) January 8, 2018
Breaking News: Trump Tower on fire. In literary terms this is called "foreshadowing."
— John Hergt (@natureofthings7) January 8, 2018
I'm assuming it was a dryer fire. Money laundering is a dangerous business, especially the drying part.
— Jeff Cieslak (@jeffcieslak) January 8, 2018
One way to get rid of evidence.
— Wolverines (@wolverines1984) January 8, 2018
EVANGELICALS: Lord, if I'm wrong show me a sign!
— Jesse McLaren (@McJesse) January 8, 2018
*Trump Tower bursts into flames*
EVANGELICALS: ...any sign at all!
— James Timberlake (@24_architect) January 8, 2018
Trump Tower on fire seems a pretty good metaphor for 2018.
— Alt Fed-up Employee (@Alt_FedEmployee) January 8, 2018
