Twitter meme frenzy over claim Trump received no Russian money 'with a few exceptions'
"The Titanic enjoyed many pleasant and uneventful hours sailing. #WithFewExceptions," one user tweeted.
US President Donald Trump's lawyers said his income tax returns do not show any income from Russian sources "with a few exceptions", and the internet is having a field day over the claim.
In a letter released on Friday (12 May), Trump's lawyers said his tax returns for the past 10 years showed no "income of any type from Russian sources" or any debt owed to Russians. However, it did acknowledge that there were "a few exceptions".
The letter noted that Trump received income from the 2013 Miss Universe pageant held in Moscow and a property sold to an unnamed Russian billionaire for $95m back in 2008.
It also mentioned that it is likely he received undisclosed payments from Russians for hotel rooms, rounds of golf or Trump-licensed products such as wine, ties or mattresses.
However, his lawyers said the amounts were "immaterial" and would not have been identified as coming from Russians sources in his tax returns.
The Associated Press reports that the president asked his lawyers for the letter in response to a request from Republican Senator Lindsey Graham who is leading one of the congressional committees probing allegations of Russian meddling in last year's presidential elections.
However, AP said it could not verify Trump's lawyers' conclusions since they did not release copies of his tax returns.
Internet users, on the other hand, immediately pounced on the phrase "with some exceptions", saying it completely negated his lawyers' original statement. Social media soon erupted with a spate of hysterical memes, jokes and comments using the now viral hashtag #WithFewExceptions.
"The Titanic enjoyed many pleasant and uneventful hours sailing. #WithFewExceptions," British author Joanne Harris tweeted.
"Secretly taping conversations in the White House has always worked in the favour of presidents, with few exceptions," USA Today reporter Steve Reilly wrote.
Point of order: It is not possible to have nothing AND few exceptions.
— Micah Grimes (@MicahGrimes) May 12, 2017
You either have nothing, or you a few exceptions.
I have never been wrong, with few exceptions
— Gideon Resnick (@GideonResnick) May 12, 2017
"I did not have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinsky, with few exceptions" - Bill Clinton, 1998
— William D. Adler (@williamadler78) May 12, 2017
Betsy DeVos is beloved by students everywhere #withfewexceptions pic.twitter.com/NUEklX94Ad
— H.M. Garth (@hmgarth14) May 12, 2017
the 1940s were a peaceful time with a few exceptions
— Asawin Suebsaeng (@swin24) May 12, 2017
I workout vigorously every day at the gym, #withfewexceptions
— Allan Shifman (@AllanShifman) May 12, 2017
I never scarf down an entire box of Girl Scout cookies in one sitting #WithFewExceptions @girlsreallyrule https://t.co/aoBp4AqBlw
— GirlEsqA (@GirlEsqA) May 12, 2017
Ted Bundy never hurt anyone...... #WithFewExceptions
— Chris (@cab0305) May 12, 2017
Trump never degraded women, #withfewexceptions
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) May 12, 2017
Trump won the popular vote. #WithFewExceptions
— Nathan G (@nwg83) May 12, 2017
I'm still a virgin #withfewexceptions
— That Gurl Bee ðŸðŸ’‹ (@shesaidnah) May 12, 2017
Your pre-existing conditions will be covered #withfewexceptions
— kerry b (@gwynzach) May 12, 2017
I have never hidden in bushes. Period #withfewexceptions pic.twitter.com/SWofWsgDS7
— Sean Spicer Facts (@SeanSpicerFacts) May 12, 2017
The Hindenburg enjoyed smooth travellings. #WithFewExceptions pic.twitter.com/WJ7vVEnoW8
— Retzilience (@retzilience) May 12, 2017
No one in this country is allowed to fire the very person investigating them for refusing to stop said investigation, #WithFewExceptions
— Douglas E. Rogers (@glowingrec) May 12, 2017
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, with a few exceptions.
— Ryan Teague Beckwith (@ryanbeckwith) May 12, 2017
Twitter is good, with few exceptions.
— Lizzie O'Leary (@lizzieohreally) May 12, 2017
in college i made great life decisions with a few exceptions https://t.co/ARnxoXbOji
— Robby Kalland (@RKalland) May 12, 2017
I have never, for no reason at all, been stopped by an officer of the law of any type. With few exceptions.
— Travon Free (@Travon) May 12, 2017
Trump hasn't taken any vacations since he became president, with a few exceptions. https://t.co/nIdFbti092
— jordan 🌹 (@JordanUhl) May 12, 2017
Jack the Ripper generally let women in London live in peace.
— Imran Garda (@ImranGarda) May 12, 2017
With a few exceptions. https://t.co/wCu2K8Pneo
Donald Trump has never broken a promise #WithFewExceptions pic.twitter.com/4fiUThlBbr
— Brad Ripka (@WaltThatcher) May 12, 2017
I only have 1 glass of wine per night #withfewexceptions pic.twitter.com/4lqpskZvSj
— heather campbell (@RealLifeHeather) May 12, 2017
— Philip Bump (@pbump) May 12, 2017
@CillizzaCNN I've dated a couple of supermodels, with a few exceptions.
— Miki Turner âï¸ (@turneresq) May 12, 2017
#withfewexceptions I am straight. pic.twitter.com/C81rLmNzKC
— Zach Braff (@zachbraff) May 12, 2017
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself, with a few exceptions.
— Matt O'Brien (@ObsoleteDogma) May 12, 2017
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