Introducing Rakewell, Apollo’s wandering eye on the art world. Look out for regular posts taking a rakish perspective on art and museum stories.
Much speculation today as to the meaning of ‘covfefe’, the mysterious term apparently tweeted in error by President Trump late last night.
that was the moment Trump became prsiduvhirw pic.twitter.com/fKVPPNVFH0
— Anthony Brian Smith (@AnthonyBLSmith) May 31, 2017
Some suggested the enigmatic word was code for doomsday. Others, more plausibly, suspected it was a typo. But consensus there came none. Even the Merriam Webster dictionary, normally the go-to source for decoding the POTUS’s midnight Twitter ramblings, admitted it was stumped.
Wakes up.
Checks Twitter.
.
.
.
Uh…
.
.
.
📈 Lookups fo…
.
.
.
Regrets checking Twitter.
Goes back to bed.— Merriam-Webster (@MerriamWebster) May 31, 2017
Trump, meanwhile, continued to taunt.
Who can figure out the true meaning of “covfefe” ??? Enjoy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2017
Fortunately, staff at London’s Wellcome Collection were on hand to solve the mystery – and their findings were even stranger than any of us dared think…
What’s #Covfefe? Our collection suggests it’s a demon summoned by writing its name over & over again. Its powers are unclear. Bear with! 😬 pic.twitter.com/Idk5dACcpO
— Wellcome Collection (@ExploreWellcome) May 31, 2017
The demon’s powers may well be unclear. But the President’s capacity to kick start Internet memes is not in doubt.
Got a story for Rakewell? Get in touch at rakewell@apollomag.com or via @Rakewelltweets.
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Has the Fitzwilliam lost the hang of things?