--- title: Donald Trump State of the Union Clapping Inspires Jokes description: Trump's State of the Union clapping inspires a ton of clapback memes. canonical: https://time.com/5126189/donald-trump-state-union-clapping/ author: Ashley Hoffman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2018-01-31T03:50:42.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-12T08:48:30.048Z og:title: Donald Trump Clapped at His Own Speech. The Internet Clapped Back og:description: His critics spent the State of the Union speech joking about his audible claps og:url: https://time.com/5126189/donald-trump-state-union-clapping/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltac0043da767d4191/6988fa0f8fd2ee05fa35a814/gettyimages-912419280.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4882 og:image:height: 2746 og:image:alt: President Trump Addresses The Nation In His First State Of The Union Address To Joint Session Of Congress og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Donald Trump Clapped at His Own Speech. The Internet Clapped Back twitter:description: His critics spent the State of the Union speech joking about his audible claps twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltac0043da767d4191/6988fa0f8fd2ee05fa35a814/gettyimages-912419280.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Donald Trump Clapped at His Own Speech. The Internet Clapped Back > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. Senior correspondent Philip Elliott brings sharp context to the issues driving the capital, connecting the decisions made in Washington to the institutions, industries and people they affect. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=2f5645f9-3bca-4a7e-bbf7-940c350ab76a&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). ### Newsletter facts | Attribute | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 | | Frequency | Twice a week | time.com/newsletters, September 2026 | | Written by | Philip Elliott, Senior Correspondent | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 | | Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 | ### Readership The policy influence ecosystem. A policy-focused audience spanning government, public affairs, advocacy, law, research, political media, and the institutions that make, interpret and respond to public policy. ### TIME D.C. Brief: key statements * D.C. Brief is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read. * D.C. Brief is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=2f5645f9-3bca-4a7e-bbf7-940c350ab76a&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). * TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/subscribe?i=2f5645f9-3bca-4a7e-bbf7-940c350ab76a&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What is TIME's politics newsletter? D.C. Brief is TIME's Washington newsletter, written by senior correspondent Philip Elliott. It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=2f5645f9-3bca-4a7e-bbf7-940c350ab76a&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Donald Trump Clapped at His Own Speech. The Internet Clapped Back [Watch (HLS stream): Donald Trump Clapped at His Own Speech. The Internet Clapped Back](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/gqIvDexH.m3u8) (1:02)  _Published 2018-01-31. President Donald Trump clapped at his own State of the Union, and his internet critics couldn’t resist taking a few shots._ by [Ashley Hoffman](https://time.com/author/ashley-hoffman/) ## Ashley Hoffman Jan 31, 2018 3:50 AM UTC President Donald Trump clapped at his own State of the Union, and his internet critics couldn’t resist taking a few shots. by [Ashley Hoffman](https://time.com/author/ashley-hoffman/) ## Ashley Hoffman Jan 31, 2018 3:50 AM UTC [President Donald Trump](http://time.com/5126140/donald-trump-executive-order-guantanamo-bay-open/) clapped at his own State of the Union, and his [internet critics](http://time.com/5126029/state-union-donald-trump-energy/) couldn’t resist taking a few shots. As Trump punctuated his first [State of the Union address](http://time.com/5126029/state-union-donald-trump-energy/) to Congress with applause, a nearby microphone amplified his own clapping. Hillary Clinton’s former running mate Sen. Tim Kaine also got a taste of the internet’s jokes for his clapping, but the sound of Trump’s hands was the major talking point. > [](https://twitter.com/carolrhartsell/status/958529256744804352) See a sampling of the reactions below. > [](https://twitter.com/larrywilmore/status/958524080147243009) > [](https://twitter.com/Olivianuzzi/status/958528237746999297) > [](https://twitter.com/jonnysun/status/958527898478137344) > [](https://twitter.com/CillizzaCNN/status/958522367784947713) > [](https://twitter.com/YourAnonNews/status/958534464849690625) > [](https://twitter.com/wardahkhalid%5F/status/958529160938389504) > [](https://twitter.com/RalstonReports/status/958522551281508352) > [](https://twitter.com/GraceParra360/status/958526559521988608) > [](https://twitter.com/devdevnumnums/status/958528315635019776) > [](https://twitter.com/IsabellaCigno/status/958529364630568960) > [](https://twitter.com/Shakestweetz/status/958528255497207811) > [](https://twitter.com/jonmladd/status/958527309606252545) > [](https://twitter.com/aravosis/status/958530477559894017) > [](https://twitter.com/mialynneb/status/958530704639479809) > [](https://twitter.com/bengreenman/status/958534313670336514) > [](https://twitter.com/jodyavirgan/status/958533682993815552) ## Transcript So let's begin tonight by recognizing that the state of our union is strong. [ APPLAUSE ] Because our people strong. [ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] And millions of Americans will have more take home pay starting next month. A lot more. [ APPLAUSE ] The individual mandate is now gone. Thank Heavens. [ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] One of my greatest priorities is to reduce the price of prescription drugs. [ APPLAUSE ] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5126189/donald-trump-state-union-clapping/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5126189/donald-trump-state-union-clapping/"},"headline":"Donald Trump Clapped at His Own Speech. The Internet Clapped Back","datePublished":"2018-01-31T03:50:42.000Z","dateModified":"2026-10-12T08:48:30.048Z","description":"Trump's State of the Union clapping inspires a ton of clapback memes.","url":"https://time.com/5126189/donald-trump-state-union-clapping/","keywords":["Newsfeed","Congress","politics","viral","White House","state of the union","Donald Trump"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltac0043da767d4191/6988fa0f8fd2ee05fa35a814/gettyimages-912419280.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Ashley Hoffman","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/ashley-hoffman/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltac0043da767d4191/6988fa0f8fd2ee05fa35a814/gettyimages-912419280.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"President Trump Addresses The Nation In His First State Of The Union Address To Joint Session Of Congress","caption":"President Trump Addresses The Nation In His First State Of The Union Address To Joint Session Of Congress","creditText":"Win McNamee—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/5126189/donald-trump-state-union-clapping/","name":"Donald Trump Clapped at His Own Speech. The Internet Clapped Back"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Donald Trump Clapped at His Own Speech. The Internet Clapped Back","description":"President Donald Trump clapped at his own State of the Union, and his internet critics couldn’t resist taking a few shots.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/gqIvDexH/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2018-01-31T03:53:42.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/gqIvDexH.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/5126189/donald-trump-state-union-clapping/","duration":"PT1M2S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/5126189/donald-trump-state-union-clapping/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```