Donald Trump appears to have channelled a Hollywood character at his final election rally before Americans take to the polls, declaring 8 November as the country’s “Independence Day”.
“Today is our Independence Day,” the Republican candidate told crowds in Michigan on Monday night. “Today the American working class is going to strike back.”
While many of Trump’s supporter’s on Twitter have reiterated his sentiment that 8 November should henceforth be considered “Independence Day,” many have pointed to the candidate’s apparent channelling of fictional president President Thomas J Whitmore played by actor Bill Pullman in the film Independence Day.
“‘Today is our Independence Day’ - Trump. (Am I bleary or is that a direct quote from Independence Day?)” NBC News’ Katy Tur tweeted, while actor Zach Braff tweeted, “Trump just quoted Bill Pullman in ‘Independence Day’,” with a picture of the gif of the actor playing President Whitmore.
In the film, President Whitmore delivers a rousing speech to fighter pilots who are about to take on the aliens trying to take over the Earth.
“Perhaps it’s fate that today is the fourth of July and you will once again be fighting for our freedom, not from tyranny, oppression or persecution, but from annihilation. We’re fighting for our right to live, to exist. And should we win the day, the fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day when the world declared in one voice: ‘We will not go quietly into the night, we will not vanish without a fight, we’re going to live on, we’re going to survive’.
“Today we celebrate our Independence Day,” the president says in the film.
TV writer David Slack responded to the candidate’s speech by tweeting: “Mr Trump, I know Independence Day. I have seen Independence Day, and you, sir, are Randy Quaid at best,” referencing the actor who played hero character Russell Casse in the film. The character memorably shouted “Hello boys, I’m baa-aack!” before flying his jet into the alien spaceship, killing himself and blowing up the attackers at the same time. Mr Quaid became infamous in recent years for claiming that he and his wife Evi are on a Hollywood “death list” and for being wanted in the state of California after squatting in a property that formerly belonged to them. The pair claimed to still own the property.
Mr Trump had been expected to hold his final rally in New Hampshire, but the extra event was added at the last minute as his campaign attempted to push into traditionally Democratic states ahead of the polls opening.
The Republican candidate said he does not need to use the support of superstars like Beyoncé, Jay Z or Lady GaGa to draw crowds as Hilary Clinton has done at her rallies, instead saying that “All we need is great ideas to make America great again”.
