During a sombre weekend for American citizens, as the country marked the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, former US President Donald Trump was speaking at a “Rally of Hope” event linked to a Korean “cult”.
Taking place on Saturday, the online conference was hosted by Dr Hak Ja Han Moon, co-founder of the Universal Peace Federation, which was set up by Moon and her husband in 2005.
Her late husband, Sun Myung Moon, claimed to be the messiah and founded the Unification Church – an organisation known for mass weddings and its support for the unification of North and South Korea into a single Christian state. The group are also known as “the Moonies”.
Trump told attendees: “I want to thank the Universal Peace Federation and in particular Dr Hak Ja Han Moon – a tremendous person – for her incredible work on behalf of peace all over the world.
“What they have achieved on the peninsula is just amazing. In just a few decades, the inspiration that they have caused for the entire planet is unbelievable, and I congratulate you again and again.”
The Republican also said that the US “adopted a policy of unprecedented strength” under his presidency, noting that he was the first president to enter North Korea in 2019.
“I truly believe that an extraordinary future awaits the people of North Korea,” he said.
Twitter users have since expressed their shock at Trump’s decision, while others were hardly surprised, given the ex-president’s previous antics:
I wasn't expecting Donald Trump to deliver a speech for the Moonies at all
— 👹 Enoch (Prince of the Land of Tears) 🇵🇸 (@Ember_Riseth) September 12, 2021
That was not on my bingo card
Moonies have a fucking weird influence on our politics man
— 🍂🌕Harvest Moon Eggcelent🌕🍂 (@astro_egg_celnt) September 12, 2021
I’m feeling a visceral reaction to this news. My brother’s life was in tatters after joining the Moonies in the 70s. I saw Moon speak in 75. He was a lunatic
— Lee houten (@stormhouten) September 12, 2021
Moonie Trump🗣 who’s bingo card had moonie trump in 2021?!
— Jetpack Pappy Summers; Boyfriend of 35 Years🤠 (@theAntiBinge) September 12, 2021
lmao but like in a “I expected this” way
— Rev. Pill-Poppy (@poppy_haze) September 12, 2021
I wonder how much he got paid. Shinzo Abe, too. This cult is very, very rich. https://t.co/FEBBxh9Nig
— J. P. Gownder (கவுண்டர்) (@jgownder) September 12, 2021
He gave a paid speech to a cult. On 9/11. Before announcing a pay-per-view boxing match. Once again, on 9/11. https://t.co/j3vJev9nwM
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) September 12, 2021
Is this going to become some standard MAGA 9/11 tradition now? https://t.co/WwFvBocF6o
— GET VACCINATED (((Jennifer Mendelsohn))) (@CleverTitleTK) September 12, 2021
The virtual speech isn’t the only controversial thing Trump did over a weekend where other former presidents marked acknowledged the events of 11 September 2001. While Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and current president Joe Biden paid tribute at Ground Zero, in New York City, Trump released a recorded video about the anniversary.
He also visited a New York City police department and fire station.
Later that day, he commentated a boxing match with his son, Donald Trump Jr, in Florida, a move which his niece said is “entirely in keeping in what [he] always does”.
“Last I checked, nobody pushed back on the fact that on the 20th anniversary of the worst tragedy to hit this country, [Trump] was commentating a boxing match to line his own pockets.
“He doesn’t understand dignity. He doesn’t understand tragedy. He doesn’t understand anything that doesn’t pertain directly to him,” Ms Trump told CNN’s Jim Acosta on Sunday.
As well as being attended by Trump, the “Rally of Hope” event also saw speeches from Cambodia prime minister Hun Sen and former president of Japan, ShinzÅ Abe.
