Donald Trump tweeted a photo of himself tucking into a taco bowl Thursday along with the cringeworthy declaration, “I love Hispanics!”
“Happy #CincoDeMayo! The best taco bowls are made in Trump Tower Grill. I love Hispanics!” the presumptive Republican presidential nominee tweeted along with the thumbs-up photo of himself.
Thousands of Trump haters — and even a few fans — rushed to respond, causing the topic to trend on Twitter with the hashtag “#TacoGate.”
@realDonaldTrump That taco bowl makes your hands look tiny.
— Gary Whitta (@garywhitta) May 5, 2016
“That taco bowl makes your hands look tiny,” screenwriter Gary Whitta (@garywhitta) wrote, invoking an old insult that Marco Rubio used against Trump on the campaign trail.
“‘Jump the wall’ and enjoy a taste of Mexico that will make you say ‘I love Hispanics!’ at Trump Towers Grill!’ ” @robo_junkie joked.
Another user, @KitteryRd, tweeted, “I would vote for that taco bowl before I voted for Trump.”
“He even built a wall around his taco! #trump,” @Ctannerweb added.
Others faintly praised The Donald.
“I’m kind of proud of him for not putting ‘the’ in front of Hispanics. Progress,” @JasonPStarling wrote.
The bombastic billionaire has been known to post statements online just to get a rise out of people, and the provocative remarks often bolster his support among hard-core fans.
Taco bowls, incidentally, were not on the menu at the Trump Grill, which is in Midtown’s Trump Tower.
But the dish is a regular special at the Trump Cafe, also in Trump Tower. Thursday’s menu at the cafe included a “Taco Fiesta!” dish, which was described as ground sautéed beef with jalapeños, onions, tomatoes and chili spices served in a taco shell topped with lettuce and cheddar cheese for $13.50.
Insiders said that the Trump Cafe serves taco bowls every Thursday and that its appearance on the menu on Cinco de Mayo was a coincidence.
Trump’s Twitter image created even more of a stir when observers noticed a photo of his ex-wife Marla Maples in a bikini peeking out from under a pile of papers on his desk.
Meanwhile, Trump on Thursday tapped Steven Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs banker, as his campaign fund-raising boss.
After self-funding his campaign in the primary, Trump will now take donations. Mnuchin, CEO of Dune Capital Management, will lead the effort.
Trump has said that, even with a fund-raiser, he will continue to put up “substantial money” of his own. He has said he is worth $10 billion.
Also, Trump on Thursday night won the support — and, presumably, the contributions — of billionaire Las Vegas casino magnate Sheldon Adelson.
Additional reporting by Frank Rosario and Post Wire Services
