During a key fundraising dinner held by the National Republican Congressional Committee in Washington, D.C., Minnesota Congressman Tom Emmer seemed to accidentally refer to Donald Trump as “President C.” This slip occurred just before Trump was to take the podium, prompting immediate reactions across social media, particularly from the anti-Trump PAC, The Lincoln Project, which humorously suggested that Emmer had captured the essence of the president's presence with his gaffe.

Emmer, who serves as House Majority Whip, made the remark in front of several high-profile GOP donors who collectively contributed over $300,000 to attend the gala. The event was notably successful, with House Republicans Campaign Chair Richard Hudson announcing that they raised an impressive $35.2 million. Trump later confirmed this fundraising success on stage, expressing his goal of raising $50 million at the next year’s gathering.

Prior to his slip, Emmer struggled with his opening remarks, awkwardly greeting attendees and trying to energize the crowd. He praised Trump's early administration achievements, mentioning policies such as immigration reform and waste reduction. However, he notably avoided discussing the ongoing turmoil in global markets that had begun following Trump’s controversial tariff announcements. Later, Trump himself took the stage, humorously recounting how world leaders were pleading with him to negotiate his tariffs, asserting that his first 100 days in office were historically successful. He ended with a peculiar reference to the fictional character Hannibal Lecter, adding to the evening’s eccentricities.