'It’s disturbing': Internet mocks Donald Trump for spelling Laken Riley's name wrong on autograph to her family

Days after disparaging President Joe Biden, Donald Trump misspelled Laken Riley's name on a picture he signed for her grieving family
PUBLISHED MAR 13, 2024
Donald Trump misspelled Laken Riley's name on a picture he signed for her grieving family at a recent campaign rally in Georgia (Getty Images, Laken Riley/Facebook)
Donald Trump misspelled Laken Riley's name on a picture he signed for her grieving family at a recent campaign rally in Georgia (Getty Images, Laken Riley/Facebook)

ROME, GEORGIA: Former President Donald Trump met with the parents of Laken Riley, a college student discovered dead near the University of Georgia, before Saturday's campaign rally in the Peach State, and a photo of their meeting went viral on Tuesday, March 12.

Riley was allegedly murdered by Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan citizen who illegally entered the United States in 2022, according to immigration officials.

Authorities claimed Riley died from blunt force trauma and that her skull was deformed.

Lekan Riley was killed by an illegal Venezuelan migrant (Facebook/Laken Riley)
Laken Hope Riley, a nursing student at Augusta University, was allegedly killed by a 26-year-old illegal Venezuelan migrant, Jose Ibarra, who was subsequently arrested on February 23, 2024  (Facebook/Laken Riley)

Consequently, Ibarra faces numerous charges, such as felony murder, false imprisonment, and murder with malice, according to Huffpost.

Riley's death has led to considerable costernation among the right wing because they believe the aspiring 22-year-old’s murderer entered the country illegally, further showcasing the crisis emerging near the country’s southern borders.



 

Riley family’s photo with grinning Donald Trump sparks ruckus online

During the State of the Union address on Thursday last week, Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga) criticized President Joe Biden and urged him to "say her [Riley's] name."

While the President did mention the name, it sounded like he said "Lincoln Riley" instead of Laken Riley.

This verbal blunder from the 81-year-old Commander-in-Chief upset Allyson Phillips, Laken's mother, who called it "pathetic."


 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by President Joe Biden (@potus)


 

However, a few days later at a Trump rally in the firebrand Republican congresswoman's district, Rep Greene mispronounced the name even more obviously as "Lincoln" Riley.

Phillips and Riley's father, Jason Riley, also attended the rally and met with the former POTUS backstage.

Donald Trump posted photos of his meeting with Laken Riley’s parents on his website, including a picture that many found bizarre since the Riley parents appeared elated after the 77-year-old MAGA strongman had autographed a blown-up photo of their deceased daughter.

However, Trump misspelled the name as "Lakan," similar to Biden's mispronunciation, with the message "I love you Lakan," misspelling the victim's first name while posing with a huge grin alongside the Riley family.

Rep Greene and Trump mispronounced and misspelled Riley's name during Saturday’s campaign rally in Georgia following Biden's State of the Union address, despite earlier condemning their direct political opponent for the same mistake.

Internet slams Trump for misspelling Laken Riley’s name

People on X ripped into the former President for smiling ear to ear when posing with the victim’s family and misspelling her name when signing her photograph.

One X user remarked, “Why are they all smiling and grinning like they’ve won a trip to Disneyland. It’s disturbing."



 

Another user said, "Marge can’t say her name. Trump can’t say her name. The say her name crowd is a farce. "



 

Someone else wrote, "I couldn’t even imagine smiling like this after my child or sibling had just died less than a month ago. I couldn’t even gather myself to make it to a public event yet, I don’t think. I’d still be too deep in my grief. What is wrong with these people?"



 

One user claimed, "Stupid maga fam disrespecting her memory...."



 

Another X user asserted, "Creepy that the family is smiling…..I would still be crying (and embarrassed to be seen with a rapist and tax fraud.)"



 

Someone else tweeted, "Who smiles holding up a pic of a victim. Oh I know trump."



 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Ellison wondered how the DOJ 'is stretching' either the FACE Act, KKK Act 'to apply to people who protested in a church over the behavior of a religious leader'
45 minutes ago
Victims’ lawyers accuse the Justice Department of prolonging secrecy and shielding powerful figures after it failed to fully disclose investigative files
11 hours ago
With a razor-thin House majority, the speaker races to unite Republicans to energize voters and safeguard control of the chamber ahead of November
13 hours ago
State Del Adrian Boafo argues the action is needed because ICE agents 'are not qualified' and 'Marylanders deserve people who will protect them'
22 hours ago
Two battalions from the 11th Airborne Division were readied for cold-weather deployment as they were best suited for Minnesota’s harsh winter conditions
1 day ago
50 trainers guided 2,000 DSA members and 2,000 allies as Renee Good's death spurred activists to expand rapid response networks
1 day ago
Abigail Spanberger defeated Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears in the 2025 election, reshaping Virginia’s political balance heading into 2026
2 days ago
Adriana Camberos' first conviction involved fake energy drinks sold in the US with counterfeit labels, and Trump commuted her sentence in January 2021
2 days ago
'If I move him, these Fed guys - certainly the one we have now - they don't talk much. I would lose you' Donald Trump said about Kevin Hassett
3 days ago
Charles Wall served for the past year as ICE's principal legal advisor, overseeing 3,500 staff in immigration court and advising DHS leadership
3 days ago