Trump claims his Hannibal Lecter references are 'real stories' but Internet is fed up of his 'stupid joke'

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA: Former President Donald Trump doubled down on his obsession with the fictional character Dr Hannibal Lecter during his rally speech in Charlotte, North Carolina on July 24.

Hannibal Lecter, a serial killer, was created by novelist Thomas Harris, and the character gained prominence through the 1991 movie 'The Silence of the Lambs.' Anthony Hopkins played the incarcerated cannibal who wore the skins of the women he murdered. The Republican presumptive nominee, on multiple instances, made favorable remarks about Hannibal Lecter during his rallies.

Donald Trump compares illegal immigrants to Hannibal Lecter

"They're coming not just from South America, but from Africa, from Asia, from the Middle East. They're coming from everywhere. They're coming from all over the world, from prisons and jails, mental institutions, and insane asylums!" Trump said of the illegal immigrants entering the United States while addressing his supporters gathered at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, according to Mediaite.

Out of nowhere, he cited Hannibal Lecter, noting his cognitive ability was questioned every time he mentioned the character.

"You know, they go crazy when I say the late great Hannibal Lecter, ok? They say, 'Why would he mention Hannibal Lecter? He must be cognitively in trouble,'" he said, adding, "No, no. These are real stories. Hannibal Lecter from Silence of the Lamb. He's a lovely man. He wants to have you for dinner. He'd like to have you for dinner."

He then pointed his fingers at a person from the audience and repeated, "You for dinner."

Most of Trump's Hannibal Lecter references in the past came while spewing anti-immigrant rhetoric.

During a campaign rally in Florida last month, the real estate mogul likened the fictional serial killer to "bloodthirsty" migrants who preyed on Americans. Similarly, during a Virginia rally in June, he retorted to his usual remarks about illegal immigrants coming from jails, mental institutions, and asylums before mentioning the cannibalistic villain.

In a recent conversation with Deadline, Hopkins voiced his shock over the former president's frequent references to his iconic role.

"I didn't know that. Hannibal, that's a long time ago that movie. God, that was over 30 years ago. I'm shocked and appalled by what you've told me about Trump," the Academy Award winner said to the interviewer, who mentioned that the former president often referred to the character as a real person.

Internet trolls Trump after he says Hannibal Lecter a 'real story'

Social media users mocked the 78-year-old ex-president's age, pointing fingers at his declining cognitive fitness for saying Hannibal Lecter was a "real story."

"Grandpa is stuck on that one stupid joke that no one finds funny... but he keeps repeeting it to everyone 100 times..." a user said.

"A cognitively troubled person who is convinced a fiction character is real. Real? Nah..." another remarked.

"Speaking of people too old to run a country #Trump," added a third user.

"Hey grandpa! Gen Z has no idea what you’re talking about! Maybe you should retire?" read a fourth response.

"Wow, he’s really gone over the cliff," another person joked.

"He has some mental disability that makes him think he is real? And cannot stop saying the same thing over and over? Sideshow freak," an individual wrote.

"Early stage of dementia from a 78 year old felon," someone else chimed in.

"Is it strange that he's normalized him being "cognitively in trouble "? I mean I get that the poor guy is really old," another user joked.

"The family of this elderly man must really hate him to allow him get out there and spout this imbecilic shit on the daily…" read one remark.

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.