BBC viewers left in stitches after presenter's 'Donald Tramp' news-reading blunder
BBC viewers left in stitches after presenter makes news-reading blunder
BBC/PA
BBC viewers were left in stitches after a newsreader slip-up resulted in an unfortunate slur against former president Donald Trump.
Rajini Vaidyanathan was forced to correct herself after the blunder on Thursday morning’s programme.
In a report about US Senator Mitch McConnell and his recent health fears, Vaidyanathan decided to draw comparisons between his age and that of president Biden and former president Trump.
She said: “Now there are health concerns about the top Republican Senator Mitch McConnell.
Rajini Vaidyanathan made the blunder on Thursday morning
BBC
“He froze while answering a reporter's question during a press conference in Kentucky.”
Rajini explained: “Now for background, Mr McConnell is 81 and has served as a Senator in Washington for 39 years.
“The average age of the US Senator is 64.
“By way of comparison, President Joe Biden is 80 years old and Donald Tramp... Donald Trump, pardon me, is 77.”
Donald Trump was accidentally misread as 'Donald Tramp'
PA
The segment was accompanied by a clip of the senator freezing up when he was questioned about running for re-election in 2026.
A spokesperson for McConnell said he felt “momentarily light-headed” and said the senator would consult a doctor.
His on-screen freeze follows a similar incident in July where he froze for about 40 seconds before his colleagues stepped in.
Vaidyanathan’s "tramp" hiccup was immediately picked up on social media, with one viewer writing: “Oops, a bit of a slip up there #BBCNews.”
Another penned: “She said Donald tramp. Then corrected herself. Look.”
A third simply added: “Donald Tramp. LOL.”
One more said: “Heard on the Radio One Breakfast Show: ‘Hi Greg,’ says someone on text, ‘On BBC World News, that presenter just called Donald Trump, Donald Tramp…’.”
Another wrote: “Was it a slip of the tongue or in fact a scathing true description? Donald Tramp.”
A sixth said: “You shouldn't have corrected yourself BBC2 newsreader, Donald Tramp is correct.”