Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images
- Donald Trump forgot to mention his son Eric in his victory speech after securing the GOP nomination in South Carolina.
- This was in spite of the fact that Eric was standing on stage with him, and Trump was reading the names off a note card.
- Critics suggested the oversight hints at his declining cognitive abilities.
Former President Donald Trump forgot to name one of his children during his victory speech after securing the Republican primary nomination in South Carolina on Saturday — despite standing onstage with them.
"First of all, my family, Melania, Barron, Don Jr. and Kimberly, Ivanka and Jared, Tiffany and Michael, they are so so supportive. So supportive of me, and we really appreciate it and love them. We have a great family," Trump said.
He neglected to mention his second son, Eric Trump, and his wife, Lara, standing onstage to his right.
Eric, 40, is the executive vice president of The Trump Organization, the holding company for many of Trump's business ventures and investments.
Trump:My family… Don Jr. and Kimberly, ivanka and Jared, Tiffany and Michael, they are so supportive. So supportive, we really appreciate it and love them. (No Eric?) pic.twitter.com/NH5E00ZFtJ
— Acyn (@Acyn) February 25, 2024
Some Democrats were quick to point out the slip-up on social media, implying that this was another example of his declining memory and cognitive abilities.
"Trump was reading off note cards and still forgot one of his kids," Democratic strategist Jesse Ferguson wrote on X.
Trump's cognitive abilities have come into question in recent months as he has made several mix-ups on the campaign trail, including confusing his rival Nikki Haley for former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and mixing up President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama multiple times.
In recent months, Haley had ramped up her attacks on Trump's age and questioned his mental capacity for office.
However, her strategy did not prove effective against Trump, and she lost in her home state against him on Saturday, effectively paving the way for him to secure the Republican nomination.
Trump's three eldest children played a significant role during his first two presidential runs, acting as surrogates for their father and frequently appearing on the campaign trail.
Ivanka said she was stepping away from politics for his third run, but his two eldest sons have remained his staunch advocates.
"Reading a list of his family's names... and forgetting Eric. I guess Tiffany has been promoted from least forgettable Trump," wrote the anti-Trump conservative group The Lincoln Project.