Jonathan Swan during the interview.
A respected Aussie reporter's excruciating interview with US President Donald Trump has gone viral and is producing hundreds of memes.
Trump sat down with Axios's national political correspondent Jonathan Swan, which was aired by HBO this week. Swan grilled Trump about the US response to the coronavirus pandemic, with the US President insisting the US was "under control".
Swan, who continued to ask Trump what he meant, reminded the President throughout the interview "a thousand Americans are dying a day". Swan appeared confused by the President's responses, and photos of his perplexed reactions have gone viral.
The Axios interview has since gone viral with Swan praised for his prosecutorial questioning of Trump, as well as what many have said played out to be a sitcom-type scenario.
All the best reactions of @jonathanvswan as he listened to @realDonaldTrump's responses. Which is your favorite? @axios #ItIsWhatItIs pic.twitter.com/TWL5bOvESX
— Joel Lawson (@JoelLawsonDC) August 4, 2020
Jonathan Swan is the new Samuel Johnson pic.twitter.com/HnsKeTvalD
— John Self (@john_self) August 4, 2020
Jonathan Swan is all of us. pic.twitter.com/jFQlrpXLGx
— Santiago Mayer (@santiagomayer_) August 4, 2020
During the interview, Trump began handing Swan charts and graphs.
do you like me? pic.twitter.com/wQsXWdoqqk
— Trump Draws (@TrumpDraws) August 5, 2020
A particularly awkward part of the interview is where Trump begins waving different charts at Swan and explaining how his interpretation of death rate data makes the US a world leader in the coronavirus.
Holding a chart he tells Swan, "Here's one right here, United States. The number of cases – have a look. We're last. Meaning we're first."
Swan responds, "Last? I don't know what we're first in."
Jonathan Swan’s interview really showcased Trump’s data analytical skills. Can someone tell him it’s not always good to be #1? #covid19 #politicalhumor #politicalmemes photo from https://t.co/HoHgikmq2R pic.twitter.com/wLvocwGXLM
— Yuni Aaron Draws (@YuniAaronDraws) August 5, 2020
And of course some making memes were still remembering the last time the President went viral for making comments about medical science.
Last month Trump explained a cognitive test which involved him recalling the words "person, woman, man, camera, TV" was "very hard".
— MuchoFomo (@MuchoFomo) August 5, 2020