On Saint Patrick’s Day, President Trump met with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny, and decided to share his favorite ‘Irish Proverb’ with the crowd.
Despite his unwavering confidence in its validity, the ‘proverb’ he read is in fact a poem written by a well-known Nigerian poet, Albasheer Adam Alhassan.
The poem, titled ‘Remember to Forget’ was written by the young Muslim man in 2001, ‘before people in Nigeria had access to the internet,’ he said.
During the annual meeting in Washington DC, Trump said: ‘As we stand together with our Irish friends, I’m reminded of a proverb — and this is a good one, this is one I like. I’ve heard it for many, many years and I love it.
‘Always remember to forget the friends that proved untrue, but never forget to remember those that have stuck by you.’
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The quote is pulled word for word from Alhassan’s poem, much to his surprise, as he posted it online many years ago.
The quote has appeared in some books and on various Pinterest and Instagram pages since then, but Alhassan maintains that he is the original author of the President’s words.
‘I don’t know why he related it to St Patrick’s Day — it’s got nothing to do with that,’ Alhassan told NBC.
‘It’s just based on my personal experiences.’
The irony of Trump citing his own words does not escape him, given President Trump’s view on those of the Muslim faith.
Of Trump’s travel restricting order, dubbed the ‘Muslim Ban’ Alhassan said: ‘I think that policy is very harsh. There is a big difference between the way people see Islam and how it actually is.’
Prime Minister Kenny himself took the opportunity to press President Trump on his immigration policies, and reiterated the importance of immigration in his country.
He said he and Trump spoke on the topic and that the conversation was ‘constructive.’
When Trump was still a hopeful candidate in the 2016 presidential race, Kenny referred to Trump’s rhetoric as ‘racist and dangerous’.
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