Donald Trump appeared to misconstrue an apparent joke Billy Joel made on him as a compliment Friday night.
Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, tweeted out that he had received word the legendary singer “gave a very kind shoutout” to him at his Madison Square Garden concert.
Thank you @BillyJoel– many friends just told me you gave a very kind shoutout at MSG. Appreciate it- love your music!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 28, 2016
The problem? The “shoutout” Joel gave Trump appeared to be a joke aimed at him.
Before Joel played his famous hit “The Entertainer,” he dedicated it to Trump.
https://twitter.com/hmerges42/status/736359911555272704
At the Billy Joel show and he just dedicated The Entertainer to Donald Trump. It's lit.
— Donwill (@donwill) May 28, 2016
Not an endorsement, but Billy Joel dedicated "The Entertainer" to Trump. https://t.co/nHdUVLg1ha
— John Asbury (@johnasbury) May 28, 2016
Billy Joel dedicated "The Entertainer" tonight at MSG to Trump, per a friend at the concert.
— Kevin Cirilli (@kevcirilli) May 28, 2016
It was also not the first time Joel has used that particular joke. A quick Google search revealed the performer had made it several times while touring the country throughout the last several months.
.@kenvogel He made this same joke when I saw him in April. And he dedicated New York State of Mind to Cruz. https://t.co/H0GU3L9roS
— David Teich (@Davidzteich) May 28, 2016
This is also not the first time @billyjoel has made this joke https://t.co/52fPgijHDH pic.twitter.com/F7eZoaEWO8
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) May 28, 2016
Trump has some experience fumbling endorsements.
In March, Trump suggested that Pete Rose had endorsed him. Rose’s lawyer later released a statement stating the legendary baseball player had not, in fact, issued an endorsement.
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