Donald Trump leaves people baffled after seemingly taking credit for historical event and claiming he ‘invented’ common word

Donald Trump has once again left people scratching their heads after making two strange and surprising claims within a single day. First, he seemed to take some credit for the historic election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American to become Pope. Then, in an unrelated moment, he oddly claimed that he invented the word “equalize,” despite the word being centuries old.

After the recent death of Pope Francis, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was chosen as the new Pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. In response, Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, congratulating the new Pope and saying it was “a great honor” for the United States. He even said he was looking forward to meeting Pope Leo, calling it a “very meaningful moment.”

But what really raised eyebrows was Trump’s follow-up message, where he implied that he somehow influenced the Pope’s election. He mocked ABC News journalist Martha Raddatz, accusing her of being “Trump-deranged” for suggesting he had nothing to do with the Pope’s rise. Trump argued that since he had won the Catholic vote by a large margin, his popularity may have played a role in Pope Leo’s appointment—though he gave no evidence for such a claim.

Then, during a White House press event about prescription drug pricing, Trump made another bizarre statement. While explaining how his plan would make Americans pay similar prices to those in other countries, he said, “Basically what we’re doing is equalizing. It’s a new word that I came up with… We’re gonna equalize.” He claimed it was the “best word” to describe the situation, seemingly unaware that “equalize” has been in the English language for over 400 years.

The word “equalize” actually dates back to at least the year 1599, according to dictionaries. It has been used in everyday speech, literature, and even pop culture  like the 1980s TV series The Equalizer long before Trump was in office.

Social media users didn’t hold back their reactions. One person joked, “There was a TV show in the 80s named The Equalizer. Did he invent the word in 1983 and is just reminiscing?” Another commented, “If he made it up, how does everyone already know what it means?” And a third mocked the claim by saying, “Horses**t a word I just came up with, never used by anyone ever!”

While Trump’s supporters often appreciate his confidence and boldness, these latest claims have once again sparked laughter, disbelief, and plenty of memes online.