Paul Ryan Wins Twitter Outrage For Clueless Selfie

By Kristy Puchko | Politics | July 18, 2016 |

By Kristy Puchko | Politics | July 18, 2016 |

Right now there’s a battle being waged over the future of the Republican party. While Donald Trump tries to win the presidency by running on a campaign of “real Americans” versus immigrants/Muslims/women/everyone-who-is-not-a-rich-straight-white-dude, fellow Republican Jeb “Please Clap” Bush is calling for us all to remember the “inclusive legacy” of the Republicans.

As if that wasn’t enough to make us collectively eye roll so hard we’d throw off the Earth’s rotation, the Speaker of the House/Trump Hater/Trump Supporter Paul Ryan unknowingly entered the fray by Instagramming a pic of Capitol Hill interns:

I think this sets a record for the most number of #CapitolHill interns in a single selfie. #SpeakerSelfie.

A photo posted by Speaker Paul Ryan (@speakerryan) on Jul 16, 2016 at 11:12am PDT

Twitter was quick to Inigo Montoya the GOP about their definition of “inclusive.”

That picture of Paul Ryan with the GOP interns is so white that I had to put on sunglasses to look directly at it. #GOPSoWhite

— Awesomely Luvvie (@Luvvie) July 17, 2016

The Paul Ryan "Capitol Hill Interns" Selfie looks like a scene from The Wolf of Wall Street - only less diverse. pic.twitter.com/5lBuxzrcyR

— dan barker (@danbarker) July 17, 2016

Paul Ryan's latest Instagram photo set the record for most white people in a selfie ever https://t.co/Zb1TuuSaG6 pic.twitter.com/g0nw5Q2WVX

— Mic (@mic) July 17, 2016

"Alright, everyone ready? 3… 2… 1… ALL LIVES MATTER!" 📸 https://t.co/LGc5WYUUcx

— Brian Orce (@jimnobu) July 17, 2016

This Paul Ryan selfie is startling. pic.twitter.com/ownAeJEMtO

— Bae Talese (@elongreen) July 17, 2016

Finding a POC in this image is like playing Where's Waldo. I did manage to find one tho.

— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) July 17, 2016

Today @SpeakerRyan put up a selfie with Congressional interns. Caption is mine. #diversity @GOP #Congress pic.twitter.com/7XSvxhmI5X

— Aquiles La Grave (@adlgco) July 17, 2016

Howling! I love Paul Ryan's new selfie with young republican interns. pic.twitter.com/D15kcsjC5T

— Fernando Fonseca (@ffernie) July 17, 2016

Paul Ryan selfie with capital hill interns #TooMuchWhite https://t.co/xrskb2x95m pic.twitter.com/J0sHOGJV33

— Kevin Smith (@mr_kevinsmith) July 17, 2016

pic.twitter.com/epG5bTwDV3

— pat tobin (@tastefactory) July 18, 2016

Of course it is worth noting, these interns are not specifically GOP interns. But during an election season where their frontrunner has been blasé about winning the support of hate groups, and repeatedly invoked racist imagery and messaging, this Instagram post from one of the Party’s leaders is astoundingly tone-deaf. This pic is basically the GOP equivalent of:

Kristy Puchko can’t even sometimes.