A Presidential Oops? Trump’s Motorcade Sparks Viral Frenzy After “The Beast” Rolls With Its Trunk Wide Open

Donald Trump’s motorcade wasn’t supposed to grab national headlines — but it did. The former president arrived fashionably late, nearly an hour after kickoff at the Washington Commanders vs. Seattle Seahawks game, and an unexpected near-disaster may help explain why.

After spending the weekend at Mar-a-Lago, Trump departed for Washington, D.C., when an eagle-eyed photographer captured something that immediately set the internet ablaze.

A striking photo showed Trump seated inside “The Beast,” the heavily armored presidential limousine — but with its trunk wide open. The bizarre image sparked an online storm of jokes, memes, and speculation about how such an airtight, security-sealed vehicle could have a mechanical lapse. (Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images; Source: CNN)

Within minutes, social media erupted. Some called it a “security breach,” others dubbed it “a metaphor for his presidency.” The moment became an instant internet meme.

The Trunk Seen ‘Round the World

According to The Washington Post, the photo was taken as the motorcade cruised toward Palm Beach International Airport. The trunk stood straight up, visible to every commuter and camera nearby — a small detail that instantly became a global headline.

Trump, visible in the back seat, appeared unfazed, even as the car continued for several miles with the trunk still gaping open. The Secret Service, tasked with maintaining absolute control over presidential movements, later confirmed that the issue “did not disrupt operations or compromise security.” Still, the damage was already done — at least online.

Under a post by CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins, thousands of users rushed to offer their own colorful explanations. The caption read simply:

“The trunk of The Beast was open as President Trump headed for Palm Beach International Airport earlier today.”

But simplicity didn’t stop speculation. One user asked bluntly, “How could they not notice that?” Another wondered, “Is this real, and if so, why would they leave the trunk open?” Others dove straight into satire: “They’re airing the car out — must’ve been rough in there.”

A few comments went viral for their creativity. “He must’ve cut a monster fart and they had to air that thing out,” one joked, pairing the quip with a GIF from Friday actor John Witherspoon. Another chimed in: “That’s not a mechanical failure — that’s a biological defense mechanism.”

(Sources: CNN, X/Twitter posts via Kaitlan Collins)

An Old Story Resurfaces: The “Trump Odor” Legend

The trunk incident reopened a long-running internet rumor that has followed Trump for years: alleged stories about his personal hygiene and smell. It’s not new material. As Rolling Stone and The Guardian reported, comedian Joe Rogan once joked on his podcast that Trump “might be wearing an adult diaper,” later quipping that “maybe that explains the confidence.”

Former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger, once a vocal critic of Trump, added fuel to the fire long before this motorcade moment. He tweeted in 2023, “I’m genuinely surprised people close to Trump haven’t talked about the odor. It’s something to behold. Wear a mask if you can.”

In a later interview on the MeidasTouch Podcast, Kinzinger gave an unforgettable description:

“Imagine armpits, ketchup, a butt, and makeup all mixed in a blender — that’s the smell.”
The remark, shocking at the time, has since resurfaced as the internet’s favorite explanation for why The Beast might have needed “ventilation.” (Sources: MeidasTouch Podcast, Rolling Stone, The Guardian)

The Official Word from the Secret Service

When the laughter subsided, the U.S. Secret Service stepped in with an explanation. Spokesperson Matt Fagiana told The Daily Beast that one vehicle in the presidential motorcade “inadvertently opened its trunk and remained in the upright position” while traveling from Mar-a-Lago to the airport.

The malfunction, they said, was purely mechanical. Technicians quickly inspected and repaired the issue. No items were lost, and the agents determined that it was safer to continue the four-mile trip rather than stopping mid-route — a decision that likely avoided more serious security complications.

However, Politico noted that while the incident was “minor,” it offered “an oddly human moment for a presidency defined by spectacle.” For critics, it became the latest symbol of a recurring theme — control on the outside, chaos within.

A Snapshot of a Modern Presidency

By the time Air Force One was ready for takeoff, the photo had already become a cultural artifact — an image that said more than any press statement could. The open trunk didn’t just spark laughter; it became shorthand for the strange intersection of politics, performance, and viral culture in 21st-century America.

As The Atlantic wrote in a retrospective on presidential optics, “Modern politics is visual — and in the era of Trump, every image is a statement, even the accidental ones.”

Whether mechanical glitch or metaphor, one thing is certain: when it comes to Donald Trump, even an open trunk can become a headline.