mashed potatoes (slang, political) — A self-inflicted humiliation, especially one involving Donald Trump, where he provokes or instigates a situation that backfires spectacularly, leaving him publicly embarrassed but unwilling to admit fault or laugh at himself. Originates from a childhood story in which Trump, after teasing his younger brother, had a bowl of mashed potatoes dumped on his head by his older brother, an incident that reportedly left a lasting mark on his pride.
When Trump stumbled and couldn’t correctly explain the Constitution during the interview, commentators called it pure mashed potatoes—a humiliation entirely of his own making.
by SWEPro August 13, 2025
Get the mashed potatoesmug.