Donald Trump Calling Hannibal Lecter ‘Nice Guy’ Raises Eyebrows

Former President Donald Trump reportedly called Hannibal Lecter, the fictional cannibal from the book and adapted film The Silence of the Lambs, a “nice guy” this week, prompting questions from some on social media.

On Thursday, CNN’s Jim Acosta said that he had received reports from the network’s Capitol Hill correspondent Melanie Zanona, that Trump spoke about Hannibal Lecter during a meeting with Republican lawmakers in Washington, D.C.

“Andddd now we’re back to jokes, per members,” Zanona wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “Said Trump: ‘Hannibal lector…..nice guy….he even had a friend over for dinner.'”

Trump traveled to Washington, D.C., on Thursday to meet with Republican officials ahead of the 2024 presidential election, where he is the presumptive GOP nominee.

“We’re excited to welcome President Trump back,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Wednesday, The Associated Press reported.

According to the AP, Republican lawmakers sang “Happy Birthday” to Trump on Thursday during a private meeting at the Republican campaign headquarters near the Capitol. Trump is currently facing two federal indictments from Special Counsel Jack Smith, including one for alleged attempts to overturn the election, relating to the January 6 riots at the Capitol.

In a statement to Newsweek responding to Trump’s reported remarks, former president’s spokesperson Steven Cheung said, “Fake news.”

Following the reports of Trump’s comments, many social media users responded with questions and criticism.

“Trump praises Hannibal Lecter (again): ‘Nice guy – he even had a friend over for dinner,'” X user Chris Strider, a former video editor for President Joe Biden, said.

MeidasTouch said, “Trump praised Hannibal Lecter again during his meeting with House Republicans today.”

X user Art Candee said, “Because of course he did. Trump isn’t well.”

X user Denison Barb said, “I hope it wasn’t a lunch meeting. If so, who was for lunch?”

Shawn Reynolds of CNN said, “This is at least the second time within a month that former Pres. Trump has praised fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter.”

On the other hand, X user Johnny MAGA wrote, “CNN says Trump praised Hannibal Lecter in his meeting w congressmen. What really happened: Trump said countries are getting rid of their worst, including the mentally ill & sending them across our border. Trump joked about having Hannibals on our streets.”

As several social media users noted, Trump previously mentioned Hannibal Lecter during a speech last month.

In May, conspiracy theorist and Trump supporter Liz Crokin shared a post on X, criticizing “Normie liberals” for reacting to Trump’s remarks about Hannibal Lecter.

“Here’s what Trump said: ‘Silence of the Lambs. Has anyone ever seen The Silence of the Lambs? The late, great Hannibal Lecter is a wonderful man. He often times would have a friend for dinner. Remember the last scene? Excuse me. I’m about to have a friend for dinner as this poor doctor walked by. I’m about to have a friend for dinner,'” Crokin wrote.

However, Newsweek published a fact-check on the remarks and determined that Trump did call Hannibal Lecter a “wonderful man” at a rally in New Jersey on Saturday, May 11, 2024.

The former president also called the fictional character “the late, great Hannibal Lecter” and congratulated him before segueing into a comment about immigration.