Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump appeared to forget Wednesday that legendary Penn State football coach Joe Paterno is dead when he asked a crowd of supporters in Pittsburgh how the late coach is doing.
Speaking at a rally of about 8,000 people, Trump told the audience, "I know a lot about Pennsylvania, and it’s great. How’s Joe Paterno? We gonna bring that back? How about that whole deal?"
Paterno died in 2012, two months after leaving Penn State in the wake of a child sex abuse scandal that many people felt he did not do enough to combat. Former coach Jerry Sandusky was convicted and sentenced to 30-60 years as a serial child molester, and Paterno was accused of covering up his activities. Paterno’s family has maintained his innocence.
The university also removed a bronze statue of Paterno that had stood in front of the football stadium on campus.
It was unclear at first whether Trump mistakenly thought Paterno is still alive or was referring to the statue.
The Trump campaign later confirmed he was talking about the statue, but many people mocked the real estate mogul on Twitter for his comments.
Donald Trump in Pittsburgh: "How's Joe Paterno. Are we going to bring that back?" Joe Paterno is...dead.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) April 13, 2016
It seemed like Trump only remembered that Paterno was fired, not that he died.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) April 13, 2016
HUH? Trump just mentioned "bringing back" Joe Paterno. What? Crowd didn't know how to react.
— Tom Llamas (@TomLlamasABC) April 13, 2016
Donald Trump, in Pittsburgh, has already promised to bring back coal, steel, and Joe Paterno.
Next up: Napoleon, triceratops, Pangea
— Derek Thompson (@DKThomp) April 13, 2016
Trump thought Paterno was still alive?????
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) April 14, 2016
Trump was speaking at the rally about bringing the coal industry back to Pittsburgh, according to For the Win, a sports site part of USA Today.