Fly lands on Trump at press conference, reminiscent of viral Pence moment

The press conference was intended to draw attention to inflation under the Biden-Harris administration by Trump's Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, a day after the Labor Department released a largely positive inflation report and ahead of Harris' first major political speech on Friday, in which she is expected to call for the first nationwide ban on gouging in grocery stores.

At Trump's event at Trump International Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, the Republican presidential candidate was surrounded by food, which apparently caused several flies to buzz around Trump and even land on his face.

This picture was taken in a week in which the Republican candidate lost significant ground in numerous polls and also lost his position as the betting favorite in the race.

Reactions on social media to Trump's flight photo

The fly's appearance was reminiscent of the 2020 vice presidential debate, when a fly landed on then-Vice President Mike Pence's head and stayed there for several minutes. The moment became a cultural touchpoint in the campaign, parodied and used on Biden-Harris campaign merchandise.

Vice Presidential Debate: Fly goes viral after landing on Pence's head

A fly that landed on Vice President Mike Pence's head during the vice presidential debate has become an internet star.

USA TODAY

Social media commentators, including USA TODAY humorist Rex Huppke, linked Thursday's fly appearance to the insect landing in 2020.

Trump's comments are overshadowed by bow tie

The circling flies stole headlines and drew attention on social media to Trump's comments, which drifted into campaign issues such as immigration and personal attacks on Harris.

“I don't have much respect for her, I don't have much respect for her intelligence,” he said.

He also repeated false claims about his victory in the state of Pennsylvania in the 2020 election, a state he lost by more than 80,000 votes.