Donald Trump on Monday channeled Mahatma Gandhi in posts to Twitter and Instagram.
The leading GOP candidate shared an image from his Sunday speech in Alabama under text often sourced to the Indian anti-colonial independence leader.
“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win,” it read.
But despite its prevalence in popular culture, there is no evidence that the phrase originated with Gandhi, according to the Christian Science Monitor, which listed the quote in a report several years ago titled “Political misquotes: The 10 most famous things never actually said.”
“This line is probably the best summary of Gandhi’s philosophy of satyagraha as you can get in 16 words. But there’s no evidence that the Great Soul ever said this,” the Christian Science Monitor said.
The origins of the quote can possibly be traced back to a speech believed to be delivered in 1918 by trade unionist Nicholas Klein.
According to the “Proceedings of the Biennial Convention of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America,” he spoke a version of it during an address to a gathering in Baltimore.
“And my friends, in this story you have a history of this entire movement,” Klein said, according to the book. “First they ignore you. Then they ridicule you. And then they attack you and want to burn you. And then they build monuments to you. And that is what is going to happen to the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America.”
Last week, Trump ally Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee, posted a similar image and identical quote on her Facebook page. Commenters were quick to mock Palin for ostensibly comparing Trump to Gandhi, while others noted the dubious sourcing.
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
