Lev Parnas takes the “one-arm water challenge” Image by Screenshot/Twitter

A former die-hard supporter of President Donald Trump took to Twitter yesterday to mock him.

Lev Parnas, a central figure in the Trump–Ukraine scandal that led to the President’s impeachment, drank a glass of water using only one hand.

I nominate @josephabondy to do this one arm water challenge and want to see how many of you will join me to show our strength in numbers and unite America again. #onearmwaterchallenge #uniteamericaagain #levity #fathersdayfun #strengthinnumbers #DadsCare #dadsofticktock pic.twitter.com/w1i4wBIwT0

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

— Lev Parnas (@levparnas) June 21, 2020

The challenge is an Internet meme that mocks Trump for using two hands to gingerly drink from a glass of water last week. The president used 20 minutes of his campaign speech in Tulsa, OK to explain his awkward drinking style.

Parnas’ Twitter profile describes him as “under indictment” and belonging to the “post-cult of Trump.” Along with his associate Igor Fruman, the two Jewish, Ukrainian-born businessmen were arrested Oct. 9, 2019 at Dulles International Airport, and charged with trying to influence U.S.-Ukraine relations by directing foreign funds to U.S. politicians. Parnas later released a recording of a conversation with President Trump in which the President directs an aide to fire then-U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, whom the Kremlin opposed.

Igor Fruman and Lev Parnas Image by Getty

In the Tweet, which as of Monday afternoon has been viewed 47,000 times, he explains that his children nominated him to do this “very hard challenge.” Parnas lifts a glass of water to his lips–with one hand– sips, then puts it down. Children cheer off camera.

Parnas then urged his lawyer, Joseph Bondy, and other fathers, to join him in the challenge, “so we can unite America again.”

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism so that we can be prepared for whatever news 2025 brings.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount