The phrase refers to a misstatement made during a public appearance. It involves a prominent political figure and a numerical exaggeration regarding the states within the United States of America. For example, instead of correctly stating the number of states (50), the statement incorrectly claims a significantly higher number.
The incident gained attention due to its factual inaccuracy and the position of the individual who made the statement. Such errors can undermine the credibility of the speaker and be used to highlight perceived ignorance or detachment from basic civics knowledge. Historically, factual errors by public figures have been amplified by media and used for political commentary.