Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, was notorious for his lies and misleading statements during his presidency. He made over 30,000 false or misleading claims during his four years in the White House, according to the Washington Post. Here are some of his biggest worst lies:
The Inauguration Crowd Size
On his first day as President, Trump claimed that the crowd size at his inauguration was the largest in history. However, photos and videos showed that the crowd was significantly smaller than Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration. Despite evidence to the contrary, Trump and his Press Secretary at the time, Sean Spicer, continued to insist that the crowd was the largest ever.
Obama Wiretapping
In March 2017, Trump tweeted that former President Barack Obama had wiretapped Trump Tower during the 2016 presidential campaign. However, there was no evidence to support this claim, and Trump's own Justice Department confirmed that there was no wiretapping. Trump never apologized for spreading this false information.
Mexico Will Pay for the Wall
During his campaign, Trump promised that Mexico would pay for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border to prevent illegal immigration. However, Mexico never agreed to pay for the wall, and Trump eventually had to use taxpayer money to fund its construction.
COVID-19 Downplaying
During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Trump downplayed the severity of the virus and claimed that it would disappear on its own. He also suggested that injecting bleach or other disinfectants could cure the virus, which medical experts quickly debunked. As a result of his misinformation, many Americans did not take the virus seriously, leading to more deaths and illnesses.
Vote-by-Mail Fraud
Throughout the 2020 presidential campaign, Trump claimed that vote-by-mail was rife with fraud and that mail-in ballots would be used to steal the election from him. However, there was no evidence to support these claims, and many states had been using vote-by-mail for years without issue. Trump's claims likely contributed to his loss in the election.
The Access Hollywood Tape
In 2016, an audio recording surfaced in which Trump bragged about sexually assaulting women to Billy Bush, then a host of Access Hollywood. Trump initially dismissed the recording as "locker room talk," but later apologized for his comments. However, he continued to deny that he had actually assaulted any women, despite multiple allegations to the contrary.
The Central Park Five
In 1989, five Black and Latino teenagers were wrongly convicted of raping a woman in New York City's Central Park. Trump took out a full-page ad in four New York City newspapers calling for the death penalty for the teenagers. Years later, DNA evidence exonerated the teenagers, but Trump continued to insist that they were guilty and should be put to death.
The Russia Investigation
Throughout his presidency, Trump claimed that the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election was a "witch hunt" and a hoax. However, the investigation led to dozens of indictments and convictions, including several of Trump's close associates. The investigation also found that Russia did interfere in the election to help Trump win.
The Birther Conspiracy
For years, Trump spread the false claim that former President Barack Obama was not born in the United States and was therefore not eligible to be President. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Trump continued to spread this conspiracy theory until 2016, when he finally acknowledged that Obama was born in the U.S.
The Bowling Green Massacre
In 2017, Trump's senior advisor Kellyanne Conway referred to a supposed "Bowling Green massacre" to defend Trump's travel ban on several Muslim-majority countries. However, there was no such massacre, and Conway later claimed that she misspoke. Trump also referenced the non-existent massacre in a speech.
The Hurricane Dorian Map
In 2019, Trump claimed that Hurricane Dorian was going to hit Alabama, even though the National Weather Service had not issued any warnings for the state. To back up his claim, Trump presented a doctored map of the hurricane's path that appeared to include Alabama. Trump later insisted that the map was accurate, despite evidence to the contrary.
The Charlottesville "Very Fine People" Comment
In 2017, a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, turned violent, resulting in the death of a counter-protester. Trump initially condemned "both sides" for the violence and suggested that there were "very fine people" on both sides. Many interpreted this as Trump refusing to condemn white supremacy.
The Ukraine Scandal
In 2019, a whistleblower complaint alleged that Trump had pressured the President of Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden and his son Hunter in order to gain an advantage in the 2020 election. Trump denied any wrongdoing, but the House of Representatives ultimately impeached him for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
The Muslim Ban
In 2017, Trump signed an executive order banning travel from several Muslim-majority countries. Trump claimed that the ban was necessary for national security, but many saw it as a discriminatory policy targeting Muslims. The ban was later revised and upheld by the Supreme Court.
The Climate Change Denial
Throughout his presidency, Trump denied the overwhelming scientific evidence that climate change is real and caused by human activity. He withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement and rolled back numerous environmental regulations meant to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
The Space Force
In 2018, Trump announced the creation of a new branch of the military called the Space Force, which would be responsible for defending U.S. interests in space. However, many criticized the move as unnecessary and wasteful, as the U.S. Air Force already had a space command.
The "Very Stable Genius" Comment
In 2018, Trump tweeted that he was a "very stable genius" in response to criticism of his mental stability. However, many saw the comment as evidence of the opposite, particularly given Trump's erratic behavior and tendency to lash out on social media.
The "I Alone Can Fix It" Claim
During his 2016 campaign, Trump claimed that he alone could fix the country's problems, without the help of Congress or anyone else. However, this proved to be an empty promise, as Trump struggled to pass major legislation and often clashed with lawmakers from his own party.
The Tax Returns Refusal
Throughout his presidency, Trump refused to release his tax returns, breaking with decades of precedent. He claimed that he could not release them due to an ongoing audit, but there was no legal requirement preventing him from doing so. Many speculated that Trump was hiding something, such as his ties to Russia or his true net worth.
The "Fake News" Insult
Throughout his presidency, Trump frequently referred to the media as "fake news" and attacked journalists who criticized him or reported negative stories about him. This contributed to a climate of hostility towards journalists and a growing distrust of the media.
Conclusion
Donald Trump's presidency was marked by a constant stream of falsehoods, half-truths, and misleading statements. His lies ranged from the trivial to the deadly, and they eroded public trust in institutions and the media. As we move forward, it is important to hold our leaders accountable for their words and actions, and to demand honesty and transparency from those in power.