Donald Trump

{{Hatnote|Not to be confused with his [[Fred Trump|equally racist father]] or [[Donald Trump Jr.|his equally racist and even dumber son]].}}
[[File:Donald J. Trump, President-elect of the United States (cropped).jpg|thumb|165px|Trump's second inauguration photograph. He's doing the {{wpl|Mug shot of Donald Trump|mugshot|}} face.]]
{{uspolitics}}
{{fascism}}
{{cquote|A work of fiction such as "Donald Trump, successful businessman" cannot be shamed because [[Post-truth|it feels no sense of responsibility for the real world]]. A work of fiction responds to revelation by demanding more. As a candidate, Trump did just this, calling on [[Russia|Moscow]] to keep searching and exposing.|||Timothy Snyder, ''The Road to Unfreedom'', 2018.<ref>''The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America'' by Timothy Snyder (2018) Tim Duggan Books {{isbn|0525574468}}.</ref>{{rp|232-233}}}}

{{cquote|But I understand who Trump is. He is not a towering figure. He's a guy who was raised by parents who basically hated him. He has always felt like a [[fraud]]. That's why he's always needed the [[gold]] leaf, "I need my own tower," "You need to treat me in my tower," "I need all the appurtences of royalty." All those things show you a weak man. He is driven by his appetites, and look, those appetites have always been four things: attention, [[money]], [[sex]], and humiliation.<BR> …
And the final part is he's a [[sadist]]. He enjoys humiliating people. When they bow down to him, it's never the last time they bow down to him. He wants, if you say, "Mr. Trump, I'm gonna do X for you because you win," the next time he comes to you, it's gonna be, "I want five times X or 10 times X," because he loves humiliating people, especially people he considers to be of a higher social status than he is or a higher intellectual status than he is. |||Rick Wilson, of [[The Lincoln Project]]<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNtqBbzGQOo Trump's Worst Nightmare | Rick Wilson] by Democracy Docket (Sep 24, 2025) ''YouTube''. t=7:16-9:22.</ref><ref>[https://newsletters.democracydocket.com/my-conversation-with-rick-wilson-the-lincoln-projects-mission-the-epstein-cover-up-and-bothering-trump Marc Elias interview with Rick Wilson] (September 28, 2025) ''Democracy Docket''.</ref> }}

'''Donald John Trump''' {{lived|1946}}, is an American ultranationalist<ref> https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-protecting-americas-founding-ideals-promoting-patriotic-education/ </ref> and [[fascist]]<ref> https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/04/is-trump-a-fascist </ref><ref> https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/articles/why-trump-is-a-fascist-extended-version </ref> politician, businessman, and media personality who is unfortunately the 47th [[President of the United States]] and previously was the 45th president from 2017 to 2021. He is an adjudicated liar,<ref>[https://www.businessinsider.com/judge-trump-lied-under-oath-about-georgia-voter-fraud-claims-2022-10 Federal judge finds that Trump lied under oath about voter fraud in Georgia while trying to overturn the 2020 election results] by Sonam Sheth (Oct 19, 2022, 5:01 PM PDT) ''Business Insider''. Archived [https://archive.is/OIGdn here].</ref> adjudicated [[Rape|rapist]],<ref name="Yes">[https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/07/19/trump-carroll-judge-rape/ Judge clarifies: Yes, Trump was found to have raped E. Jean Carroll] by Aaron Blake (July 19, 2023) ''The Washington Post''. Archived [https://archive.is/Kgj8F here].</ref> and the first convicted felon to win a US presidential election.<ref>{{cite web | last=Schmunk | first=Rhianna | title=Donald Trump is the 1st convicted felon president. Here's what that means | website=CBC | date=2024-05-30 | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/donald-trump-first-convicted-felon-elected-president-1.7375060}}</ref> He has ruled America as an authoritarian and represents the type of person that the Founding Fathers warned people about and tried to prevent from acquiring power.

Born to a wealthy family in [[New York]], he became chairman of {{wpl|The Trump Organization|}}, his family's real estate business, in 1971. During this time, Trump associated with right-wing lawyer [[Roy Cohn]], who taught Trump a set of simple tactics: always attack, always counterattack, and never apologize or admit wrongdoing.<ref name="alwaysattack">{{cite web | last=O'Harrow | first=Robert Jr. | last2=Boburg | first2=Shawn | title=The man who showed Donald Trump how to exploit power and instill fear | website=Washington Post | date=2016-06-16 | url=https://archive.is/69aud}}</ref> During Trump's time in the casino business, he managed to drive no less than six businesses into bankruptcy<ref>{{cite web | title=Fact Check: Has Trump declared bankruptcy four or six times? | website=Washington Post | date=2016-09-27 | url=https://archive.is/MDRez}}</ref> by structuring those businesses to pay him millions while screwing investors and leaving them to pay the price for his failures.<ref name="casinoscrew">{{cite web | last=Yglesias | first=Matthew | title=How Donald Trump made billions running failed casinos in Atlantic City | website=Vox | date=2016-06-12 | url=https://www.vox.com/2016/6/12/11909176/trump-atlantic-city-business}}</ref> From 2004 to 2015, he played a fictionalized version of himself as the host and co-producer of ''The Apprentice'', a reality television show. ''The Apprentice'' turned Trump into a national celebrity, but Trump also used it to hone skills that he would later use as a politician: speaking bluntly and simply, throwing enemies off balance by insulting them, and keeping audiences watching.<ref name="wapoappre">{{cite web | last=Sellers | first=Frances Stead | title=What Trump learned on ‘The Apprentice’ | website=Washington Post | date=2015-11-06 | url=https://archive.is/SlaXG}}</ref>

After many years of hinting at it, Trump finally entered politics during the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 presidential election]]. By running a populist and [[Xenophobia|xenophobic]] outsider campaign, Trump hijacked the Republican Party and threw the race into chaos. His willingness to acknowledge and exploit white racial resentment<ref>{{cite web | last=Brownstein | first=Ronald | title=The Rhetoric of White Nostalgia | website=The Atlantic | date=2016-06-02 | url=https://archive.is/Gwusz}}</ref><ref name="whiteresent">{{cite web | last=Lopez | first=German | title=The past year of research has made it very clear: Trump won because of racial resentment | website=Vox | date=2017-12-15 | url=https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/12/15/16781222/trump-racism-economic-anxiety-study |}}</ref> while promising to "Make America Great Again" differentiated himself from the failed Republican establishment and swept him to an unexpected victory over Democrat [[Hillary Clinton]]. After that, "President Trump" went from a joke to a nightmare.

Trump's first term as president was defined by ugliness, stupidity, and relatively little else. His administration tried to deter [[undocumented immigration]] by separating children from their families at the US-[[Mexico]] border, rolled back environmental and business regulations while [[Climate change denialism|denying the reality of climate change]], doubled down on [[Supply-side economics|trickle-down economics]] by cutting [[taxes]] for the richest Americans, undermined the [[NATO]] alliance, inflamed racial tensions during the [[Black Lives Matter]] protests, and cozied up to dictators like [[Vladimir Putin]] of [[Russia]], [[Xi Jinping]] of [[China]], and [[Kim Jong-Un]] of [[North Korea]]. In 2019, the [[House of Representatives]] impeached Trump for abuse of power. He also botched the federal response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] by downplaying its severity, undermining the efforts of public health officials, and lying constantly, leading to the deaths of ''400,000'' people in the final year of his first term. 

When he justly and predictably lost the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]] to [[Joe Biden]], Trump launched a prolonged and concerted effort to overturn the will of the people, culminating in [[2021 U.S. coup attempt|a violent attack on the US Capitol]] aimed at halting the transfer of power. Trump was then impeached for inciting the Capitol attack in 2021, becoming the first president in US history to be impeached twice. After leaving office, the 2021 C-SPAN "Presidential Historians Survey" rated Trump as one of the worst presidents in US history (rank 41 of 45).<ref>{{cite web | last=Sheehey | first=Maeve | title=Trump debuts at 41st in C-SPAN presidential rankings | website=POLITICO | date=2021-06-30 | url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/06/30/trump-cspan-president-ranking-497184 | access-date=2025-02-04}}</ref>

Once he was no longer president, legal problems from Trump's lifetime of malfeasance started to pile up. Multiple states indicted him for election interference, the [[FBI]] discovered classified documents he had improperly handled while raiding his private residence, and a New York jury found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation. In 2024, another New York jury convicted him for falsifying business records to conceal his sexual affair with [[porn]] star Stormy Daniels, making him a convicted felon. These charges only caused his popularity to rebound, as Republicans rallied around him against what they perceived as politically-motivated persecution.<ref name="trumpopback">{{cite web | last=Zurcher | first=Anthony | title=Why Trump's poll lead went up after criminal indictments | website=BBC Home | date=2023-07-31 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66274979}}</ref> Trump went on to win the [[2024 United States presidential election|2024 presidential election]] due to discontent about increases in the cost of living during the Biden administration (however the cost of living in the US had been incredibly high even before Biden's election), multiple crises domestically and abroad, and various failures from the Democratic Party. He began his second term by pardoning the roughly 1,500 criminals who attacked the Capitol, implementing a mass deportation scheme, expressing hostility towards [[Canada]] and [[Denmark]], and supporting [[Vladimir Putin]]'s war of aggression against [[Ukraine]].

Trump's political movement combined a justified loathing for the political establishment with inflammatory rhetoric, [[nationalism]], fervent denials of reality, opposition to [[globalization]] and [[political correctness]], and Trump's own brand of strange charisma. This phenomenon is called [[Trumpism]], an American variant of [[fascism]] adapted for the [[Internet]] age.<ref>{{cite web | last=Paxton | first=Robert O. | title=Robert Paxton: I've Hesitated to Call Donald Trump a Fascist. Until Now | website=Newsweek | date=2021-01-11 | url=https://www.newsweek.com/robert-paxton-trump-fascist-1560652}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Micek | first=John L. | title=Trumpism is fascism, American-style | website=Pennsylvania Capital-Star | date=2022-06-22 | url=https://penncapital-star.com/commentary/trumpism-is-fascism-american-style-john-l-micek/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=French | first=Howard W. | title=So, Is Trump Really a Fascist? | website=Foreign Policy | date=2024-10-30 | url=https://archive.is/UKUGU}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Snyder | first=Timothy | title=What Does It Mean That Donald Trump Is a Fascist? | website=The New Yorker | date=2024-11-08 | url=https://archive.is/4AjbT}}</ref>

Trump's brand of politics is also known for his outright embrace of [[racism]] and [[sexism]],<ref>{{cite web | title=Trump and racism: What do the data say? | website=Brookings | date=2024-08-07 | url=https://www.brookings.edu/articles/trump-and-racism-what-do-the-data-say/}}</ref> his unprecedented promotion of [[conspiracy theories]],<ref>{{cite web | last=Dale | first=Daniel | title=Fact check: A guide to 9 conspiracy theories Trump is currently pushing | website=CNN | date=2020-09-02 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/02/politics/fact-check-trump-conspiracy-theories-biden-covid-thugs-plane/index.html}}</ref> and the worrisome [[cult of personality]] which has formed around him. On numerous occasions, Trump has supported and advocated for political violence.<ref>{{cite web | last=Saric | first=Ivana | title=The times Trump has advocated for violence | website=Axios | date=2022-05-02 | url=https://www.axios.com/2022/05/02/trump-call-violence-presidency}}</ref> Due to Trump's penchant for [[social media]], his massive platform, and his disdain for the truth, he has told a truly astonishing number of [[Falsifiability|demonstrable]] and deliberate [[Deceit|lies]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Kessler | first=Glenn | last2=Rizzo | first2=Salvador | last3=Kelly | first3=Meg | title=Trump’s false or misleading claims total 30,573 over 4 years | website=Washington Post | date=2021-01-24 | url=https://archive.is/pLdwm}}</ref>

==Early life and career==
[[File:Donald Trump NYMA.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Cadet Bone Spurs, not reporting for duty. (Trump at the New York Military Academy, 1964).]]
{{cquote|There are two Trumps. The one he presents to the world is all bluster, bullying and certainty. The other, which I have long felt haunts his inner world, is the frightened child of a relentlessly critical and bullying father and a distant and disengaged mother who couldn’t or wouldn’t protect him... Fear is the hidden through-line in Trump’s life – fear of weakness, of inadequacy, of failure, of criticism and of insignificance. He has spent his life trying to outrun these fears by "winning" – as he puts it – and by redefining reality whenever the facts don't serve the narrative he seeks to create.|||Tony Schwartz, ghostwriter of ''The Art of the Deal'', 2018.<ref>{{cite web | last=Schwartz | first=Tony | title=I wrote The Art of the Deal with Trump. He's still a scared child | website=the Guardian | date=2018-01-18 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/global/commentisfree/2018/jan/18/fear-donald-trump-us-president-art-of-the-deal}}</ref>}}
===Benefiting from his rich father===
Donald Trump's father, [[Fred Trump]] was a wealthy real-estate developer based in New York City. Just to give you an idea of what kind of guy he was, Fred Trump was arrested in 1927 for refusing to comply with a dispersal order during a riot instigated by the [[Ku Klux Klan]] and [[fascist]] sympathizers.<ref>{{cite web | last=Bump | first=Philip | title=In 1927, Donald Trump’s father was arrested after a Klan riot in Queens | website=Washington Post | date=2016-02-29 | url=https://archive.is/BKlG1}}</ref> Donnie's mother Mary was rarely around, and his older brother Fred Jr. had little interest in the family business and then died young.<ref>{{cite web | last=Dean | first=Michelle | title=Making the man: to understand Trump, look at his relationship with his dad | website=the Guardian | date=2016-03-26 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/26/donald-trump-fred-trump-father-relationship-business-real-estate-art-of-deal}}</ref> This left young Donald at the mercy of his father, who was by all accounts a cold and controlling man who expected stoicism and obedience from his family.<ref>{{cite web | last=Karni | first=Annie | last2=Rogers | first2=Katie | title=Like Father, Like Son: President Trump Lets Others Mourn | website=The New York Times | date=2020-07-28 | url=https://archive.is/aHt7P}}</ref> 

While Trump repeatedly claimed that he received a "small" loan of a million dollars from his father,<ref>{{cite web | last=Diamond | first=Jeremy | title=Donald Trump describes father’s ‘small loan’: $1 million | website=CNN | date=2015-10-26 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/10/26/politics/donald-trump-small-loan-town-hall/index.html}}</ref> the real amount was much, much more. Fred Trump set up a sham company, transferred it to his children, and [[Nepotism|used it to pay them]] over $1 billion.<ref name="fredpay">{{cite web | title=NY Times: Trump got $413M from his dad, much from tax dodges | website=AP News | date=2018-10-03 | url=https://apnews.com/article/0452d29cd2564eaf97605ab90acc3a67}}</ref> Trump had a income of $200,000 per year (in 2018 dollars) by the time he was three years old, amounting to about $413 million in total (also in 2018 dollars).<ref name="fredpay"/> Thanks to Fred Trump's scheme using the sham company, Donald Trump only paid 5% of the taxes he should have on this amount.<ref name="fredpay"/> By the time he was eight years old, Trump was a millionaire in today's money.<ref>{{cite book | last=Buettner | first=Russ | last2=Craig | first2=Susanne | title=Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created The Illusion of Success | publisher=Penguin Group | date=2024-09-17 | isbn=978-0-593-29864-0}}</ref>{{rp|30-31}} Some small loan!

Donald benefited from his father in other ways, as well. During the [[Vietnam War]], Trump received a medical deferment due to a letter from his doctor claiming that he had bone spurs.<ref>{{cite web | last=Press | first=Associated | title=McCain issues veiled criticism of Trump's Vietnam deferment | website=Military Times | date=2017-10-23 | url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2017/10/23/mccain-issues-veiled-criticism-of-trumps-vietnam-deferment/}}</ref> The doctor had actually written that letter as a "favor" to Fred Trump, according to the doctor's daughters.<ref>{{cite web | last=Stracqualursi | first=Veronica | title=New York Times: Daughters of foot doctor say he diagnosed Trump with bone spurs as ‘favor’ to Fred Trump | website=CNN | date=2018-12-26 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/26/politics/trump-bone-spurs-vietnam-war/index.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Cummings | first=William | title=Trump's Vietnam bone spur diagnosis made as 'favor' to father: report | website=USA TODAY | date=2018-12-27 | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2018/12/27/trump-vietnam-war-bone-spur-diagnosis/2420475002/}}</ref>

===Education===
[[File:Trump and Fred during Donnie's graduation 1968.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Donald and his father during his graduation from Wharton, 1968.]]
In 1968, Trump graduated from the {{wpl|Wharton School|}} of the University of [[Pennsylvania]], a prestigious business school. While Trump repeatedly claimed to have graduated "at the top of his class", Trump graduated without honors, meaning that his GPA at the time had to have been less than a 3.40, or else he was sanctioned for some kind of misconduct.<ref>{{cite web | last=Rim | first=Christopher | title=Here's Why Donald Trump Doesn't Want Anyone To Know His Grades Or SAT Scores | website=Forbes | date=2019-02-28 | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherrim/2019/02/28/heres-why-donald-trump-doesnt-want-anyone-to-know-his-grades-or-sat-scores/}}</ref> Much is unknown about Trump's time at Wharton due to the school's determined silence on all matters regarding its most famous alumnus.<ref name="wharton">{{cite web | last=Valania | first=Jonathan | title=Fact-Checking All of the Mysteries Surrounding Donald Trump and Penn | website=Philadelphia Magazine | date=2019-09-15 | url=https://www.phillymag.com/news/2019/09/14/donald-trump-at-wharton-university-of-pennsylvania/}}</ref> The facts that are known, unsurprisingly, don't look so good for Trump.

Wharton's admissions officer at the time, James Nolan, was a close personal friend of Trump's older brother Fred Jr., and he received a phone call from Fred Jr. asking him to consider Donald Trump's application to transfer to the university.<ref>{{cite web | last=Tanenbaum | first=Michael | title=Former Wharton admissions officer on Donald Trump: 'Certainly not a super genius' | website=PhillyVoice | date=2019-07-08 | url=https://www.phillyvoice.com/donald-trump-wharton-admissions-officer-genius-james-nolan-university-pennsylvania/}}</ref><ref name="nolanwhart">{{cite web | last=Kranish | first=Michael | title=Trump has referred to his Wharton degree as ‘super genius stuff.’ An admissions officer recalls it differently. | website=Washington Post | date=2019-07-08 | url=https://archive.is/TJl7s}}</ref> Upon request, Nolan interviewed Donald with his father Fred Sr. also present.<ref name="nolanwhart"/> Nolan later recalled that, "I certainly was not struck by any sense that I’m sitting before a genius," and noted that Wharton had a very forgiving 40% acceptance rate for admissions.<ref name="nolanwhart"/> This is another part of the mythos Trump has built around himself; he repeatedly boasted that Wharton was "one of the hardest schools to get into in the country."<ref name="wharton"/>

One of Trump's professors, William T. Kelley, famously described Trump as "the dumbest goddamn student I ever had."<ref>{{cite web | last=Chapman | first=Steve | title=Column: Donald Trump’s biggest flaw: He’s not that bright | website=Chicago Tribune | date=2017-11-03 | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2017/11/03/column-donald-trumps-biggest-flaw-hes-not-that-bright/}}</ref> According to people who knew him at the time, Trump came to the university thinking he already knew everything he needed to know, and he was also self-centered and self-aggrandizing.<ref name="wharton"/> According to testimony before Congress, Trump instructed his lawyer to send a letter to Pennsylvania State during his 2016 presidential campaign threatening legal action should they ever release his grades.<ref>{{cite web | last=Paz | first=Giovanna | last2=Cohen | first2=Max | title=Michael Cohen testifies that he threatened Penn not to release Trump's grades | website=The Daily Pennsylvanian | date=2019-02-27 | url=https://www.thedp.com/article/2019/02/michael-cohen-testimony-donald-trump-wharton-penn-college-grades}}</ref> Trump is clearly determined to keep his exact Wharton GPA secret.

===Housing segregation===
Fred Trump's real estate business, Trump Management, enforced racial [[segregation]] at its properties by turning away any applications from Black Americans.<ref name="segregated">{{cite web | last=Mahler | first=Jonathan | last2=Eder | first2=Steve | title=‘No Vacancies’ for Blacks: How Donald Trump Got His Start, and Was First Accused of Bias | website=The New York Times | date=2016-08-27 | url=https://archive.is/XKIIq}}</ref> Donald Trump was extensively involved in Trump Management at this time, as Fred was raising Trump to take over the business when he was older. In 1968, President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] signed landmark legislation banning housing discrimination on the basis of race,<ref>{{cite web | last=Rothman | first=Lily | title=Trump's 1973 Discrimination Case Was Part of Larger Case | website=TIME | date=2016-09-28 | url=https://time.com/4508889/presidential-debate-1970s-bias-donald-trump/}}</ref> but Trump Management kept applying its segregation policies.<ref name="segregated"/> 

In 1973, the federal government sued both Fred and Donald for [[civil rights]] violations, having received evidence that the Trumps were refusing to rent to Black people.<ref>{{cite web | title=Decades-Old Housing Discrimination Case Plagues Donald Trump | website=NPR | date=2016-09-29 | url=https://www.npr.org/2016/09/29/495955920/donald-trump-plagued-by-decades-old-housing-discrimination-case}}</ref> Testimony during trial showed that applicants filed by Black apartment-seekers would be marked with "C", meaning "colored."<ref>{{cite web | title=AP FACT CHECK: Trump on discrimination in his business | website=AP News | date=2016-09-27 | url=https://apnews.com/events-united-states-presidential-election-6349efef6986435b95411dc2e8f8f2c4}}</ref> The Trumps accused the government of defamation and counter-sued them for $100 million, and they also filed a a contempt-of-court charge against one of the prosecutors accusing her of "[[Gestapo]]-like interrogation."<ref name="segregated"/> The counter-suit and the contempt-of-court charge were both dismissed,<ref name="segregated"/>  and Trump Management eventually settled the civil rights case without having to admit guilt, with the requirement that the company implement policies to prevent racial discrimination.<ref>{{cite web | last=Gerstein | first=Josh | title=FBI releases files on Trump apartments' race discrimination probe in '70s | website=POLITICO | date=2017-02-15 | url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2017/02/trump-fbi-files-discrimination-case-235067}}</ref> 

This wasn't the end. In 1978, the Justice Department noted that, "an underlying pattern of discrimination continues to exist in the Trump Management organization."<ref name="segregated"/> While Trump Management was now renting to Black Americans, it confined Black renters to a small number of complexes which were poorly-maintained and sometimes dangerous.<ref name="segregated"/> Unfortunately, the government failed to press a new case before the agreement from the first case expired, and the Justice Department simply dropped the case in 1982.<ref name="segregated"/> As you'll see again and again, Donald Trump was extremely good at getting away with shit.

==Scummy businessman==
[[File:Trump and Roy Cohn, 1983.jpg|thumb|right|245px|Trump with Roy Cohn, his mentor in sleaziness and criminality, 1983.]]
{{cquote|In the next 10 years, [Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts] loses money every year, every single year, and he takes out $44 million in compensation during that period. In 1995, when he offered this company, if a monkey had thrown a dart at the stock page, the monkey on average would've made 150 percent. But the people that believed in him, who listened to his siren song, ended up losing well over 90 cents on the dollar. They got back less than a dime.|||Billionaire {{wpl|Warren Buffett|}} criticizes Trump's strategy of screwing investors, 2016.<ref>{{cite web | last=Levingston | first=Ivan | title=Trump fires back at the Oracle: 'I don't care much about Warren Buffett' | website=CNBC | date=2016-08-02 | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/08/02/trump-fires-back-at-the-oracle-i-dont-care-much-about-warren-buffett.html}}</ref>}}
In 1971, Trump took over the family real estate business, renaming it to The Trump Organization in 1973.<ref name="thetrumporg">{{cite web | last=Tecotzky | first=Alice | title=The Trump Organization: Everything to know about the Trump family business | website=Business Insider | date=2024-12-13 | url=https://archive.is/HDlW2}}</ref> His early activities focused on expanding the business beyond Manhattan and New York City, and many of his ventures involved some degree of scumminess. Something to keep in mind: Trump was (and is) fond of forcing people into silence with non-disclosure agreements,<ref>{{cite web | last=Horsley | first=Scott | title=Sworn To Secrecy: Trump's History Of Using Nondisclosure Agreements | website=NPR | date=2018-03-19 | url=https://www.npr.org/2018/03/19/595025070/sworn-to-secrecy-trumps-history-of-using-nondisclosure-agreements | access-date=2025-02-07}}</ref> and the shittiness described below is based only on the information that is publicly available. Trump almost certainly did a lot of things we don't know about.

===Alliance with Roy Cohn===
{{main|Roy Cohn}}
One of Trump's defining relationships was that with his lawyer, Roy Cohn, who had previously served as the right-hand for [[Joseph McCarthy]] and various mafia bosses.<ref>{{cite web | last=Mangan | first=Dan | title=FBI releases files on President Trump's late lawyer, Roy Cohn | website=CNBC | date=2019-09-27 | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/27/fbi-releases-file-on-trumps-late-lawyer-roy-cohn.html}}</ref> Cohn is the man who organized and filed Trump's $100 million counter-suit against the government during their racial discrimination case, during which Trump gave a fiery press conference slamming the government for trying to make the Trumps rent to "[[welfare]] recipients."<ref>{{cite web | last=Elliott | first=Justin | title=Donald Trump's racial discrimination problem | website=Salon | date=2011-04-28 | url=https://www.salon.com/2011/04/28/donald_trump_discrimination_suit/}}</ref>

Cohn was an all-around nasty character. He was a [[Homosexuality|gay]] man who helped the government persecute other gay men, he delighted in using legal threats to silence the enemies of his clients, and he was eventually disbarred for defrauding his clients.<ref>{{cite web | last=James | first=Caryn | title=Roy Cohn: The mysterious US lawyer who helped Donald Trump rise to power | website=BBC Home | date=2024-05-17 | url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20240517-roy-cohn-the-mysterious-us-lawyer-who-helped-donald-trump-rise-to-power}}</ref> Cohn's aggression and lack of morals endeared him to Trump, who has compared all of his other lawyers to Cohn.<ref>{{cite web | last=Haberman | first=Maggie | last2=Swan | first2=Jonathan | title=Trump Vents About Lawyer in His Hush-Money Criminal Trial | website=The New York Times | date=2024-04-30 | url=https://archive.is/yXPp5}}</ref> Cohn also famously taught Trump the three tactics he has followed all his life: always attack, always counterattack, and never apologize or admit wrongdoing.<ref name="alwaysattack"/> In short, Trump's relationship with Roy Cohn explains a hell of a lot about how Trump behaved as a politician and president.

===Criminal connections===
[[File:Trump at Trump Tower, 1983.jpg|thumb|right|375px|Trump with his namesake Tower after its completion in 1983 <small>by illegal immigrant workers</small>.]]
Another service provided by Roy Cohn: putting Trump in connection with mafia figures like Genovese crime boss {{wpl|Anthony Salerno|}}.<ref name="salerno">{{cite web | last=Johnston | first=David Cay | title=Just What Were Donald Trump's Ties to the Mob? | website=POLITICO Magazine | date=2021-01-27 | url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/05/donald-trump-2016-mob-organized-crime-213910/ | access-date=2025-02-06}}</ref> Trump spent decades working with top mobsters, organized crime associates, and corrupt [[Trade union|union]] leaders during his time in the real estate business.<ref name="salerno"/> Trump learned their tactics. He gave generous campaign donations to New York politicians in exchange for favors, spreading the payments across various shell companies to circumvent campaign finance limitations.<ref>{{cite web | last=O'Harrow | first=Robert Jr. | title=Trump swam in mob-infested waters in early years as an NYC developer | website=Washington Post | date=2015-10-16 | url=https://archive.is/SQ3qi}}</ref> During the construction of Trump's signature project, Trump Tower in Manhattan, he sought out and employed undocumented workers from [[Poland]] through a contractor so he could work them in 12-hour shifts with low wages and few safety measures.<ref>{{cite web | last=Calabresi | first=Massimo | title=What Donald Trump Knew About Undocumented Workers at His Signature Tower | website=TIME | date=2016-08-25 | url=https://time.com/4465744/donald-trump-undocumented-workers/}}</ref> He threatened to have them deported if they complained. The Poles were also non-union workers, but none of Trump's union workers went on strike because Trump paid the mob bosses who controlled the local construction union.<ref name="salerno"/> Trump quietly settled the resultant class-action lawsuit for $1.4 million in 1998.<ref>{{cite web | last=Beckwith | first=Ryan Teague | title=Read the Legal Settlement Donald Trump Signed in Dispute Over Undocumented Workers | website=TIME | date=2017-11-28 | url=https://time.com/5039109/donald-trump-undocumented-polish-trump-tower-bonwit-teller/}}</ref>

During Trump's expansion into the [[New Jersey]] casino business in 1981, he threatened to take his business elsewhere unless the state's attorney general limited his required investigation into Trump's business dealings.<ref name="salerno"/> Since New Jersey had a thriving casino industry in Atlantic City, the state complied to prevent Trump from developing anywhere else. Trump promptly turned around and bought land in Atlantic City from a mob boss named Salvatore Testa and hired two construction companies owned by mobsters Nicademo "Little Nicky" Scarfo and Phillip "Crazy Phil" Leonetti to build his Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino.<ref>{{cite web | last=Frates | first=Chris | title=Donald Trump and the mob | website=CNN | date=2015-07-31 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/07/31/politics/trump-mob-mafia/index.html}}</ref>

Felix Sater, a [[Russia|Russian]]-born mobster and businessman, served an essential role in helping Trump get his other name-branded towers built in places around the world.<ref>{{cite web | last=Helderman | first=Rosalind S. | last2=Hamburger | first2=Tom | title=Former Mafia-linked figure describes association with Trump | website=Washington Post | date=2016-05-17 | url=https://archive.is/5bgOj}}</ref> One of Trump's companies was also exposed for embarking on business ventures with a money-laundering crime family from [[Kazakhstan]], a former [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] republic.<ref>{{cite web | last=Burgis | first=Tom | title=Dirty money: Trump and the Kazakh connection | website=Financial Times | date=2016-10-19 | url=https://archive.is/ftsIW}}</ref> Most damning of all, a top Russian mobster named David Bogatin paid $6 million to buy five luxury condos in Trump Tower in 1984, and Trump personally attended the closing of this deal.<ref>{{cite web | last=Unger | first=Craig | title=Trump’s Russian Laundromat | website=The New Republic | date=2017-07-13 | url=https://archive.is/pbJFz}}</ref> Organized crime groups frequently used high-end real estate to launder money.

===Bankruptcies and screwed investors===
[[File:Trump Taj Mahal opening, 1990.webp|thumb|right|420px|Trump during the opening of his Taj Mahal casino, 1990. A monument to his shittiness.]]
{{cquote|He put a number of local contractors and suppliers out of business when he didn't pay them. So when he left Atlantic City, it wasn't, 'Sorry to see you go.' It was, 'How fast can you get the hell out of here?'|||Steven P. Perskie, chairman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission from 1990 to 1994.<ref name="nytcasino">{{cite web | last=Buettner | first=Russ | last2=Bagli | first2=Charles V. | title=How Donald Trump Bankrupted His Atlantic City Casinos, but Still Earned Millions | website=The New York Times | date=2016-06-11 | url=https://archive.is/y5ndq}}</ref>}}
Trump's foray into the casino business went very well for him and very poorly for his casinos. He opened the $1.2 billion Trump Taj Mahal casino in 1990, and it filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection just over a year later; two more of his casinos went bankrupt in 1992.<ref>{{cite web | last=Murse | first=Tom | title=The Details About the 6 Donald Trump Corporate Bankruptcies | website=ThoughtCo | date=2017-10-02 | url=https://www.thoughtco.com/donald-trump-business-bankruptcies-4152019}}</ref> The obvious question was how the hell Trump managed to drive multiple casinos into bankruptcy when they should have been raking in money from repeatedly losing gamblers.<ref>{{cite web | last=Neiger | first=Chris | title=Casino Stats: Why Gamblers Rarely Win | website=Investopedia | date=2010-09-07 | url=https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0910/casino-stats-why-gamblers-rarely-win.aspx}}</ref> Well, Trump had put up very little of his own money to buy or build his casinos, instead relying on investors.<ref name="casinocash">{{cite web | last=Buettner | first=Russ | last2=Bagli | first2=Charles V. | title=How Donald Trump Bankrupted His Atlantic City Casinos, but Still Earned Millions | website=The New York Times | date=2016-06-11 | url=https://archive.is/y5ndq}}</ref> The rest of the money his casinos needed was all borrowed, and at such high interest rates that their failure was all but guaranteed.<ref name="nytcasino"/> Trump also shifted his personal debts onto the casino businesses while collecting millions of dollars in salary, bonuses, and assorted payments.<ref name="casinocash"/> While the casinos failed and investors bore the burden, Trump made millions. That's not all; after the construction of his casinos, he stiffed the small businesses he had contracted for the work.<ref>{{cite web | last=Laura Dolan | first=Jessica Schneider | title=The small business owners Trump never paid in full | website=CNN | date=2016-09-14 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/09/13/politics/trump-small-business-owners/index.html}}</ref>

As for the Taj Mahal, Trump still owned a stake in the casino after 1991, and the Taj Mahal was forced to spend exorbitant amounts of money on Trump-branded products, contributing to another bankruptcy.<ref>{{cite web | last=Lopez | first=Linette | title=The Trump Taj Mahal casino sold for 4 cents on the dollar — here's how Trump bankrupted it twice | website=Business Insider | date=2017-05-10 | url=https://archive.is/TifCv}}</ref> He squeezed even more money out of the Taj Mahal by using it as a money laundering scheme; a 1998 IRS report found 106 violations of anti-money laundering statutes in the casino's first two years of operation.<ref name="tajlaunder">{{cite web | last=Pagliery | first=Jose | title=Trump’s casino was a money laundering concern shortly after it opened | website=CNN | date=2017-05-22 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/05/22/politics/trump-taj-mahal/index.html}}</ref> At the time, the Trump Taj Mahal was a hangout for Russian mobsters, according to federal investigators.<ref name="tajlaunder"/>

Trump's casino ownership company, Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts, went public in 1995 and listed on stock exchanges under the letters DJT.<ref name="thotelcomp">{{cite web | title=The last time a Trump company went public it didn't go well for investors | website=NBC News | date=2024-03-23 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/last-time-trump-company-went-public-didnt-go-well-investors-rcna144657}}</ref> The company lost catastrophic amounts of money every year, collectively costing investors about $1 billion while Trump himself made $44 million in salary and bonuses.<ref name="thotelcomp"/> It went bankrupt and was de-listed in 2004. 

In Atlantic City, the failures of Trump's casinos put many thousands of people out of work and put dozens of contractors out of business, leaving a lasting impact in the form of a 7.4% unemployment rate in 2019 (nearly twice the national average).<ref>{{cite web | last=Hobbs | first=Thomas | title=Atlantic City: 'Trump turned this place into a ghost town' | website=the Guardian | date=2019-04-08 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/apr/08/atlantic-city-trump-ghost-town-gambling-brian-rose-photographer}}</ref> During the Republican primary debates in 2015, Trump boasted that, "I made a lot of money in Atlantic City, and I'm very proud of it."<ref>{{cite web | title=Transcript of the 2015 GOP debate (9 pm) | website=CBS News | date=2015-08-07 | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/transcript-of-the-2015-gop-debate-9-pm/}}</ref> And that's true. He ''did'' make a lot of money. But he made that money by honing and perfecting a single skill: structuring businesses to stuff his pockets despite their lack of success and then leaving investors to take the fall.<ref name="casinoscrew"/> This is a pattern he would repeat over and over again.

===Bailed out by Russians===
[[File:Trump SoHo entrance on Spring Street.jpg|thumb|right|275px|Entrance to Trump SoHo, a luxury condo-hotel that was funded by a company owned by Russian mobsters.<ref>{{cite web | last=Bertrand | first=Natasha | title=The Trump Organization is set to distance itself from one of its biggest headaches in the Russia probe | website=Business Insider | date=2017-11-23 | url=https://archive.is/HxwUG}}</ref>]]
{{main|Trump-Russia connection}}
{{cquote|In terms of high-end product influx into the US, Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets. Say, in [[United Arab Emirates|Dubai]], and certainly with our project in SoHo, and anywhere in New York. We see a lot of money pouring in from Russia.|||[[Donald Trump Jr.]] at a real estate conference, 2008.<ref>{{cite web | last=Weiss | first=Brennan | title=Trump's oldest son said a decade ago that a lot of the family's assets came from Russia | website=Business Insider | date=2018-02-21 | url=https://archive.is/nPTQX}}</ref>}}
The stock market crash of 1987, combined with the ludicrous amounts of money Trump had borrowed for his various ventures had put him about $4 billion in debt to various American banks.<ref>{{cite web | last=Flitter | first=Emily | title=Art of the spin: Trump bankers question his portrayal of financial comeback | website=Reuters | date=2016-07-17 | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-trump-bankruptcies-insig/art-of-the-spin-trump-bankers-question-his-portrayal-of-financial-comeback-idUSKCN0ZX0GP/}}</ref> While Trump was able to negotiate a deal with the banks in 1992 to escape much of that debt, his business reputation was in tatters due to the repeated failures of his businesses.<ref name="russiabail">{{cite web | last=Hirsh | first=Michael | title=How Russian Money Helped Save Trump’s Business | website=Foreign Policy | date=2018-12-21 | url=https://archive.is/4kiJy}}</ref> American banks wouldn't invest in him anymore. 

Trump sought out and received money from alternative partners. Wealthy individuals from Russia and the former Soviet republics started making massive investments in Trump, in the form of real-estate partnerships and massive purchases of Trump's condos.<ref name="russiabail"/> During this time, more than 1,300 of Trump's condos were sold to these foreign owners in secretive all-cash transactions.<ref name="bayrock">{{cite web | last=Unger | first=Craig | title=Trump’s businesses are full of dirty Russian money. The scandal is that it’s legal. | website=Washington Post | date=2019-03-29 | url=https://archive.is/iHhM9}}</ref> 

Aid also came in the form of the Russian-owned Bayrock Group, a company that chose to headquarter itself two floors below Trump's office in Trump Tower.<ref>{{cite web | last=O&apos | first=Timothy L. | title=Trump, Russia and a Shadowy Business Partnership | website=Bloomberg.com | date=2017-06-21 | url=https://archive.is/lpoPu}}</ref> Bayrock forked over enormous amounts of money to use Trump's name on its real estate projects.<ref name="bayrock"/><ref>{{cite web | last=Nesbit | first=Jeff | title=Donald Trump's Many, Many, Many, Many Ties to Russia | website=TIME | date=2016-08-02 | url=https://time.com/4433880/donald-trump-ties-to-russia/}}</ref> The company was run by Tevfik Arif, a Kazakh-born former Soviet official who had access to suspiciously large amounts of money, and Russian mobster Felix Sater.<ref name="russiabail"/> A US Senate report from 2020 later found that Arif was also a Russian mobster and a human trafficker.<ref>{{cite web | last=Alexander | first=Dan | title=Trump’s Business Partners Allegedly Involved In Human Trafficking, Mafia Matters, Probable Money Laundering | website=Forbes | date=2020-08-20 | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2020/08/20/trumps-business-partners-allegedly-involved-in-human-trafficking-mafia-matters-probable-money-laundering/}}</ref> 

Bayrock's licensing of Trump's name became the basis of his new business model: selling his brand instead of his businesses. Their largest project was a New York condo-hotel called Trump SoHo, built with mysterious funding and primarily selling to wealthy foreign buyers.<ref>{{cite web | last=Zarroli | first=Jim | title=Trump SoHo: A Shiny Hotel Wrapped In Glass, But Hiding Mysteries | website=NPR | date=2017-11-07 | url=https://www.npr.org/2017/11/07/560849787/trump-soho-a-shiny-hotel-wrapped-in-glass-but-hiding-mysteries}}</ref> The property was directly marketed to Russian buyers with a Russian-language website featuring pictures of Trump posing alongside Russian businessmen.<ref>{{cite web | last=Bump | first=Philip | title=Here’s how Trump Soho was marketed to Russians | website=Washington Post | date=2018-04-12 | url=https://archive.is/leybd}}</ref>

This relationship proved to be a lasting one. A 2017 ''Reuters'' investigation was able to verify that 63 Russian oligarchs owned $98.4 million worth property in Trump's luxury towers just in south Florida alone.<ref>{{cite web | title=Russian elite invested nearly $100 million in Trump buildings | website=Reuters | date=2017-03-17 | url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-trump-property/}}</ref> One example of this from 2008: Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev purchased a beachfront villa from Trump for much more than the property was worth, never set foot in the mansion, and then had it demolished due to a mold problem before selling the land.<ref>{{cite web | last=Harding | first=Luke | last2=Kirchgaessner | first2=Stephanie | title=Russian scrutinised for ties to Trump investigated in Monaco | website=the Guardian | date=2017-10-19 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/19/russian-scrutinised-for-ties-to-trump-investigated-in-monaco}}</ref> Trump's dealings with the Russians in south Florida were rife with red flags for money laundering.<ref>{{cite web | last=Bump | first=Philip | title=How money laundering works in real estate | website=Washington Post | date=2018-01-04 | url=https://archive.is/uzYLo}}</ref>

===Other notable ventures===
[[File:Trump steaks.png|thumb|right|200px|Yes, he really did try to sell steaks through a consumer electronics store.]]
{{cquote|When it comes to great steaks, I've just raised the stakes! Trump Steaks are by far the best tasting, most flavorful beef you've ever had. Truly in a league of their own.|||Donald Trump on his Trump Steaks™ partnership with Sharper Image.<ref name="trumpsteaks">{{cite web | title=A Definitive History Of Trump Steaks™ | website=ThinkProgress | date=2016-03-04 | url=https://thinkprogress.org/a-definitive-history-of-trump-steaks-e0e6fc31b689/}}</ref>}}
{{cquote|The net of all that was we literally sold almost no steaks. If we sold $50,000 of steaks grand total, I'd be surprised.|||Jerry Levin, CEO of Sharper Image, Trump Steaks™ post-mortem.<ref name="trumpsteaks"/>}}
Here's a list of some of Trump's other notable business ventures that took place prior to his presidency, both for the sake of completion and for the sake of really showing just how bad Trump was at being a legitimate businessman.
*<u>Trump the Game</u>: He tried this twice, in 1988 and 2004, but this real-estate themed board game was too boring to get people interested.<ref>{{cite web | last=Murphy | first=Tim | title=Everything you need to know about Donald Trump can be learned by rolling these dice | website=Mother Jones | date=2015-07-31 | url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/07/what-we-learned-playing-donald-trump-board-game/}}</ref> Plus, ''Monopoly'' was right there and much more fun.
*<u>Trump Shuttle</u>: In 1988, Trump launched his own airline company after buying 21 aging Boeing 727s from a struggling carrier, but he borrowed $380 million to renovate the planes and found them to be extremely costly to maintain.<ref>{{cite web | last=Smith | first=Oliver | title=Trump Shuttle: Looking back at Donald Trump's failed, forgotten airline | website=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=2020-10-01 | url=https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/travel-news/trump-shuttle-looking-back-at-donald-trumps-failed-forgotten-airline-20201001-h1r3q8.html}}</ref> The company missed an interest payment in 1990 and defaulted.
*<u>Trump Mortgage</u>: "I think it's a great time to start a mortgage company, the real estate market is going to be very strong for a long time to come," said Donald Trump, in April 2006.<ref>{{cite web | last=Independent | first=The | title=A reminder of the one quote from Donald Trump that shows why he can't be trusted with the economy | website=The Independent | date=2016-03-01 | url=https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/donald-trump-mortgage-economy-2006-2008-crash-a6904796.html}}</ref> [[Great Recession|Oops]]. 
*<u>Trump Vodka</u>: Trump launched this product in 2006 to one-up his friend, the founder of Grey Goose, but it sold poorly and was discontinued in 2008 before going out of circulation completely in 2011.<ref>Bryan Dent. [https://brutalhammer.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-trump-vodka/ The Rise and Fall of Trump Vodka]. ''Brutal Hammer.'' September 24, 2015.</ref>
*<u>''Trump Magazine''</u>: Trump teamed up with advertising mogul Michael Jacobson in 2006 to launch ''Trump World'' (later rebranded to ''Trump Magazine''), a periodical focusing on the Trump family's wealth and pictures of scantily-clad women.<ref name="tmag">{{cite web | last=Purcell | first=Carey | title=I Survived ‘Trump’ Magazine—Barely | website=POLITICO Magazine | date=2021-01-27 | url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/08/donald-trump-magazine-employee-confessional-bankrupt-2016-214155/}}</ref> In typical Trump fashion, he received a licensing fee of $120,000 per issue while the magazine went into massive debt and then failed a little over a year later.<ref name="tmag"/>
*<u>Trump Steaks</u>: Originally meant to be sold in his casinos, Trump instead approached Sharper Image (a consumer electronics store) to start selling his steaks in 2007.<ref name="trumpsteaks"/> Although Trump sold almost no steaks due to how overpriced they were, Sharper Image's CEO said the venture worked out just fine for them since confused customers would show up to ask about the bizarre advertisements and then leave with an unrelated Sharper Image product.<ref name="trumpsteaks"/>

==Media personality==
[[File:Trump The Art of The Deal, cover, first edition.jpeg|thumb|right|225px|The Art of Making Your Ghostwriter Hate You. (No, seriously.<ref>{{cite web | last=Rappeport | first=Alan | title=‘I Feel a Deep Sense of Remorse,’ Donald Trump’s Ghostwriter Says | website=The New York Times | date=2016-07-18 | url=https://archive.is/dX51G}}</ref>)]]
{{cquote|So sometimes I make outrageous comments and give them what they want — viewers and readers — in order to make a point. I'm a businessman with a brand to sell. When was the last time you saw a sign hanging outside a pizzeria claiming 'The fourth best pizza in the world'?!|||Donald Trump, ''Crippled America'', 2015.<ref>{{cite web | last=Kurtzleben | first=Danielle | title=Trump's New Book Doesn't Say Much, But Neither Do Lots Of Political Books | website=NPR | date=2015-11-05 | url=https://www.npr.org/2015/11/05/454580671/we-read-donald-trumps-new-book-so-you-dont-have-to}}</ref>}}
===Ghostwritten books===
Trump has boasted repeatedly about the number of bestselling books he has written, but almost all of them were actually written in part or in whole by ghostwriters.<ref>{{cite web | last=Buncombe | first=Andrew | title=Trump just boasted about writing many books. His biographer's response has gone viral | website=The Independent | date=2018-07-04 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-books-tweet-ghostwriter-tim-o-brien-tony-schwartz-writer-response-a8431271.html}}</ref> His most famous book, ''The Art of the Deal'' from 1987, spent 13 weeks in the number one spot of the ''[[New York Times]]'' bestseller list and turned Trump from "that one rich guy from New York" into a national celebrity.<ref>{{cite web | last=Mayer | first=Jane | title=Donald Trump’s Ghostwriter Tells All | website=The New Yorker | date=2016-07-18 | url=https://archive.is/tNvsA}}</ref> It created the image of Donald Trump as a prudent businessman who was skilled at striking deals with even the most stubborn of partners. Tony Schwartz, whom Trump paid $250,000 to write the book, declared in 2016 that it was the greatest regret of his entire life<ref>{{cite web | last=Zuckerman | first=Alex | last2=Farhi | first2=Arden | title=Trump's ghostwriter says writing "The Art of the Deal" is the greatest regret of his life | website=CBS News | date=2019-05-24 | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tony-schwartz-trumps-ghostwriter-says-writing-the-art-of-the-deal-is-the-greatest-regret-of-his-life/}}</ref> and went on to express his deep personal contempt towards Trump.<ref>{{cite web | last=Schwartz | first=Tony | title=I wrote ‘The Art of the Deal’ with Trump. His self-sabotage is rooted in his past. | website=Washington Post | date=2017-05-16 | url=https://archive.is/sHXbn}}</ref>

Some common themes are present in all of his ghostwritten books. There are repeated insults towards people Trump dislikes, some hints of his insecurity (such as his [[Credentialism|repeated references to his Wharton degree]]), and some surprisingly candid admissions that so much of his success relied on smoke-and-mirrors.<ref>{{cite web | last=Lozada | first=Carlos | title=I just binge-read eight books by Donald Trump. Here’s what I learned. | website=Washington Post | date=2015-12-08 | url=https://archive.is/ovHGT}}</ref> 

One of his more revealing books was ''The America We Deserve'' (2000), in which Trump laid out his political beliefs in preparation for a campaign for the [[Reform Party]] nomination that year. In it, Trump spells out his support for "tough anti-crime policies", the [[Capital punishment|death penalty]], raising requirements for [[welfare]] eligibility, renegotiating the US' international trade agreements, and privatizing [[Social Security]].<ref name="amwedeserve">{{cite web | last=Sankin | first=Aaron | title= Donald Trump’s 15-year-old book on public policy reveals what kind of president he’d be  | website=The Daily Dot | date=2015-08-23 | url=https://www.dailydot.com/debug/donald-trump-the-america-we-deserve/}}</ref> Trump's anti-immigration stance also appeared in this book: "We can't allow ourselves to welcome outsiders out of kindness. If people enter this country by disregarding our laws, can we be confident that they will suddenly become law-abiding citizens once they arrive?"<ref name="amwedeserve"/> In 2015, Dave Shiflett, the ghostwriter of this book, also declared that he would not vote for Donald Trump.<ref>{{cite web | last=Updated | first=Last | title=Donald Trump's ghostwriter won't vote for him | website=theweek | date=2015-12-31 | url=https://archive.is/Sjr7L}}</ref>

His 2015 book, ''Crippled America'' was an update to Trump's political beliefs, this time with a more emphasis on [[conservatism]] and more defenses of his brash campaign style.<ref>{{cite web | last=Diamond | first=Jeremy | title=The 5 things you need to know about Donald Trump’s new book | website=CNN | date=2015-11-03 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/11/03/politics/donald-trump-book-crippled-america-5-things/index.html}}</ref>

===Miss Universe pageant===
{{cquote|Before a show, I'll go backstage and everyone's getting dressed, and everything else, and you know, no men are anywhere, and I'm allowed to go in because I'm the owner of the pageant and therefore I'm inspecting it... You know, they're standing there with no clothes... And you see these incredible looking women, and so, I sort of get away with things like that.|||Trump brags to shock jock Howard Stern about walking in on naked women, 2005.<ref name="sternmiss">{{cite web | title=Trump bragged that he walked in on naked beauty pageant contestants | website=ThinkProgress | date=2016-10-12 | url=https://thinkprogress.org/trump-beauty-pageants-naked-2dc4b6c6d507/}}</ref>}}
Trump purchased the Miss Universe beauty pageant in 1996, lamenting that the women contestants weren't hot enough anymore because the judges were apparently prioritizing intelligence over beauty.<ref name="rstonemissu">{{cite web | last=Stuart | first=Tessa | title=A Timeline of Donald Trump's Creepiness While He Owned Miss Universe | website=Rolling Stone | date=2016-10-12 | url=https://archive.is/WLama}}</ref> The first Miss Universe crowned on Trump's watch was Alicia Machado, a woman from [[Venezuela]] who suffered insults from Trump ("Miss Piggy") because he was dissatisfied with her weight.<ref>{{cite web | title=Meet Alicia Machado, the woman Trump allegedly called 'Miss Piggy' | website=NBC News | date=2016-09-27 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/2016-presidential-debates/who-s-alicia-machado-woman-trump-allegedly-called-miss-piggy-n655116}}</ref> Trump also called her "Miss Housekeeping" and mocked her accent.

His ownership of Miss Universe also served as an outlet for Trump's perversions. Two former contestants on Miss USA 2001 recalled that Trump would barge into the women's dressing rooms and stare at them.<ref>{{cite web | last=Redden | first=Molly | title=Miss USA 2001 contestant: Trump barged into room when we were naked | website=the Guardian | date=2016-10-13 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/12/donald-trump-miss-usa-dressing-room-2001-rehearsal}}</ref> Former Miss Vermont Teen USA Mariah Billado said that Trump would tell them, "Don't worry, ladies, I’ve seen it all before," during his visits.<ref>{{cite web | last=Neidig | first=Harper | title=Report: Trump walked into teen beauty pageant changing room | date=2016-10-12 | url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/300551-report-trump-walked-into-teen-beauty-pageant-changing/}}</ref> Trump's employees would then encourage the contestants to walk up to Trump and welcome him during his visits to their dressing rooms.<ref name="rstonemissu"/> These aren't even allegations, by the way. Trump personally bragged about doing this to radio host Howard Stern in 2005.<ref name="sternmiss"/>

For his ownership of Miss Universe, Trump received a star at the {{wpl|Hollywood Walk of Fame|}} in 2007.<ref>{{cite web | title=Why Trump will keep his Hollywood star | website=BBC Home | date=2018-08-07 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45100776}}</ref> In 2015, NBC and Univision dropped Miss Universe in response to his racist comments about Mexican immigrants,<ref>{{cite web | last=Puente | first=Maria | title=NBC to Donald Trump: You're fired | website=USA TODAY | date=2015-06-29 | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2015/06/29/nbc-dumps-trump/29471971/}}</ref> and Trump sold the pageant.

===''The Apprentice''===
[[File:Real pic of diddy trump and melania.webp|thumb|right|325px|Trump with his wife Melania and [[Sex trafficking|sex trafficker]] Sean "Diddy" Combs<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0qz32wzeego What has Sean 'Diddy' Combs been convicted of?] by Brandon Drenon & Nadine Yousif (3 October 2025) ''BBC''.</ref> in 2005.]]
In January 2004, ''The Apprentice'' started airing. Trump, playing a fictionalized version of himself, would have the show's contestants perform some business-related task before being either rewarded for success or scolded for failure.<ref name="apprentice">{{cite web | last=Buettner | first=Russ | last2=Craig | first2=Susanne | title=How ‘The Apprentice’ Fueled Donald Trump’s Rise to the Presidency | website=The New York Times | date=2024-09-14 | url=https://archive.is/l5JQF}}</ref> Eliminations from the show would happen with Trump's slogan, "You're fired!" The winner of the show would receive $250,000 and the opportunity to keep working with Donald Trump. 

From the beginning, it was built on a false premise. Trump was an unsuccessful businessman at the time, and the famous boardroom where Trump fired contestants had to be a set because his real boardroom was too shabby and antiquated to be taken seriously.<ref name="jdmiller">{{cite web | last=Miller | first=John D. | title=We Created a Monster: Trump Was a TV Fantasy Invented for 'The Apprentice' | website=US News &amp; World Report | date=2024-10-16 | url=https://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2024-10-16/we-created-a-tv-illusion-for-the-apprentice-but-the-real-trump-threatens-america}}</ref> The show's producers had earlier tried to recruit more successful CEOs to host the show, but they all had better things to do and little to gain from hosting a cheesy reality television show.<ref name="jdmiller"/> 

It took a long and concerted effort from the producers to market Trump to the country as a genius businessman,<ref name="apprentice"/> an effort for which NBC's chief marketer John D. Miller apologized in 2024.<ref name="jdmiller"/> In front of the cameras, contestants would fawn over his gilded apartments and his lavish casinos, while behind the cameras Trump would sexually harass and demean female crewmembers.<ref>{{cite web | last=Benac | first=Nancy | title=In Trump's 'Apprentice' run, reality wasn't what it seemed | website=AP News | date=2016-10-15 | url=https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-election-2020-campaign-2016-events-1ab9c6b8ebd444bdbcfc3fbf0a424765}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Burke | first=Garance | title=AP: 'Apprentice' cast and crew say Trump was lewd and sexist | website=AP News | date=2016-10-03 | url=https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-only-on-ap-sexual-misconduct-campaign-2016-2778a6ab72ea49558445337865289508}}</ref>

The show turned Trump into a national celebrity businessman, but it also taught Trump how to make himself compelling to watch on television and how to market himself as a brand.<ref>{{cite web | last=Grynbaum | first=Michael M. | last2=Parker | first2=Ashley | title=Donald Trump the Political Showman, Born on ‘The Apprentice’ | website=The New York Times | date=2016-07-16 | url=https://archive.is/yq3rj}}</ref>  But most importantly, to millions of Americans, it created the false image of Trump as someone who would be a great leader.

==Outright scams==
[[File:Trump University.jpeg|thumb|right|370px|No one has more scorn for the victims of a con-man than the con-man himself.]]
===Trump University===
In 2005, Trump was riding high off the fame from his new television show, and thousands of students were signing up to "Trump University" to learn his business wisdom.<ref>{{cite web | last=Pruitt | first=Bill | title=For 20 Years, I Couldn’t Say What Donald Trump Did on the Set of The Apprentice. Now I Can. | website=Slate Magazine | date=2024-05-30 | url=https://archive.is/ar8SV}}</ref> Trump University was a scam. It was a con. It was [[bullshit]]. It was, in fact, not a university at all, but rather a company that purported to sell Trump's secret method to make massive amounts of money on real estate.<ref name="nytrumpu">{{cite web | last=Cassidy | first=John | title=Trump University: It’s Worse Than You Think | website=The New Yorker | date=2016-06-02 | url=https://archive.is/J9ujr}}</ref>

Students attended a first seminar, which was free, and then a second seminar for $1,500 which was meant to compel them to sign up for a $35,000 partnership with one of Trump's "hand-picked" advisors.<ref name="trumpu">{{cite web | last=Nelson | first=Libby | title=“It was a façade, a total lie”: new documents reveal how Trump University’s scam worked | website=Vox | date=2016-06-01 | url=https://www.vox.com/2016/6/1/11827596/trump-university-scam}}</ref> After paying this money, students would be strongly encouraged to purchase more Trump products. The "university" recruiters were trained in classic scam tactics like manipulating buyers' emotions and telling them that it was okay to max out their credit cards, and the recruiters were strictly instructed to never give concrete promises about what students could achieve with Trump University.<ref name="trumpu"/> What those students actually got was basic information they could've gotten for free elsewhere, taught by random people who were definitely not hand-picked by Trump.<ref>{{cite web | last=Drew Griffin | first=Nelli Black,Curt Devine | title=Trump University fraud claims follow Donald Trump on campaign trail | website=CNN | date=2015-09-30 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/09/29/politics/trump-university-fraud-claims/index.html}}</ref> 

Trump was extensively involved in marketing Trump University and took a cut of its profits, although he did not personally run the company.<ref>{{cite web | last=Severns | first=Maggie | title=Tales from the Trump University legal vault | website=POLITICO | date=2016-03-03 | url=https://archive.is/bjNPW}}</ref> He was eventually hit by multiple class-action lawsuits from his defrauded students and another lawsuit from the New York Attorney General.<ref>{{cite web | last=Sahadi | first=Jeanne | last2=McGowan | first2=Karen | title=Donald Trump still battling lawsuits from defunct Trump University | website=CNNMoney | date=2015-07-24 | url=https://money.cnn.com/2015/07/24/news/donald-trump-university-lawsuit/}}</ref> Trump settled the cases for $25 million shortly after being elected president.<ref>{{cite web | last=Kennedy | first=Merrit | title=New York Attorney General Says Trump Agrees To Trump University Settlement | website=NPR | date=2016-11-18 | url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/11/18/502620122/new-york-attorney-general-says-trump-agrees-to-settle-trump-university-lawsuits}}</ref>

===The Trump Foundation===
[[File:Trump signed football helmet charity 2012.jpg|thumb|right|325px|Trump and his wife Melania with a signed football helmet that he used $12,00 of his charity's money to buy, 2012.]]
Donald Trump established the the Donald J. Trump Foundation in 1987 to serve as a non-profit [[Charity|charitable]] organization, serving as its president until 2017.<ref name="nytfoundat">{{cite web | last=Wang | first=Vivian | title=The Donald J. Trump Foundation, Explained | website=The New York Times | date=2018-06-14 | url=https://archive.is/xykZg}}</ref> Even this seemingly altruistic enterprise was turned on its head by Trump's shittiness. 

In reality, the Trump Foundation was a slush fund for Trump and his businesses. In the words of New York's Attorney General, the Trump Foundation was "little more than an empty shell," and the board of directors that was supposed to be overseeing its operations stopped meeting in 1999.<ref>{{cite web | last=Nahmias | first=Laura | title=Trump Foundation to shut down under agreement with New York attorney general | website=POLITICO | date=2018-12-18 | url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/18/trump-foundation-to-shut-down-1067924}}</ref> Trump used donated money to benefit himself, such as $100,000 in 2007 to settle legal claims against his Mar-a-Lago resort in [[Florida]] and a $158,000 payment in 2012 to settle more legal claims against the Trump National Golf Club.<ref name="nytfoundat"/> He even used $12,000 that had been donated to his foundation to purchase an autographed football helmet during a charity dinner for breast [[cancer]], defeating the entire point of a charity dinner.<ref>{{cite web | last=Fahrenthold | first=David A. | title=Donald Trump used money donated for charity to buy himself a Tim Tebow-signed football helmet | website=Washington Post | date=2016-07-01 | url=https://archive.is/8aQMy}}</ref>

In 2013, the Trump Foundation illegally donated $25,000 to Florida Attorney General {{wpl|Pam Bondi|}}'s reelection fund as she was investigating Trump University for fraud; she then dropped the investigation.<ref>{{cite web | last=Sack | first=Kevin | last2=Eder | first2=Steve | title=New Records Shed Light on Donald Trump’s $25,000 Gift to Florida Official | website=The New York Times | date=2016-09-15 | url=https://archive.is/4foeU}}</ref> Most egregiously of all, Trump held a charity dinner in 2016 to raise $2.8 million for veterans and then immediately put that money into his presidential campaign fund.<ref>{{cite web | title=Donald Trump's troubled charity foundation to shut down | website=BBC Home | date=2018-12-18 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46611178}}</ref> After a lengthy investigation by New York, the Trump Foundation shut down, and a state judge ordered Trump to pay $2 million in damages in 2019.<ref>{{cite web | last=Kennedy | first=Merrit | title=Judge Says Trump Must Pay $2 Million Over Misuse Of Foundation Funds | website=NPR | date=2019-11-07 | url=https://www.npr.org/2019/11/07/777287610/judge-says-trump-must-pay-2-million-over-misuse-of-foundation-funds}}</ref>

===The Trump Network===
{{main|Multilevel marketing}}
This one was especially scummy, because it started at the height of the [[Great Recession]] and promised to "give millions of people renewed hope ... with an exciting plan to opt out of the recession!"<ref>{{cite web | last=Resnick | first=Gideon | last2=Nuzzi | first2=Olivia | title=Donald Trump’s History of Schemes | website=The Daily Beast | date=2016-03-10 | url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/a-brief-history-of-donald-trumps-get-rich-schemes/}}</ref> The Trump Network was a partnership with, and rebranding of, a multilevel marketing business called Ideal Health, in which Trump would promote their scheme in exchange for money.<ref name="wapotnetwork">{{cite web | last=Swanson | first=Ana | title=The Trump Network sought to make people rich, but left behind disappointment | website=Washington Post | date=2016-03-23 | url=https://archive.is/tz42H}}</ref> 

In all respects, The Trump Network operated as a typical multilevel marketing scheme, offering steep incentives for "sales representatives" to sign up other sales representatives, all while encouraging them to spent ridiculous amounts of money on the scheme. In consumer complaints, one customer reported spending $8,956.20 on promotional materials, and another customer said they were encouraged to mortgage their home for $70,000 to buy shares in TV advertising.<ref name="wapotnetwork"/> The goal of the scheme, apart from scamming people, was to sell bogus [[multivitamin]]s.<ref>{{cite web | title=Exactly How Bogus Were Those 'Trump Vitamins?' | website=HuffPost | date=2016-06-02 | url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/exactly-how-bogus-were-th_b_10268610}}</ref>

==Sex crimes and abuse==
{{main|Rape}}
In 2023, Trump was found liable in a civil trial for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll, with the judge in the trial later clarifying that the type of sexual abuse that Trump engaged in is commonly referred to as rape.<ref name="Yes"/> The rape occurred in late 1995 or early 1996.<ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/US/testimony-begin-jean-carroll-battery-defamation-case-trump/story 'Trump raped me,' E. Jean Carroll testifies in battery, defamation case] by Aaron Katersky (April 26, 2023, 1:34 PM) ''ABC News''.</ref> Two other women had accused Trump of rape, his first wife Ivana Trump (allegedly in the 1980s),<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-e-jean-carroll-accusation-trump-manhattan-20190621-story.html Talk show host E. Jean Carroll says Trump raped her in the 1990s] by Chris Sommerfeldt (June 21, 2019 2:06 PM PT) ''Los Angeles Times''.</ref> and an anonymous woman (allegedly in the 1990s) whose case did not go to trial because she withdrew it after receiving threats.<ref>[https://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/donald-trump-rape-lawsuit-dropped-230770 https://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/donald-trump-rape-lawsuit-dropped-230770  Woman suing Trump over alleged teen rape drops suit, again] by Josh Gerstein (11/04/2016) ''Politico''.</ref>

In 1997 and 2001, when Trump owned the Miss Universe Organization that included Miss Teen USA, he was accused by multiple contestants of barging into the contestants' dressing room, and Trump bragged about such activities to Howard Stern on air in 2005.<ref>[ https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/a-timeline-of-donald-trumps-creepiness-while-he-owned-miss-universe-191860/ A Timeline of Donald Trump’s Creepiness While He Owned Miss Universe] by Tessa Stuart (October 12, 2016) ''Rolling Stone''.</ref> Such activity amounts to non-consensual [[voyeurism]], and is a crime under some circumstances (e.g., {{wpl|Title IX}}).<ref>[https://www.biola.edu/title-ix Sexual Misconduct Policy - Title IX] ''Biola University''.</ref>

By his own admission in 2002, Trump associated with [[Jeffrey Epstein]] for at least 15 years;<ref>[https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5409002-trump-epstein-files-ag-bondi-patel-bongino-fbi-agents-durbin-wall-street-journal/ Durbin: FBI agents were told to ‘flag’ Epstein records that mentioned Trump] by Alexander Bolton (07/18/25 2:57 PM ET) ''The Hill''.</ref> Trump also frequently associated with Epstein's convicted co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell. In an January 31, 2019 email from Epstein to journalist Michael Wolff, Epstein said that Trump "knew about the girls", referring to Trump having told Maxwell to stop recruiting victims from his Mar-a-Lago resort.<ref>[https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZJA7E_YJ3BmUjf346L6ZDHl1xlTPTcEw Epstein Estate Documents - Seventh Production] ''House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform'' via Google Drive, document "HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_030411.txt".</ref> In another email from Epstein to Maxwell, Epstein referred to Trump as "the dog that hasn’t barked",  meaning that Trump had not told prosecutors the incriminating evidence about Epstein and Maxwell that he knew. Epstein wrote to Maxwell "i want you to realize that that dog that hasn't barked is trump.. virignia [Giuffre] spent hours at my house with him , he has never once been mentioned."<ref>[https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZJA7E_YJ3BmUjf346L6ZDHl1xlTPTcEw Epstein Estate Documents - Seventh Production] ''House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform'' via Google Drive, document "HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_031326.txt".</ref> Regarding emails between Epstein and Maxwell, former law professor, district attorney and federal prosecutor Mimi Rocah stated:<ref>[https://contrarian.substack.com/p/what-we-learned-from-newly-released What we learned from newly released Epstein emails. Trump might have done nothing wrong, but granting clemency to Ghislaine Maxwell could make it seem she is hiding something for him.] by Mimi Rocah (Nov 12, 2025) ''The Contrarian'' (Substack).</ref>
{{cquote|These email statements between Epstein and Maxwell are, in a prosecutor’s world, what we would call “co-conspirator’s statements” in furtherance of a conspiracy, under Federal Rule of Evidence 801(d)(2)(E). States have similar ones. Here, the conspiracy between Epstein and Maxwell is not necessarily to commit sex trafficking but, rather, to [[Coverup|cover it up]]. Why is that important? Because the whole basis of this rule&nbsp;— that statements between co-conspirators are admissible&nbsp;— exists because our judicial system and criminal laws recognize the reliability of such statements, i.e., the likelihood that co-conspirators in a crime are going to talk honestly with each other about other people’s involvement. Here, when they knew no one else was listening/reading, when they had no reason to suspect these would ever become public, Epstein and Maxwell talked about Trump being present in his house with a known sex trafficking victim, Giuffre; they stated “of course he knew” about the “girls.”}}

Besides his long relationship with Epstein and Maxwell, Trump also associated with sex trafficker {{wpl|Sean Combs}} on multiple occasions, with photographs of them together on September 1, 1997, September 30, 1997, August 16, 1998, February 9, 2000, December 13, 2013, September 8, 2003, September 29, 2004, March 11, 2005, February 7, 2008, and October 24, 2011.<ref>[https://www.gettyimages.com/search/2/image?phrase=diddy+trump&tracked_gsrp_landing=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gettyimages.com%2Fphotos%2Fdiddy-trump Search on "diddy trump"] ''Getty Images''.</ref> The 2005 event was to honor Combs and was co-hosted by Trump's wife Melania at Trump's Mar-a-Lago.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20251216070023/https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=102291228 The photos were taken at the "Art for Life Gala," The event was hosted by Russell and Kimora Lee Simmons at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on March 11, 2005.] by Lisa Becker (August 22, 2025) ''Facebook''.</ref>

==Early political career==
Trump spent a long time toying with the idea of running for president. In [[1988 United States presidential election|1988]], Trump says he was approached by [[Lee Atwater]] to potentially serve as [[George H.W. Bush]]'s vice presidential pick.<ref>{{cite web | last=Bradner | first=Eric | title=Trump says Bush 41 adviser approached him about becoming VP | website=CNN | date=2015-11-08 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/11/08/politics/donald-trump-george-bush-lee-atwater/index.html}}</ref> In 2000, he actively sought the [[Reform Party]] nomination as a populist, but he quit the race due to his ongoing financial problems.<ref>{{cite web | last=Clift | first=Eleanor | title=The Last Time Trump Wrecked a Party | website=The Daily Beast | date=2016-07-18 | url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-last-time-trump-wrecked-a-party/ | access-date=2025-02-10}}</ref>

During the [[Barack Obama|Obama]] era, Trump was notable for his public and vehement dislike for the president.<ref>{{cite web | last=Kevin Liptak | first=Athena Jones | title=Trump-Obama relationship is historically sour | website=CNN | date=2017-06-28 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/06/28/politics/trump-obama-relationship/index.html}}</ref> In 2011, Trump seized on the racist [[birtherism]] conspiracy theory, bringing it up numerous times and offering to donate $5 million to anyone who could convince him that Obama was born in the United States.<ref>{{cite web | title=The birth of the Obama 'birther' conspiracy | website=BBC News | date=2016-09-16 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2016-37391652}}</ref> At the 2011 White House Correspondents' Dinner, Obama mocked the thin-skinned Donald Trump for this right to his face.<ref name="whcorrepdinn">{{cite web | last=Taddonio | first=Patrice | title=WATCH: Inside the Night President Obama Took On Donald Trump | website=FRONTLINE | date=2016-09-22 | url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/watch-inside-the-night-president-obama-took-on-donald-trump/}}</ref> Multiple of Trump's surrogates and followers listed this as the moment Trump decided to run for president. In the words of ''The Truth About Trump'' author Michael D'Antonio, "Donald dreads humiliation and he dreads shame... This is a burning, personal need that he has to redeem himself from being humiliated by the first black president."<ref name="whcorrepdinn"/>

===2016 presidential campaign===
[[File:Donald Trump (25927572076).jpg|thumb|right|425px|Trump campaigns in Arizona, March 2016.]]
{{main|2016 United States presidential election}}
On 14 June 2015, Trump came down the elevator to the lobby of Trump Tower in New York City to deliver a meandering 45-minute speech in which he declared the "American dream" to be "dead" before making his iconic promise to "Make America Great Again."<ref>{{cite web | last=Diamond | first=Jeremy | title=Donald Trump jumps in: The Donald’s latest White House run is officially on | website=CNN | date=2015-06-16 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/06/16/politics/donald-trump-2016-announcement-elections/index.html |}}</ref> His campaign's focus on anti-immigration policies and his willingness to embrace crass insults and racist rhetoric, combined with his celebrity status, set him apart from the crowded Republican primary field and inspired a surge in grassroots conservative support.<ref name="trumpnyer">{{cite web | last=Cassidy | first=John | title=How Donald Trump Won the G.O.P. Nomination | website=The New Yorker | date=2016-05-04 | url=https://archive.is/3dnjL}}</ref> Central to his campaign were insults towards [[Mexico]] and a promise to [[Great Wall of America|order a wall built along the southern border]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Donald Trump Announces Presidential Bid By Trashing Mexico, Mexicans | website=NBC News | date=2015-06-16 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/donald-trump-announces-presidential-bid-trashing-mexico-mexicans-n376521 |}}</ref> Enthusiasm from Republican voters manifested as the highest voter turnout for the [[2016 Republican Party presidential nomination|Republican presidential primaries]] since 1980.<ref>{{cite web | last=DeSilver | first=Drew | title=Turnout was high in the 2016 primary season, but just short of 2008 record | website=Pew Research Center | date=2024-04-14 | url=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2016/06/10/turnout-was-high-in-the-2016-primary-season-but-just-short-of-2008-record/ |}}</ref>

Trump also embraced a populist anti-free trade message<ref>{{cite web | last=Long | first=Heather | title= NAFTA is 'killing the American Dream,' Michigan workers say | website=CNNMoney | date=2017-02-16 | url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/02/16/news/economy/donald-trump-nafta/ | access-date=2024-12-02}}</ref> and highlighted his proposal to ban [[Muslims]] from entering the United States.<ref>{{cite web | last=Taylor | first=Jessica | title=Trump Calls For 'Total And Complete Shutdown Of Muslims Entering' U.S. | website=NPR | date=2015-12-07 | url=https://www.npr.org/2015/12/07/458836388/trump-calls-for-total-and-complete-shutdown-of-muslims-entering-u-s |}}</ref> One of the defining elements of Trump's campaign was his all-out assault on the concept of [[political correctness]],<ref>{{cite web | last=Cillizza | first=Chris | title=The dangerous consequences of Trump’s all-out assault on political correctness | website=CNN | date=2018-10-30 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/30/politics/donald-trump-hate-speech-anti-semitism-steve-king-kevin-mccarthy/index.html |}}</ref> which served the purpose of legitimizing his insults and bullying as acts of defiance against the political establishment.<ref>{{cite web | last=Taub | first=Amanda | title=How Donald Trump uses "political correctness" to make sexist bullying seem like heroism | website=Vox | date=2016-01-29 | url=https://www.vox.com/2016/1/29/10871310/trump-political-correctness |}}</ref> This proved to be effective at motivating conservatives; ''[[The Washington Post]]'' noted that Trump supporters in polls and focus groups consistently said they liked him because "he says the things they feel they can't say."<ref>{{cite web | last=Guo | first=Jeff | title=The real reasons Donald Trump’s so popular | website=Washington Post | date=2015-12-12 | url=https://archive.is/WdoE5}}</ref>

The latter part was the real takeaway from Trump's campaign. While his anti-[[globalization]] stance endeared him to disaffected Rust Belt Democrats who felt left behind by the party's commitment to trade agreements,<ref>Cohn, Nate (2017-08-15). [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/15/upshot/the-obama-trump-voters-are-real-heres-what-they-think.html "The Obama-Trump Voters Are Real. Here's What They Think".] NYT 2017-08-15. Retrieved 2018-12-19.</ref> his real success came from his ability to tap into a growing sense of white racial resentment.<ref name="whiteresent"/> Republican political strategist Steve Schmidt described the Trump phenomenon as "a cultural backlash," and said that, "Millions and millions of people in this country, blue-collar people, feel that their values are under assault, that they're looked down upon, condescended to by the elites."<ref name="pcpoll">{{cite web | title='No more political correctness' for Trump supporters | website=PBS News | date=2016-04-10 | url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/no-more-political-correctness-for-trump-supporters |}}</ref> Patricia Aufderheide, a professor of communication at American University, put it differently: "Trump has given people permission to say things out loud that are usually tucked in until after the third drink at [[Thanksgiving]] dinner. But I think they’ve always been there."<ref name="pcpoll"/> 

Trump's campaign strongly appealed to [[racism]],<ref>{{cite web | last=Waldman | first=Paul | title=Donald Trump is running the most explicitly racist campaign since 1968 | website=The Week | date=2015-11-25 | url=https://theweek.com/articles/590711/donald-trump-running-most-explicitly-racist-campaign-since-1968 |}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last=Schaffner | first=Brian F. | last2=Macwilliams | first2=Matthew | last3=Nteta | first3=Tatishe | title=Understanding White Polarization in the 2016 Vote for President: The Sobering Role of Racism and Sexism | journal=Political Science Quarterly | volume=133 | issue=1 | date=2018-03-01 | issn=0032-3195 | doi=10.1002/polq.12737 | doi-access=free | pages=9–34}}</ref>and he openly embraced sexist attacks on his opponent [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Keith | first=Tamara | title=Sexism Is Out In The Open In The 2016 Campaign. That May Have Been Inevitable | website=NPR | date=2016-10-23 | url=https://www.npr.org/2016/10/23/498878356/sexism-is-out-in-the-open-in-the-2016-campaign-that-may-have-been-inevitable |}}</ref> His campaign was also briefly imperiled by revelations that he had sexually assaulted women and then bragged about it on tape.<ref>{{cite web | last=Liptak | first=Kevin | title=Obama on Republicans disavowing Trump: Too little, too late | website=CNN | date=2016-10-14 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/10/13/politics/barack-obama-republicans-donald-trump-criticism/index.html |}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Nelson | first=Libby | title=Donald Trump's history of misogyny, sexism, and harassment: a comprehensive review | website=Vox | date=2016-10-08 | url=https://www.vox.com/2016/10/8/13110734/donald-trump-leaked-audio-recording-billy-bush-sexism |}}</ref> His rallies often featured violence from his supporters against protesters,<ref>{{cite web | last=Nguyen | first=Tina | title=Donald Trump’s Rallies Are Becoming Increasingly Violent | website=Vanity Fair | date=2016-03-11 | url=https://archive.is/thmZ7}}</ref> and Trump himself encouraged that violence.<ref>{{cite web | last=Jacobs | first=Ben | title=Trump campaign dogged by violent incidents at rallies | website=the Guardian | date=2016-03-11 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/11/donald-trump-campaign-claims-violence-rallies |}}</ref> The spectacle of him, the buffoonery of this celebrity con man who thought he could be president, earned him media attention estimated to have been worth $5.9 billion in free advertising.<ref>{{cite web | last=Sultan | first=Niv M. | title=Election 2016: Trump's free media helped keep cost down | website=OpenSecrets News | date=2017-04-13 | url=https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2017/04/election-2016-trump-fewer-donors-provided-more-of-the-cash/ |}}</ref> 

Despite not even expecting to win,<ref>{{cite web | last=Cillizza | first=Chris | title=Let’s dispel the biggest myth of the 2016 election | website=CNN | date=2020-06-15 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/15/politics/trump-2016-election-not-expect-to-win-mary-jordan/index.html}}</ref> Trump ultimately won the election with 306 votes in the [[Electoral College]] by flipping longtime Democratic states and multiple swing states in the Rust Belt and Upper Midwest.<ref>{{cite web | last=Longworth | first=Richard C | title=Disaffected rust belt voters embraced Trump. They had no other hope | website=the Guardian | date=2016-11-21 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/21/disaffected-rust-belt-voters-embraced-donald-trump-midwestern-obama}}</ref> He also decisively lost the popular vote and only received 304 votes due to faithless electors.<ref>{{cite web | last=Krieg | first=Gregory | title=It’s official: Clinton swamps Trump in popular vote | website=CNN | date=2016-12-21 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/12/21/politics/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-popular-vote-final-count/index.html}}</ref> But those last two facts didn't matter. Like an elaborate prank becoming reality, the scammer known for his spray tans and television antics had become the [[President of the United States]].

{{anchor|Term 1}}

==Term 1: Fooled me once, shame on you (2017-2021)==
[[File:Women's March on Washington (32593123745).jpg|thumb|right|425px|The People v. Donald John Trump.]]
{{cquote|I have the ultimate authority... When somebody is the president of the United States, the authority is total and that's the way it’s got to be.... It's total.|||President Donald Trump, 14 April, 2020.<ref>{{cite web | last=Flynn | first=Meagan | last2=Chiu | first2=Allyson | title=Trump says his ‘authority is total.’ Constitutional experts have ‘no idea’ where he got that. | website=Washington Post | date=2020-04-14 | url=https://archive.is/gKLYM}}</ref>}} 
How else could Trump start his presidency but with lies? Ever insecure, Trump ordered his Press Secretary to claim that his Inauguration Day crowd was larger than either of Obama's, a provably untrue statement.<ref>{{cite web | title=Trump claims media 'dishonest' over crowd photos | website=BBC News | date=2017-01-21 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38707722}}</ref> Trump also claimed that his election victory was the "biggest Electoral College win" since Reagan, even though his number of electoral votes was actually much smaller than [[2012 United States presidential election|Obama's from four years previously]].<ref>{{cite web | title=No, Trump's electoral college win was not the biggest since Reagan | website=NBC News | date=2017-02-16 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-s-electoral-college-win-was-not-biggest-reagan-n722016}}</ref>

His inauguration did set one record, though. The Women's March on Washington, an anti-Trump protest event in Washington DC held the day after Inauguration Day, had the single largest number of protestors in one day in American history.<ref>{{cite web | last=Chenoweth | first=Erica | last2=Pressman | first2=Jeremy | title=This is what we learned by counting the women’s marches | website=Washington Post | date=2017-02-07 | url=https://archive.is/WShgx}}</ref>

Protesters during Trump's inauguration experienced [[police brutality]] and mistreatment in detention at the hands of DC police, resulting in a lawsuit from the [[ACLU]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Nelson | first=Louis | title=ACLU sues D.C. police over alleged mistreatment during Trump inauguration protests | website=POLITICO | date=2017-06-21 | url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/21/aclu-sues-dc-police-trump-inauguration-239808}}</ref> Trump's repeated endorsements of political violence and hate groups,<ref>{{cite web | last=Cineas | first=Fabiola | title=A timeline of hate: Trump’s history of encouraging violence, from 2015 to 2021 | website=Vox | date=2020-10-09 | url=https://www.vox.com/21506029/trump-violence-tweets-racist-hate-speech}}</ref> his attacks on the free press and embrace of lies,<ref>{{cite web | last=Siddiqui | first=Sabrina | last2=Smith | first2=David | title=Trump's attacks on media raise threat of violence against reporters, UN experts warn | website=the Guardian | date=2018-08-02 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/02/donald-trump-un-media-press-freedom-journalist-danger}}</ref> and his contempt for the rule of law<ref>{{cite web | last=Biskupic | first=Joan | title=Trump’s unbroken pattern of disdain for the rule of law | website=CNN | date=2020-02-22 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/22/politics/trump-justice-barr-rule-of-law/index.html}}</ref> all set the stage for a [[Authoritarianism of Donald Trump|presidency at war with American democracy]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Snyder | first=Timothy | title=Donald Trump and the New Dawn of Tyranny | website=TIME | date=2017-03-03 | url=https://time.com/4690676/donald-trump-tyranny/}}</ref>

===The swamp===
{{main|Cabinet of Donald Trump}}
During his campaign, Trump promised to "drain the swamp" by cleansing the government of corruption.<ref>{{cite web | last=Stanley-Becker | first=Isaac | last2=Dawsey | first2=Josh | title=Eight years ago, Trump vowed to ‘drain the swamp.’ Now he swims in it. | website=Washington Post | date=2024-10-11 | url=https://archive.is/nirEf}}</ref> He then turned around and built his own swamp by stuffing the executive branch with every Wall Street lobbyist and Big Business plutocrat piece of shit he could find—all to a collective shrug from his anti-elite supporters.<ref>{{cite web | last=Tesfaye | first=Sophia | title=Fill the swamp! Donald Trump's voters don't seem upset by all the Wall Street insiders and D.C. lobbyists | website=Salon | date=2016-12-02 | url=https://www.salon.com/2016/12/02/fill-the-swamp-donald-trumps-voters-dont-seem-upset-by-all-the-wall-street-insiders-and-d-c-lobbyists/}}</ref> 

While Trump's Cabinet became a revolving door of hirings and firings,<ref>{{cite web | title=Tracking turnover in the Trump administration | website=Brookings | date=2024-12-23 | url=https://www.brookings.edu/articles/tracking-turnover-in-the-trump-administration/}}</ref> the richest all stayed in place. Secretary of Education [[Betsy DeVos]] (worth $2 billion), Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross ($600 million), and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin ($400 million) all survived Trump's term without being fired.<ref>{{cite web | last=Tindera | first=Michela | title=The Definitive Net Worth Of Donald Trump’s Cabinet | website=Forbes | date=2019-07-25 | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/michelatindera/2019/07/25/the-definitive-net-worth-of-donald-trumps-cabinet/}}</ref> DeVos, while serving as Education Secretary, had financial stakes in for-profit colleges and student loan servicers, a clear conflict of interest.<ref>{{cite web | last=Espey | first=Mishka | last2=Shepherd | first2=Madeline | title=Inside the Financial Holdings of Billionaire Betsy DeVos | website=Center for American Progress | date=2017-01-27 | url=https://www.americanprogress.org/article/inside-the-financial-holdings-of-billionaire-betsy-devos/}}</ref> Mnuchin's OneWest Bank committed numerous violations of [[California]]'s foreclosure laws, but escaped prosecution due to a bizarre decision by then-state Attorney General [[Kamala Harris]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Dayen | first=David | title=Kamala Harris Fails to Explain Why She Didn't Prosecute Steven Mnuchin's Bank | website=The Intercept | date=2017-01-05 | url=https://theintercept.com/2017/01/05/kamala-harris-fails-to-explain-why-she-didnt-prosecute-steven-mnuchins-bank/}}</ref> Wilbur Ross maintained financial stakes in Chinese-owned companies, Russian oligarch companies, and American auto parts companies that all stood to benefit from Ross' decisions as Commerce Secretary.<ref>{{cite web | last=Yglesias | first=Matthew | title=Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross is tied up in major financial conflicts of interest | website=Vox | date=2018-06-20 | url=https://www.vox.com/2018/6/20/17479170/wilbur-ross-corruption}}</ref>

Trump's children were also key components of his swamp. Trump's Justice Department overruled memos advising that it was illegal for the president to appoint his family members to his administration,<ref>{{cite web | last=Gerstein | first=Josh | title=DOJ releases overruled memos finding it illegal for presidents to appoint relatives | website=POLITICO | date=2017-10-03 | url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/03/justice-department-legal-memos-presidents-appoint-relatives-243395}}</ref> and Trump made his son-in-law Jared Kushner a senior advisor at the White House. Kushner was tasked with handling the ongoing opioid crisis and peace initiatives between [[Israel]] and [[Palestine]]; he accomplished basically nothing while earning millions from his businesses.<ref>{{cite web | last=Libowitz | first=Jordan | title=How Ivanka and Jared made millions while refusing White House salaries | website=NBC News | date=2021-02-15 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/ivanka-trump-jared-kushner-made-millions-washington-what-cost-ncna1257795}}</ref> Kushner and his wife, Ivanka Trump, together made up to $640 million in outside income related to Trump's businesses while working as senior advisors.<ref>{{cite web | title=Jared and Ivanka made up to $640 million in the White House | website=CREW | date=2021-04-16 | url=https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/jared-and-ivanka-made-up-to-640-million-in-the-white-house/}}</ref> And those Trump businesses were directly profiting from Trump's presidency.

===The for-profit presidency===
[[File:Trump posting with Japanese PM Abe in golf club.jpg|thumb|right|395px|Trump with [[Japan|Japanese]] prime minister [[Shinzo Abe]] during a visit to Trump International Golf Club in [[Florida]], April 2019.]]
Trump refused to release his [[tax]] returns during his campaign, and he fought a legal battle to keep them secret throughout his presidency.<ref>{{cite web | last=Epstein | first=Kayla | title=The long journey to getting Trump's taxes released | website=BBC Home | date=2022-12-30 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64122250}}</ref> He also placed The Trump Organization into a revocable trust managed by his sons that was structured in a way to allow him to retrieve funds from the company and potentially take control of it in the future.<ref>{{cite web | title=Donald Trump: A list of potential conflicts of interest | website=BBC News | date=2016-12-01 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38069298 | ref={{sfnref|BBC News|2016}} | access-date=2025-02-10}}</ref> Trump, therefore, had a personal financial stake as president in ensuring that his companies would profit.

And profit his companies did. Foreign countries like [[China]], [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Turkey]], and [[Malaysia]] enriched the president by a collective total of $7.8 million by having their diplomats spend lavishly at Trump's hotels and apartments.<ref>{{cite web | last=Brice | first=Makini | title=Trump business got at least $7.8 million in foreign payments during presidency -report | website=Reuters | date=2024-01-04 | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-business-got-least-78-mln-foreign-payments-during-presidency-report-2024-01-04/}}</ref> The Trump International Hotel in Manhattan recorded its first profits in two years due to a visit by the Saudi Crown Prince's entourage,<ref>{{cite web | last=Fahrenthold | first=David A. | last2=O'Connell | first2=Jonathan | title=At President Trump’s hotel in New York, revenue went up this spring | website=Washington Post | date=2018-08-03 | url=https://archive.is/KEe6x}}</ref> and a year later Trump earned criticism for doing nothing to retaliate for Saudi Arabia's murder of an American citizen.<ref>{{cite web | last=Batrawy | first=Aya | last2=Press | first2=Associated | title=Trump puts Saudi arms sales above inquiry into Khashoggi killing | website=PBS News | date=2019-06-24 | url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/trump-puts-saudi-arms-sales-above-inquiry-into-khashoggi-killing}}</ref> 

Trump used his office to encourage foreign leaders to hold events at his overseas properties, allow new Trump properties to be established, and he stayed at those Trump properties personally during presidential visits.<ref>{{cite web | last=Jacobs | first=Rebecca | last2=Maguire | first2=Robert | title=Trump made up to $160 million from foreign countries as president | website=CREW | date=2023-08-15 | url=https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/trump-made-up-to-160-million-from-foreign-countries-as-president/}}</ref> He also owned tens of thousands in stock in companies involved in the construction of the Dakota Access oil pipeline, a project he then pushed foward as president.<ref>{{cite web | title=Donald Trump's stock in Dakota Access oil pipeline raises concerns | website=CBS News | date=2016-11-25 | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trumps-stock-in-dakota-access-oil-pipeline-raises-concerns/}}</ref> 

In March 2018, Trump hit a milestone: 100 days spent golfing at his own golf courses on the government's dime.<ref>{{cite web | last=Merica | first=Dan | title=Trump spends 100th day at golf club as president | website=CNN | date=2018-03-03 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/03/politics/trump-golf-100-days/index.html}}</ref> During their time protecting the president at his own properties, Trump's companies charged the Secret Service over $2 million for the right to operate at those properties.<ref>{{cite web | last=Libowitz | first=Jordan | last2=Moniz | first2=Caitlin | title=The Secret Service spent nearly $2 million at Trump properties | website=CREW | date=2023-08-16 | url=https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/the-secret-service-spent-nearly-2-million-at-trump-properties/}}</ref> Trump ultimately paid over 500 visits to his own golf courses over the course of his presidency.<ref>{{cite web | title=Trump has made 500 visits to his properties while in office | website=CREW | date=2020-09-17 | url=https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/trump-500-visits-trump-properties/}}</ref>

During his time as president, Trump's companies hauled in $2.4 billion<ref>{{cite web | last=Alexander | first=Dan | title=Trump’s Business Hauled In $2.4 Billion During Four Years He Served As President | website=Forbes | date=2021-07-19 | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2021/07/19/trumps-business-hauled-in-24-billion-during-four-years-he-served-as-president/}}</ref> and Trump himself made $1.6 billion.<ref>{{cite web | title=Trump reported making more than $1.6 billion while president | website=CREW | date=2021-04-16 | url=https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/trump-reported-making-more-than-1-6-billion-while-president/}}</ref> A pretty nice racket. His profiteering from the presidency and his refusal to divest from his businesses stood in blatant violation of the [[US Constitution]]'s Emoluments Clause.<ref>{{cite web | last=Lezra | first=Gabe | title=Profiting off the Presidency: Trump’s Violations of the Emoluments Clauses | website=American Constitution Society | date=2019-10-01 | url=https://www.acslaw.org/expertforum/profiting-off-the-presidency-trumps-violations-of-the-emoluments-clauses/}}</ref>

===The federal government as another failed Trump business===
[[File:Trump, Pence, Ryan, McConnell celebrate tax cut passage.jpg|thumb|right|395px|Trump celebrates his signing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act with [[Mitch McConnell]], [[Paul Ryan]], and [[Mike Pence]].]]
{{main|Policies of Donald Trump}}
Remember: Trump's business strategy during his casino days was to have those casinos pay him millions despite failing and then leaving investors to take the fall.<ref name="casinoscrew"/> We've already established that Trump was profiting from the government. Now comes the failure.

In December 2017, Trump signed his main legislative accomplishment, the {{wpl|Tax Cuts and Jobs Act|}}. This [[tax]] reform bill was overwhelmingly skewed towards the rich. While the top 1% of Americans received an average tax cut of more than $60,000, the lower 60% only got an average tax cut of less than $500 per household.<ref name="tcaja">{{cite web | last=Marr | first=Chuck | last2=Jacoby | first2=Samantha | last3=Fenton | first3=George | title=The 2017 Trump Tax Law Was Skewed to the Rich, Expensive, and Failed to Deliver on Its Promises | website=Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | date=2024-03-05 | url=https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-tax/the-2017-trump-tax-law-was-skewed-to-the-rich-expensive-and-failed-to-deliver}}</ref> Combined with the centerpiece of the law, its massive cut to corporate taxation from 35% to 21%, Trump officials claimed that the bill would "very conservatively" lead to a $4,000 boost in household income.<ref name="tcaja"/> Households earning less than $114,000 on average saw no changes in their incomes, while corporate executive salaries increased dramatically.<ref name="tcaja"/><ref>{{cite web | last=Nadeau | first=Sarah | last2=Shepherd | first2=Madeline | title=The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Failed To Deliver Promised Benefits | website=Center for American Progress | date=2024-04-30 | url=https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-tax-cuts-and-jobs-act-failed-to-deliver-promised-benefits/}}</ref> Once again, [[supply-side economics]] failed to work as promised.<ref>{{cite web | last=Nadeau | first=Sarah | last2=Cusick | first2=Julia | last3=Shepherd | first3=Madeline | title=Trump’s Corporate Tax Cut Is Not Trickling Down | website=Center for American Progress | date=2019-09-26 | url=https://www.americanprogress.org/article/trumps-corporate-tax-cut-not-trickling/}}</ref> The distance separating America's highest and lowest income brackets grew by almost 9 percent annually during Trump's first term, a faster rate than even during the Great Recession and the worst years of [[George W. Bush]].<ref>{{cite web | author=Jeffrey Kucik | title=How Trump fueled economic inequality in America | date=2021-01-21 | url=https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/535239-how-trump-fueled-economic-inequality-in-america/}}</ref> 

What Trump's tax cut bill ''did'' accomplish was slashing the federal government's revenue and costing the government $1.7 trillion by the end of fiscal year 2023.<ref>{{cite web | last=Miller | first=Meghan | title=Tax Cuts Are Primarily Responsible for the Increasing Debt Ratio | website=Center for American Progress | date=2024-05-08 | url=https://www.americanprogress.org/article/tax-cuts-are-primarily-responsible-for-the-increasing-debt-ratio/}}</ref> Even before the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the national debt started spiking under Trump's watch, and it had increased 39% and set a post-[[World War II]] record high debt-to-GDP ratio by the end of his term.<ref>{{cite web | last=Allan Sloan | first=Cezary Podkul | title=Donald Trump Built a National Debt So Big (Even Before the Pandemic) That It’ll Weigh Down the Economy for Years | website=ProPublica | date=2021-01-14 | url=https://www.propublica.org/article/national-debt-trump}}</ref> This is a financial burden that will weigh on the United States for decades; Trump once again left his investors, this time the American voting public, paying the price for his mismanagement.

Trump also gutted federal regulations protecting labor rights,<ref>{{cite web | title=Ten actions that hurt workers during Trump’s first year: How Trump and Congress further rigged the economy in favor of the wealthy | website=Economic Policy Institute | date=2017-01-20 | url=https://www.epi.org/publication/ten-actions-that-hurt-workers-during-trumps-first-year/}}</ref>the environment,<ref>{{cite web | title=The Trump administration’s major environmental deregulations | website=Brookings | date=2022-03-09 | url=https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-trump-administrations-major-environmental-deregulations/}}</ref> and healthcare.<ref>{{cite web | title=The Trump Administration’s Health Care Sabotage | website=Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | date=2021-01-15 | url=https://www.cbpp.org/research/health/the-trump-administrations-health-care-sabotage}}</ref> Thankfully, Trump's attempt to repeal the [[Affordable Care Act]] failed, but it wasn't for a lack of trying.<ref>{{cite web | last=Scott | first=Dylan | title=I’ll never forget watching John McCain vote down Obamacare repeal | website=Vox | date=2018-08-26 | url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/8/25/17782664/john-mccain-legacy-obamacare-repeal-thumbs-down}}</ref> The number of uninsured people still rose steadily from 2017 to 2019 thanks to Trump's efforts.<ref>{{cite web | last=Broaddus | first=Matt | last2=Aron-Dine | first2=Aviva | title=Uninsured Rate Rose Again in 2019, Further Eroding Earlier Progress | website=Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | date=2020-09-15 | url=https://www.cbpp.org/research/health/uninsured-rate-rose-again-in-2019-further-eroding-earlier-progress}}</ref>

===Cranking up the heat on climate change===
During his 2016 campaign, Trump promised to revitalize the US [[coal]] industry, and he quickly went about stuffing his administration with coal-industry executives and lobbyists.<ref name="trumpcoal">{{cite web | last=Lipton | first=Eric | title=‘The Coal Industry Is Back,’ Trump Proclaimed. It Wasn’t. | website=The New York Times | date=2020-10-05 | url=https://archive.is/bpaG6}}</ref> Trump also declared himself to be a [[climate change]] denier and bizarrely claimed that the concept of climate change "was created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive."<ref>{{cite web | last=Phillips | first=Tom | title=Climate change a Chinese hoax? Beijing gives Donald Trump a lesson in history | website=the Guardian | date=2016-11-17 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/17/climate-change-a-chinese-plot-beijing-gives-donald-trump-a-history-lesson}}</ref> 

As president, Trump withdrew the United States from the {{wpl|Paris Climate Agreement|}} (although this did not take effect until 2020<ref>{{cite web | last=McGrath | first=Matt | title=Climate change: US formally withdraws from Paris agreement | website=BBC Home | date=2020-11-04 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-54797743}}</ref>), weakened the Environmental Protection Agency,<ref>{{cite web | last=Letzter | first=Rafi | title=The EPA, which protects Americans from poison and pollution, has been frozen under Trump | website=Business Insider | date=2017-01-24 | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/epa-freeze-trump-2017-1}}</ref> and rolled back dozens of environmental regulations.<ref>{{cite web | last=Eilperin | first=Juliet | last2=Dennis | first2=Brady | last3=Muyskens | first3=John | title=Trump rolled back more than 125 environmental safeguards. Here’s how. | website=Washington Post | date=2020-10-30 | url=https://archive.is/d5N2y}}</ref> For example, in 2020, Trump rolled back federal regulations saying that coal plants can't just dump wastewater contaminated with lead and arsenic into the country's rivers.<ref>{{cite web | last=Friedman | first=Lisa | title=E.P.A. Relaxes Rules Limiting Toxic Waste From Coal Plants | website=The New York Times | date=2020-08-31 | url=https://archive.is/yF8An}}</ref> Trump and toxic waste: like calls to like.

Despite Trump's efforts, the decline of the US coal industry continued to accelerate to the point where US coal production in 2020 was at its lowest since 1965.<ref>[https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=48696 In 2020, U.S. coal production fell to its lowest level since 1965]. U.S. Energy Information Administration. July 14, 2021.</ref> By doubling down on a dying industry, Trump had placed himself against [[economics]]. And economics says that people will always choose cheaper and cleaner products; coal was simply and inevitably outcompeted by [[renewable energy]] and natural gas.<ref>{{cite web | last=Plumer | first=Brad | last2=Popovich | first2=Nadja | title=Trump Wants to Bail Out Coal and Nuclear Power. Here’s Why That Will Be Hard. | website=The New York Times | date=2018-06-13 | url=https://archive.is/gbtJh}}</ref>

Overall, Trump's first term represented a catastrophic setback for global efforts against climate change.<ref>{{cite web | last=Kann | first=Drew | title=‘The lost years’: Climate damage that occurred on Trump’s watch will endure long after he is gone | website=CNN | date=2021-01-18 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/18/politics/trump-climate-legacy-bidens-challenge/index.html}}</ref> His environmental policies contributed to accelerating global warming and resulted in little economic growth.<ref>{{cite web | last=Davenport | first=Coral | title=Trump's Climate Policies Accelerated Global Warming | website=The New York Times | date=2020-11-09 | url=https://archive.is/d3lvF}}</ref> All cost and no benefit, as usual for Trump.

===Violence and hate crimes===
[[File:White supremacists clash with police (36421659232).jpg|thumb|right|375px|White supremacists, one wearing a Trump hat, clash with police during the 2017 Unite the Right rally.]]
Trump's term coincided with a skyrocketing rate of hate crimes: the [[FBI]] recorded a 17% spike from 2016 to 2017, and then hate crime rates more than doubled from 2018 to 2019.<ref name="cnnhate">{{cite web | last=Campbell | first=Josh | title=Deadly hate crime levels surge in latest FBI reporting | website=CNN | date=2020-11-16 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/16/politics/hate-crimes-fbi-report/index.html}}</ref> During and after his presidential campaign, academic studies consistently demonstrated links between Trump's rhetoric and a corresponding increase in hate crimes.<ref>{{cite web | title=Trump words linked to more hate crime? Some experts think so | website=AP News | date=2019-08-07 | url=https://apnews.com/article/az-state-wire-tx-state-wire-race-and-ethnicity-el-paso-caribbean-7d0949974b1648a2bb592cab1f85aa16}}</ref> Counties that hosted Trump rallies in 2016 on average saw a 226% increase in hate crimes compared to similar counties that did not host Trump rallies.<ref>{{cite web | last=Sakuma | first=Amanda | title=Hate crimes reportedly jumped by 226 percent in counties that hosted Trump campaign rallies | website=Vox | date=2019-03-24 | url=https://www.vox.com/2019/3/24/18279807/trump-hate-crimes-study-white-nationalism}}</ref>

This trend continued with Trump as president. After a counter-protester was murdered at 2017's [[Unite the Right]] hate rally, the half-hearted nature of Trump's condemnation earned praise from white supremacists and [[neo-Nazis]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Nelson | first=Libby | title=“Why we voted for Donald Trump”: David Duke explains the white supremacist Charlottesville protests | website=Vox | date=2017-08-12 | url=https://www.vox.com/2017/8/12/16138358/charlottesville-protests-david-duke-kkk}}</ref> ''[[The Daily Stormer]]'', a neo-Nazi [[webshite]] had this to say about Trump's comments: "No condemnation at all. When asked to condemn, [Trump] just walked out of the room. Really, really good. God bless him."<ref>{{cite web | last=Wang | first=Amy B | title=One group loved Trump’s remarks about Charlottesville: White supremacists | website=Washington Post | date=2017-08-13 | url=https://archive.is/cFlQu}}</ref>

Overall, ABC News found 54 cases between 2015 and 2020 in which Trump's name was invoked by the perpetrator of a violent act.<ref name="abchate">{{cite web | last=Levine | first=Mike | title='No Blame?' ABC News finds 54 cases invoking 'Trump' in connection with violence, threats, alleged assaults. | website=ABC News | date=2020-05-30 | url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/blame-abc-news-finds-17-cases-invoking-trump/story?id=58912889}}</ref> The sheer number of people inspired to violence by Trump led to the creation of the so-called "Trump defense," under which defense attorneys would argue for more lenient sentences because their clients had been incited by [[Rhetoric of Donald Trump|the president's rhetoric]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Tracy | first=Abigail | title=“The President of the United States Says It’s Okay”: The Rise of the Trump Defense | website=Vanity Fair | date=2019-08-08 | url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/08/donald-trump-domestic-terrorism-el-paso}}</ref> 

After Trump's "invasion" rhetoric was parroted by a domestic [[terrorist]] who shot 22 people in El Paso,<ref>{{cite web | title=The El Paso shooter and Trump both call immigrants "invaders." That's no coincidence. | website=NBC News | date=2019-08-05 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/trump-s-anti-immigrant-invasion-rhetoric-was-echoed-el-paso-ncna1039286}}</ref> Trump showed up uninvited to a memorial event and told everyone that "my rhetoric brings people together."<ref>{{cite web | last=Levin | first=Bess | title=Trump: My Unhinged Hate Speech “Brings People Together” | website=Vanity Fair | date=2019-08-07 | url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/08/donald-trump-racism-brings-people-together}}</ref> This took place only a few months after Trump laughed and joked in response to a rally-goer's suggested that American should start shooting undocumented immigrants.<ref>{{cite web | last=Cummings | first=William | title=Trump laughs at suggestion to 'shoot' migrants from Florida rally goer | website=USA TODAY | date=2019-05-09 | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2019/05/09/trump-chuckles-shooting-migrants/1150160001/}}</ref>

===Trump-Russia investigations===
[[File:Director Robert S. Mueller- III.jpg|thumb|right|195px|Special Counsel Robert Mueller.]]
{{main|Trump-Russia connection}}
{{cquote|While this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.|||William Barr quoting the Mueller report in his summary.<ref name="AP-exonerate">{{cite web | title=AP FACT CHECK: Trump hails an exoneration not offered | website=AP News | date=2019-03-25 | url=https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-global-trade-politics-john-mccain-north-america-efe98b720cbc447b9f26c1e334da44e6}}</ref>}}
During Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, he "joked" that Russians should hack Hillary Clinton's e-mails,<ref>{{cite web | last=Cohen | first=Marshall | title=Trump says he joked about wanting Russian help in 2016. The facts tell a different story. | website=CNN | date=2019-03-05 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/05/politics/trump-emails-joke/index.html |}}</ref> and at least 12 of Trump's associates had contacts with Russian officials.<ref>{{cite web | last=Cohen | first=Marshall | title=Trump says he joked about wanting Russian help in 2016. The facts tell a different story. | website=CNN | date=2019-03-05 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/05/politics/trump-emails-joke/index.html |}}</ref>

The [[FBI]], led by James Comey, opened an investigation in 2016 into what Trump called "this Russia thing with Trump and Russia."<ref name="comeyfire">{{cite web | last=Smith | first=David | last2=Borger | first2=Julian | last3=Gambino | first3=Lauren | title=Donald Trump admits 'this Russia thing' part of reasoning for firing Comey | website=the Guardian | date=2017-05-12 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/may/11/donald-trump-james-comey-firing-russia-investigation}}</ref> In January 2017, President Obama declassified a joint report from the [[CIA]], FBI, and [[NSA]] concluding that [[Vladimir Putin]] had indeed ordered Russian intelligence to interfere in the 2016 election to help Trump.<ref>{{cite web | last=Sanger | first=David E. | title=Putin Ordered ‘Influence Campaign’ Aimed at U.S. Election, Report Says | website=The New York Times | date=2017-01-06 | url=https://archive.is/Cp19B}}</ref> The same year, Trump told two senior Russian officials that he was unconcerned by the country's election interference,<ref>{{cite web | last=Harris | first=Shane | last2=Dawsey | first2=Josh | last3=Nakashima | first3=Ellen | title=Trump told Russian officials in 2017 he wasn’t concerned about Moscow’s interference in U.S. election | website=Washington Post | date=2019-09-28 | url=https://archive.is/9ZDlV}}</ref> and he fired James Comey to put an end to his investigation.<ref name="comeyfire"/>

In May 2017, the Justice Department appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller to serve as a special counsel in a counterintelligence investigation into Russia's election interference and potential involvement by the Trump campaign.<ref>{{cite web | title=Robert Mueller takes over FBI’s Russia investigation at pivotal moment | website=ABC News | date=2017-05-15 | url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/fbis-russia-investigation/story?id=47346117}}</ref> The ongoing investigation haunted Trump's administration for years,<ref>{{cite web | last=Johnston | first=Abby | title=The Mueller Investigation, Explained | website=FRONTLINE | date=2019-03-25 | url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/the-mueller-investigation-explained-2/}}</ref> and Mueller indicted 34 people, 25 of them Russians.<ref>{{cite web | last=Breslow | first=Jason | title=All The Criminal Charges To Emerge From Robert Mueller's Investigation | website=NPR | date=2018-12-09 | url=https://www.npr.org/2018/12/09/643444815/all-the-criminal-charges-to-emerge-so-far-from-robert-muellers-investigation}}</ref> Trump repeatedly denounced the investigation as a "witch hunt" and attempted to order Attorney General Jeff Sessions to end the investigation.<ref>{{cite web | last=Clark | first=Dartunorro | title=Trump calls on Sessions to end Mueller investigation 'right now' | website=NBC News | date=2018-08-01 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-calls-sessions-end-mueller-s-witch-hunt-n896481}}</ref> 

Mueller's final report in 2019 noted that Trump's campaign welcomed and encouraged Russia's interference in the election,<ref>{{cite web | last=Bump | first=Philip | title=Trump briefly acknowledges that Russia aided his election — and falsely says he didn’t help the effort | website=Washington Post | date=2019-05-30 | url=https://archive.is/TelgQ}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Polantz | first=Katelyn | last2=Kaufman | first2=Ellie | last3=Murray | first3=Sara | title=Mueller raised possibility Trump lied to him | website=CNN | date=2020-06-19 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/19/politics/mueller-report-rerelease-fewer-redactions/}}</ref> but he was unable to find evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump personally colluded with the Russians or deliberately obstructed justice.<ref name="AP-exonerate"/> While Trump claimed this as an exoneration, Mueller had directly written in his report that it was no such thing, as Trump most certainly committed severe misconduct.<ref name="AP-exonerate"/> The report also listed 10 instances of behavior from Trump that could potentially constitute attempts at obstructing the investigation, but Attorney General William Barr did not believe the Justice Department had sufficient evidence to file charges for obstruction.<ref>{{cite web | last=Pramuk | first=Jacob | title=Mueller report recounts 10 'episodes' involving Trump and questions of obstruction | website=CNBC | date=2019-04-18 | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/18/mueller-report-recounts-10-episodes-involving-trump-and-questions-of-obstruction.html}}</ref>

===Rights abuses and discrimination===
In May 2017, Trump signed an executive order rolling back federal anti-discrimination protections for [[LGBT]] workers despite his previous campaign promise that he wouldn't do this.<ref>{{cite web | title=LGBTQ advocates say Trump's new executive order removes protections against job discrimination | website=NBC News | date=2017-03-29 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/lgbtq-advocates-say-trump-s-news-executive-order-makes-them-n740301}}</ref> Trump also banned [[transgender]] Americans from serving in the military, citing "disruption".<ref>{{cite web | title=US Supreme Court allows Trump military transgender ban | website=BBC Home | date=2019-01-22 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46963426}}</ref> Trump also attempted to end federal anti-discrimination protections for transgender healthcare, but a federal judge ruled against this in 2020.<ref>{{cite web | last=Luthi | first=Susannah | title=Judge halts Trump's rollback of transgender health protections | website=POLITICO | date=2020-08-17 | url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/17/judge-trump-rollback-transgender-health-397332}}</ref> With no explanation, Trump disbanded the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS,<ref>{{cite web | last=Browning | first=Bil | title=Trump fires his HIV/AIDS council without warning & won't explain why he did it | website=LGBTQ Nation | date=2017-12-29 | url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2017/12/trump-fires-hiv-aids-council-without-warning-wont-explain/}}</ref> and he became the first president to deliver an address at an anti-LGBT hate conference.<ref>{{cite web | last=Oppenheim | first=Maya | title=Donald Trump to be first President to speak at anti-LGBT hate group's event | website=The Independent | date=2017-10-13 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-anti-lgbt-address-hate-group-summit-meeting-first-president-us-homphobia-a7997401.html}}</ref>

Trump, a longtime advocate for [[capital punishment]],<ref>{{cite web | last=Wolf | first=Zachary B. | title=Trump returns to the death penalty as Democrats turn against it | website=CNN | date=2019-07-27 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/27/politics/death-penalty-trump-democrats/}}</ref> ended a 17-year federal death penalty moratorium, and his administration conducted 13 executions, which was more than the previous 56 years combined.<ref>{{cite web | last=Tarm | first=Michael | last2=Kunzelman | first2=Michael | title=Trump administration carries out 13th and final execution | website=AP News | date=2021-01-16 | url=https://apnews.com/general-news-28e44cc5c026dc16472751bbde0ead50}}</ref>

For women's rights, Trump signed a law in 2017 that allowed states to withhold federal healthcare from any clinics that provided [[abortion]] services, and he expanded to an unprecedented degree the "global gag" rule policy, which restricts US aid to international health organizations that support family planning and abortion services.<ref>{{cite web | last=Heuvel | first= Katrina Vanden | title=Trump Escalates War on Women | website=Common Dreams | date=2017-05-23 | url=https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/05/23/trump-escalates-war-women}}</ref> Amid a sexual assault epidemic on college campuses, the Trump administration cut federal protections for sexual assault survivors.<ref>{{cite web | author=Common Dreams Staff | title=Amid 'Epidemic' of Campus Sexual Assault, Women's Groups Decry Rollback of Protections by 'See No Evil Betsy Devos' | website=Common Dreams | date=2018-08-30 | url=https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/30/amid-epidemic-campus-sexual-assault-womens-groups-decry-rollback-protections-see-no}}</ref> A policy to be expected from a president who is himself a predator.

====Immigration crackdown====
[[File:Overcrowded Families in McAllen Station-10Jun2019-DHS OIG.png|thumb|right|375px|People in cages at a migrant detention facility in [[Texas]], 2019.]] 
The administration's most infamous rights abuses were all connected to its immigration policy. In 2017, Trump signed an order that banned citizens from seven [[Muslim]]-majority countries from entering the United States.<ref>{{cite web | last=Dehghan | first=Saeed Kamali | last2=Walters | first2=Joanna | last3=Helmore | first3=Edward | title=US airports on frontline as Donald Trump's travel ban causes chaos and protests | website=the Guardian | date=2017-01-28 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/28/airports-us-immigration-ban-muslim-countries-trump}}</ref> This sparked a wave of protests and legal challenges, but the [[Supreme Court]] upheld a modified version of the policy in 2018 because of course they did.<ref>{{cite web | last=Totenberg | first=Nina | title=In Big Win For White House, Supreme Court Upholds President Trump's Travel Ban | website=NPR | date=2018-06-26 | url=https://www.npr.org/2018/06/26/606481548/supreme-court-upholds-trump-travel-ban}}</ref> 

And while deportation rates didn't change much from the Obama years, Trump did vastly increase rates of detentions and decrease admissions for refugees (especially [[Islam|Muslims]]).<ref>{{cite web | last=Lowther | first=Ed | title=US election 2020: Trump's impact on immigration | website=BBC Home | date=2020-10-21 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-54638643 |}}</ref> Trump's administration then earned widespread outrage by implementing a "zero tolerance" immigration policy calling for the separation of children from families as a punitive measure for crossing the border illegally.<ref>{{cite web | title=Family Separation in Their Own Words: The Lasting Harm of the Trump Administration’s Zero Tolerance Policy | website=ReliefWeb | date=2024-01-23 | url=https://reliefweb.int/report/united-states-america/family-separation-their-own-words-lasting-harm-trump-administrations-zero-tolerance-policy |}}</ref> 

Migrant detention facilities were dangerously overcrowded,<ref>{{cite web | last=Owen | first=Quinn | title=Nearly 900 migrants found at Texas facility with 125-person capacity: DHS watchdog | website=ABC News | date=2019-05-31 | url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/900-migrants-found-texas-facility-125-person-capacity/story?id=63404988 |}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=From bad to 'sheer inhumanity': Detention conditions for migrants worse under Trump, advocates say | website=NBC News | date=2019-07-02 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/bad-sheer-inhumanity-detention-conditions-migrants-worse-under-trump-advocates-n1025961 |}}</ref> and a 2019 report from an inspection by the [[Department of Homeland Security]] (DHS) contained some absolutely insane quotes such as, "children at three of the five border patrol facilities we visited had no access to showers," or "cells smelled of what might have been unwashed bodies/body odour, urine, untreated diarrhea, and/or soiled clothing/diapers."<ref>{{cite web | last=Rennix | first=Brianna | last2=Robinson | first2=Nathan | title=Crammed in to cells and forced to drink from the toilet | website=the Guardian | date=2019-07-03 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/03/migrant-dentention-centres-us-border-patrol |}}</ref> At least seven children died while in the custody of immigration enforcement due to poor conditions and inadequate healthcare.<ref>{{cite web | last=Acevedo | first=Nicole | title=Why are migrant children dying in U.S. custody? | website=NBC News | date=2019-05-29 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/why-are-migrant-children-dying-u-s-custody-n1010316}}</ref> Who knew that Republican [[family values]] included killing children?

Over the course of the Trump administration, immigration authorities separated over 5,400 children from their families, and the practice continued even after a federal judge ordered the policy to be scaled back.<ref>{{cite web | title=Tally of children split at border tops 5,400 in new count | website=AP News | date=2019-10-25 | url=https://apnews.com/article/immigration-us-news-ap-top-news-az-state-wire-ca-state-wire-c654e652a4674cf19304a4a4ff599feb}}</ref> The administration also never had a plan to reunite children with their families.<ref>{{cite web | last=Kopan | first=Tal | title=Government never had specific plan to reunify families, court testimony shows | website=CNN | date=2018-06-29 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/29/politics/family-separations-reunification-never-plan-court/index.html}}</ref> The president's immigration policies were motivated at least in part by the Trumpist movement and Trump himself embracing the [[Great Replacement]] conspiracy theory.<ref>{{cite web | last=LeTourneau | first=Nancy | title=Donald Trump and Fox News Promote the Great Replacement Theory | website=Washington Monthly | date=2019-08-06 | url=https://washingtonmonthly.com/2019/08/06/donald-trump-and-fox-news-promote-the-great-replacement-theory/}}</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/05/civilisational-erasure-us-strategy-document-appears-to-echo-far-right-conspiracy-theories-about-europe ‘Cultivate resistance’: policy paper lays bare Trump support for Europe’s far right. Text signed by president seems to echo ‘great replacement’ theory, saying Europe faces ‘civilisational erasure’] by Jon Henley (5 Dec 2025 17.55 EST) ''The Guardian''.</ref>

And because Trump was always pretty bad at anything that didn't involve direct cruelty or criminality, Trump largely failed to build his beloved wall.<ref>{{cite web | last=Rodgers | first=Lucy | last2=Bailey | first2=Dominic | title=Trump wall: How much has he actually built? | website=BBC Home | date=2019-01-21 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46824649 |}}</ref>

===Undermining America's foreign interests===
[[File:President Trump & the First Lady's Trip to Europe (42547210635).jpg|thumb|right|365px|US intelligence veterans described Trump as either an "asset" or "useful idiot" for Putin after his parroting of Russian talking points at the 2018 US-Russia summit.<ref>{{cite web | last=Sheth | first=Sonam | title=US spies say Trump's G7 performance suggests he's either a 'Russian asset' or a 'useful idiot' for Putin | website=Business Insider | date=2019-08-29 | url=https://archive.is/fUS5G}}</ref> America First?]]
{{main|Foreign policy of Donald Trump}}
Trump declared his foreign policy doctrine to be [[nationalist]] and "America First".<ref>{{cite web | last=Cummings | first=William | title=Trump says he's a nationalist: What it means, why it's controversial | website=USA TODAY | date=2018-10-24 | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/10/24/trump-says-hes-nationalist-what-means-why-its-controversial/1748521002/}}</ref> In practice, it's difficult to know what those terms even meant to him due to the erratic and ill-considered nature of his decisions. 

He undermined America's interests by raising tensions with [[NATO]] allies,<ref>{{cite web | last=Swanson | first=Ana | title=Trump Administration Escalates Tensions With Europe as Crisis Looms | website=The New York Times | date=2020-03-12 | url=https://archive.is/OZNPT}}</ref> and he considered diplomatically isolating the United States by withdrawing from the alliance.<ref>{{cite web | last=Barnes | first=Julian E. | last2=Cooper | first2=Helene | title=Trump Discussed Pulling U.S. From NATO, Aides Say Amid New Concerns Over Russia | website=The New York Times | date=2019-01-15 | url=https://archive.is/3xiJ0}}</ref> Trump frequently praised American adversary [[Vladimir Putin]],<ref>{{cite web | last=Baker | first=Peter | title=Trump Praises Putin Instead of Critiquing Cuts to U.S. Embassy Staff | website=The New York Times | date=2017-08-10 | url=https://archive.is/rIalf}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Putin didn’t have to push the Kremlin’s narrative. Trump did it for him. | website=Brookings | date=2022-03-09 | url=https://www.brookings.edu/articles/putin-didnt-have-to-push-the-kremlins-narrative-trump-did-it-for-him/}}</ref> and supported Russia's return to the {{wpl|G7|}}.<ref>{{cite web | last=Panetta | first=Grace | title=Trump reportedly claimed to leaders at the G7 that Crimea is part of Russia because everyone there speaks Russian | website=Business Insider | date=2018-06-14 | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-claims-crimea-is-part-of-russia-since-people-speak-russian-g7-summit-2018-6}}</ref> After speaking to Putin during a 2018 summit in [[Finland]], Trump declared that he trusted Putin's word over that of US intelligence agencies regarding Russian interference in the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 US election]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Trump sides with Russia against FBI at Helsinki summit | website=BBC Home | date=2018-07-16 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44852812}}</ref>

Trump would also veer from one extreme to the other. After threatening to "totally destroy" [[North Korea]] and privately discussing using [[nuclear weapons]] to do so,<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-discussed-using-nuclear-weapon-north-korea-2017-blaming-someone-rcna65120 Trump discussed using a nuclear weapon on North Korea in 2017 and blaming it on someone else, book says]. ''NBC News.'' 12 Jan. 2023.</ref> Trump met [[Kim Jong-Un]] at a summit after saluting a North Korean general<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/14/politics/trump-north-korea-salute/index.html  Trump returns salute of North Korean general at summit, state media footage reveals]. ''CNN.'' June 14, 2018.</ref> and started writing what he described as "love letters" to this enemy of the United States.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/07/trump-papers-kim-love-letters-national-archives-mar-a-lago Trump papers including Kim ‘love letters’ retrieved from Mar-a-Lago]. ''The Guardian.'' 7 Feb 2022.</ref> The summit and outreach resulted in no diplomatic agreements.<ref>{{cite web | title=North Korea decries breakdown of talks US says were 'good' | website=AP News | date=2019-10-06 | url=https://apnews.com/article/c66474b67b3e41cdad6d21ba3385ddc2}}</ref> Another Trump failure.

Meanwhile, Trump forged close a relationship with [[Saudi Arabia]]'s crown prince while having extensive personal business ties to that country.<ref>{{cite web | last=Meyer | first=Josh | title=Trump's first call was with Saudi leader. Why watchdogs are concerned | website=USA TODAY | date=2025-01-25 | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/01/25/trump-saudi-arabia-prince-mohammed-bin-salman/77911715007/}}</ref> He significantly increased the rate of drone strikes on foreign targets and stopped the government from reporting on civilian casualties.<ref>{{cite web | title=Trump revokes Obama rule on reporting drone strike deaths | website=BBC Home | date=2019-03-07 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47480207}}</ref> His trade war with China cost the federal government tens of billions in bailouts to farmers impacted by China's reduced demand for American food imports.<ref>{{cite web | last=Anderson | first=Stuart | title=Trump Tariff Aid To Farmers Cost More Than U.S. Nuclear Forces | website=Forbes | date=2020-01-21 | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2020/01/21/trump-tariff-aid-to-farmers-cost-more-than-us-nuclear-forces/}}</ref> His ill-considered agreement with the [[Taliban]] in 2020 contributed to a botched withdrawal from the [[Afghanistan War]] in 2021.<ref>{{cite web | last=Navarro | first=Aaron | title=Harris campaign hits Trump on 2020 Taliban deal in response to his criticism of Afghanistan withdrawal | website=CBS News | date=2024-09-07 | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/harris-campaign-trump-taliban-afghanistan-withdrawal/}}</ref> 

One of Trump's closest foreign partners was fellow wannabe autocrat [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] of [[Israel]],<ref>{{cite web | last=Ravid | first=Barak | title=Trump accuses Netanyahu of disloyalty: "F*** him" | website=Axios | date=2021-12-10 | url=https://www.axios.com/2021/12/10/trump-netanyahu-disloyalty-fuck-him}}</ref> which resulted in US recognition of [[Jerusalem]] as Israel's capital<ref>{{cite web | last=Usher | first=Barbara Plett | title=Jerusalem embassy: Why Trump's move was not about peace | website=BBC Home | date=2018-05-15 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44120428}}</ref> and the signing of the {{wpl|Abraham Accords|}}. However, Trump's haphazard withdrawal from the {{wpl|Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action|Iran Nuclear Deal|}} made Israel less safe due to Iran's decision to resume enriching uranium to defy reimposed US sanctions, leaving it far closer to developing a nuclear weapon than it had been before he took office.<ref>{{cite web | last=Lynch | first=Colum | title=Despite U.S. Sanctions, Iran Expands Its Nuclear Stockpile | website=Foreign Policy | date=2020-05-08 | url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/05/08/iran-advances-nuclear-program-withdrawal-jcpoa/}}</ref> Of course, Netanyahu's policies [[Hamas#Israeli support for Hamas|had also made Israel less safe]],<ref>{{cite web | last=Mazzetti | first=Mark | last2=Bergman | first2=Ronen | title=How Israel Secretly Propped Up Hamas | website=The New York Times | date=2023-12-10 | url=https://archive.is/8jiYe}}</ref> so they both had that in common too.

===Midterms and relations with Congress===
{{main|2018 United States midterm elections}}
Considering how divisive and controversial Trump's first two years had been, the Republicans expected a tough road ahead in the midterms. Instead on focusing on his achievements (he didn't have many), Trump decided terrify Republican voters with apocalyptic messaging about how Democrats would destroy the country if they won control of Congress.<ref>{{cite web | last=Parker | first=Ashley | last2=Rucker | first2=Philip | last3=Dawsey | first3=Josh | title=Trump and Republicans settle on fear | website=Washington Post | date=2018-10-23 | url=https://archive.is/9Y26N}}</ref> Democrats, on the other hand, focused their messaging on defending the [[Affordable Care Act]], which Republicans had nearly succeeded in repealing.<ref>{{cite web | last=McGill | first=Brian | last2=Bykowicz | first2=Julie | title=Health Care Crowds Out Jobs, Taxes in Midterm Ads | website=WSJ | date=2018-10-09 | url=https://archive.is/wzWcV}}</ref>

Trump's unpopularity and the general anti-incumbent bias of American midterm elections proved too much for the Republicans to overcome; Democrats gained 41 seats in the [[House of Representatives]], the largest Democratic gain since the post-[[Watergate]] election of 1974.<ref>{{cite web | last=Zurcher | first=Anthony | title=US mid-terms: How election results just got worse for Trump | website=BBC Home | date=2018-11-19 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46267519}}</ref> Goddamn. On the other hand, Democrats faced one of the worst [[United States Senate|Senate]] maps ever, having to defend 25 seats while the Republicans were only defending eight.<ref>{{cite web | last=Wasserman | first=David | title=The Congressional Map Has A Record-Setting Bias Against Democrats | website=FiveThirtyEight | date=2017-08-07 | url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-congressional-map-is-historically-biased-toward-the-gop/}}</ref> They ultimately suffered a net loss of two seats. However, considering the House and governership results, this was a blue wave election and a major rebuke of Trump.<ref>{{cite web | last=Chat | first=A FiveThirtyEight | title=Yes, It Was A Blue Wave. No, It Doesn’t Matter For 2020. | website=FiveThirtyEight | date=2018-11-14 | url=https://archive.is/riaq9}}</ref>

Almost immediately after the new Democratic House was sworn in, Trump started a budget fight with them over funding for his [[Great Wall of America|dumbass wall proposal]], resulting in the longest government shutdown in American history.<ref name="tshutdown">{{cite web | last=Restuccia | first=Andrew | last2=Everett | first2=Burgess | last3=Caygle | first3=Heather | title=Longest shutdown in history ends after Trump relents on wall | website=POLITICO | date=2019-01-25 | url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/25/trump-shutdown-announcement-1125529 |}}</ref> Trump, the self-proclaimed master dealmaker, eventually caved to the Democrats.<ref name="tshutdown"/> He then resorted to circumventing Congressional authority by reallocating funds to his wall without Congressional approval, defying subpoenas, and placing executive officials without Senate approval.<ref name="trumpcongress19">{{cite web | title=It's not just the presidency: Trump is changing the Congress | website=AP News | date=2020-07-11 | url=https://apnews.com/article/3e1b0fc5f17ad40b242a9555b2ac412e}}</ref> The party of limited government put up little resistance to this executive overreach<ref name="trumpcongress19"/> because they were unprincipled cowards.

===Ukraine scandal and impeachment===
[[File:President Trump Delivers Remarks (49498772251).jpg|thumb|right|350px|Trump smugly celebrates his acquittal, 6 February 2020.]]
{{main|Trump-Ukraine scandal}}
Trump filed to run for reelection within hours of his inauguration, and he announced his run no less than five times during his first term.<ref>{{cite web | last=Graham | first=David A. | title=Trump Never Stopped Campaigning Long Enough to Govern | website=The Atlantic | date=2019-06-18 | url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/06/trump-cant-relaunch-a-campaign-that-never-stopped/591949/}}</ref> He was obsessed with securing a second term, and this obsession only grew in intensity as the election got closer. 

Recognizing former vice president [[Joe Biden]] as his most serious political threat, Trump decided to strike first. In 2019, Trump was caught trying to condition military aid to [[Ukraine]] on its president [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]] publicly opening a criminal investigation into Biden's son, who had ties to a Ukrainian energy company.<ref>{{cite web | title=Trump impeachment: The short, medium and long story | website=BBC Home | date=2019-09-23 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49800181 |}}</ref> He was abusing the power of the presidency for political advantage. For this, the Democratic-controlled [[House of Representatives]] voted to impeach Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, making this the third impeachment in US history.<ref>{{cite web | title=Trump impeached by the House for abuse of power, obstruction of Congress | website=NBC News | date=2019-12-19 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/trump-impeached-house-abuse-power-n1104196}}</ref> 

Unfortunately, the Democrats had failed to take control of the [[United States Senate|Senate]] in 2018, and even if they had, the Senate has a much higher two-thirds vote requirement to convict a president and remove them from office. The Senate predictably voted almost entirely on party lines to acquit Trump, although [[Mitt Romney]] cited his "oath before [[God]]" as reason to vote to convict Trump for abuse of power.<ref>{{cite web | title=Not guilty: Senate acquits Trump of impeachment charges | website=AP News | date=2020-02-06 | url=https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ap-top-news-ut-state-wire-acquittals-politics-93c85dcfb0e6b2185391965e77ebea51}}</ref> Afterwards, Trump declared victory and then fired two government officials who had testified against him before the Senate.<ref>{{cite web | title=Trump defends firing impeachment witness Alexander Vindman | website=BBC Home | date=2020-02-07 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51408704}}</ref>

===Poisoning the judiciary===
[[File:President Trump Nominates Judge Amy Coney Barrett for Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (50397785301).jpg|thumb|right|365px|Trump with his third Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, in late September 2020.]]
{{cquote|Some of Trump's judicial appointees really push the envelope in an ideological way. They do things because that's the result they want to achieve, and that’s just not how the legal system is supposed to work. It’s not supposed to be primarily driven to achieve a given outcome.|||Donald B. Ayer, former Deputy Attorney General under President [[George W. Bush]].<ref name="donayer">{{cite web | last=Seger | first=Andrew | last2=Mattingly | first2=Phil | title=Trump transformed the federal judiciary. He could push the courts further right in a second term | website=CNN | date=2024-07-13 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/13/politics/donald-trump-judiciary-courts/index.html}}</ref>}}
One major consequence of the Democrats' failure to take the Senate: Trump was still able to get judicial appointments confirmed at a rapid pace. With the eager assistance of Majority Leader [[Mitch McConnell]], Trump nominated judges at a feverish pace and pushed them through a compliant Senate, with the end result of 234 confirmed judges in his first term.<ref>{{cite web | last=Johnson | first=Carrie | title=President-elect set to shape 'Trump judiciary' for next generation | website=NPR | date=2024-11-22 | url=https://www.npr.org/2024/11/21/g-s1-34893/donald-trump-judicial-nominees}}</ref> Perhaps the biggest reason for Trump's success here was McConnell's refusal to let the Senate act on President [[Barack Obama|Obama]]'s judicial nominees at every level.<ref>{{cite web | last=Johnson | first=Carrie | title=Wave Of Young Judges Pushed By McConnell Will Be 'Ruling For Decades To Come' | website=NPR | date=2020-07-02 | url=https://www.npr.org/2020/07/02/886285772/trump-and-mcconnell-via-swath-of-judges-will-affect-u-s-law-for-decades}}</ref>

Thanks to Trump, radical conservative judges gained a majority on three more of America's 13 appeals courts, which play significant roles in shaping legal policy.<ref name="donayer"/> Trump placed 54 judges on America's appeals courts, while Obama only placed 55 while having twice as much time.<ref>{{cite web | last=Gramlich | first=John | title=How Trump compares with other recent presidents in appointing federal judges | website=Pew Research Center | date=2024-04-14 | url=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/01/13/how-trump-compares-with-other-recent-presidents-in-appointing-federal-judges/}}</ref> As former Deputy Attorney General Donald Ayer noted, Trump's appointees are also noted for their willingness to engage in judicial activism, making decisions based on politics rather than the law.<ref name="donayer"/> Some of Trump's notable appointees included a judge who claimed the "[[Blaming the victim|way to avoid a potential date rape is to stay reasonably sober]]," another judge who ruled that people should not be able to sue states for violating voting rights, and a judge who wrote that [[abortion]] is just like [[slavery]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Bekiempis | first=Victoria | title=Meet some of Trump’s most conservative judicial picks | website=the Guardian | date=2020-04-30 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/30/meet-trump-most-conservative-judicial-picks}}</ref> Trump really does pick the best people, doesn't he? Perhaps his most notable appointment, other than those to the [[US Supreme Court]], was Judge Aileen Cannon, who made headlines in 2024 for refusing to recuse herself from Trump's classified documents case and then actively sabotaging the prosecution from the bench.<ref>{{cite web | last=Cabral | first=Sam | title=Who is Aileen Cannon and why is Trump's Florida trial delayed? | website=BBC Home | date=2024-06-22 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3ggl64k191o}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Millhiser | first=Ian | title=Aileen Cannon, the judge who will preside over Trump’s criminal trial, explained | website=Vox | date=2023-06-13 | url=https://www.vox.com/2023/6/13/23757893/aileen-cannon-donald-trump-jack-smith-indictment-mar-a-lago-maga}}</ref> Legal ethics is a disqualifying trait for Trump's judges.

His biggest impact was on the Supreme Court. Thanks to McConnell's refusal to consider any Obama nominee to replace the deceased [[Antonin Scalia]] near the end of the president's term in 2016<ref>{{cite web | title=Mitch McConnell Flatly Rejects Any Obama Pick to Supreme Court | website=NBC News | date=2016-02-23 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/mitch-mcconnell-flatly-rejects-any-obama-pick-supreme-court-n524466}}</ref> and then his [[Hypocrisy|abrupt reversal of that standard]] when Justice [[Ruth Bader Ginsburg]] died even closer to the end of Trump's term,<ref>{{cite web | last=LeVine | first=Marianne | title=McConnell fends off accusations of hypocrisy over holding Supreme Court vote | website=POLITICO | date=2020-09-21 | url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/21/mcconnell-pushes-back-hypocrisy-supreme-court-419569}}</ref> Trump was able to appoint no less than three justices to the Supreme Court. All were noted for their judicial activism<ref>{{cite web | last=Pilkington | first=Ed | title=Post-Trump supreme court appears willing to embrace judicial activism | website=the Guardian | date=2021-07-09 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2021/jul/09/post-trump-supreme-court-appears-willing-to-embrace-judicial-activism}}</ref> and embrace of fringe legal theories,<ref>{{cite web | last=Vogue | first=Ariane de | title=Analysis: Donald Trump’s lasting impact on the Supreme Court | website=CNN | date=2022-12-07 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/07/politics/trump-supreme-court-influence-moore-harper/index.html}}</ref> and Trump later boasted that his appointments led to the overturning of the landmark ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' decision in 2022.<ref>{{cite web | title=Trump: 'I was able to kill Roe v. Wade' | website=NBC News | date=2023-05-17 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-was-able-kill-roe-v-wade-rcna84897}}</ref> That was only one of many [[authoritarian]] legal decisions meant to erode civil rights and enforce harmful policies.<ref>{{cite web | last=Millhiser | first=Ian | title=The 9 worst court decisions since Trump remade the federal judiciary | website=Vox | date=2024-05-13 | url=https://www.vox.com/scotus/24151144/supreme-court-worst-decisions-donald-trump}}</ref>

===Days of rage===
[[File:Portland police bloodied protester.png|thumb|right|375px|A bloodied protester is hauled away by badgeless federal police in Portland.]]
2020 saw the peak of [[Authoritarianism of Donald Trump|Trump's authoritarian tendencies]]. In May 2020, off-duty [[Minnesota]] police officers murdered an unarmed Black man named George Floyd.<ref>{{cite web | title=Justice for George Floyd: A Year of Global Activism | website=Amnesty International | date=2021-05-24 | url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2021/05/justice-for-george-floyd-a-year-of-global-activism-for-black-lives-and-against-police-violence/}}</ref> The resultant [[Black Lives Matter]] protests were one of the largest mass movements in American history, with between 15 and 26 million people estimated to have taken part in nationwide demonstrations.<ref>{{cite web | last=Buchanan | first=Larry | last2=Bui | first2=Quoctrung | last3=Patel | first3=Jugal K. | title=Black Lives Matter May Be the Largest Movement in U.S. History | website=The New York Times | date=2020-07-03 | url=https://archive.is/fCDG0}}</ref> While only 4% of the protests turned violent, and said violence was frequently instigated by police and counter-protesters,<ref>{{cite web | last=Chenoweth | first=Erica | last2=Pressman | first2=Jeremy | title=This summer’s Black Lives Matter protesters were overwhelmingly peaceful, our research finds | website=Washington Post | date=2020-10-16 | url=https://archive.is/VNmp2}}</ref> the widespread nature of the protests meant that violent incidents resulted in a combined total of over 1$ billion in damage.<ref>{{cite web | last=Kingson | first=Jennifer A. | title=Exclusive: $1 billion-plus riot damage is most expensive in insurance history | website=Axios | date=2020-09-16 | url=https://www.axios.com/2020/09/16/riots-cost-property-damage}}</ref>

Trump, who had repeatedly asserted that his presidential authority was "total," opposed the protests and seemed outraged at the defiance to his authority.<ref>{{cite web | last=Mosk | first=Matthew | last2=Faulders | first2=Katherine | title=Trump's quest to 'dominate' amid George Floyd protests sparks new concerns about presidential powers | website=ABC News | date=2020-06-08 | url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/trumps-quest-dominate-amid-george-floyd-protests-sparks/story?id=71126346}}</ref> Trump called protesters "thugs"<ref>{{cite web | last=Nicole Chavez | first=Ray Sanchez | title=Trump calls protesters ‘thugs’ despite peaceful demonstrations in Tulsa and much of the US | website=CNN | date=2020-06-20 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/20/us/nationwide-protests-saturday/index.html |}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=False ‘thug’ narratives have long been used to discredit movements | website=NBC News | date=2020-09-27 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/not-accident-false-thug-narratives-have-long-been-used-discredit-n1240509 |}}</ref> and threatened them with "vicious dogs" and "ominous weapons."<ref>{{cite web | last=Segers | first=Grace | title=Trump rips White House protesters, says "vicious dogs" were ready | website=CBS News | date=2020-05-30 | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/george-floyd-protest-white-house-president-trump-secret-service/ |}}</ref> The days of Trump's rage had begun. 

The president's crackdown began almost immediately. After Trump flooded the nation's capital with National Guard,<ref>{{cite web | last=Ryan Nobles | first=Barbara Starr,Ryan Browne | title=1,600 active-duty troops sent to Washington area after some governors turn down request for National Guard | website=CNN | date=2020-06-02 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/02/politics/national-guard-states-pentagon/index.html}}</ref> Trump argued in private to Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley that US troops should "Crack their skulls!" or "beat the fuck out of them," or "Just shoot them!"<ref>{{cite web | last=Cohen | first=Zachary | title=Top US general rejected Trump suggestions military should ‘crack skulls’ during protests last year, new book claims | website=CNN | date=2021-06-24 | url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/06/24/politics/bender-book-trump-milley-protests/index.html}}</ref> Trump's Defense Secretary, Mark Esper, confirmed that Trump genuinely did want to have protesters gunned down in the streets.<ref>{{cite web | last=Cohen | first=Zachary | title=Axios: Former Secretary of Defense Esper in new book says Trump wanted to shoot protesters | website=CNN | date=2022-05-02 | url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/02/politics/esper-trump-protesters/index.html}}</ref> This was, let us remind you, the same man who praised the [[Tiananmen Square Massacre]] for showing "the power of strength".<ref>{{cite web | last=Haltiwanger | first=John | title=Trump said China showed 'the power of strength' when talking about the Tiananmen Square massacre in a 1990 Playboy interview | website=Business Insider | date=2019-06-04 | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trumpn-tiananmen-square-massacre-china-showed-power-of-strength-2019-6}}</ref> 

While police across America [[Police brutality|beat protesters and journalists]],<ref>{{cite web | last=Klein | first=Charlotte | title=Journalists Become Targets While Covering America’s Unraveling | website=Vanity Fair | date=2020-05-31 | url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/05/journalists-become-targets-while-covering-americas-unraveling}}</ref> Trump praised the perpetrators and mocked victims.<ref>{{cite web | last=Watson | first=Kathryn | title=Trump revels in "beautiful sight" of law enforcement grabbing journalist | website=CBS News | date=2020-09-23 | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-revels-in-beautiful-sight-of-law-enforcement-grabbing-journalist/}}</ref> Trump personally ordered DC police to chase peaceful protesters away from a local church with tear gas so Trump could pose outside of it with a [[Bible]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Gittleson | first=Ben | last2=Phelps | first2=Jordyn | title=Police use munitions to forcibly push back peaceful protesters for Trump church visit | website=ABC News | date=2020-06-03 | url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/national-guard-troops-deployed-white-house-trump-calls/story?id=71004151}}</ref> Members of the church's clergy were also tear-gassed during this little stunt.<ref>{{cite web | last=Lewis | first=Sophie | title=Reverend says she was among peaceful protesters tear-gassed so Trump could "hold a Bible and look Christian" | website=CBS News | date=2020-06-02 | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/reverend-peaceful-protestors-tear-gassed-trump-bible-church-photo-op/}}</ref>

Trump escalated again in July by sending badgeless federal police into Portland, [[Oregon]] to kidnap protesters from the streets.<ref>{{cite web | last=Levinson | first=Jonathan | title=Federal Law Enforcement Use Unmarked Vehicles To Grab Protesters Off Portland Streets | website=opb | date=2020-07-16 | url=https://www.opb.org/news/article/federal-law-enforcement-unmarked-vehicles-portland-protesters/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Blest | first=Paul | title=Trump Sent Cops to Portland and They're ‘Kidnapping People off the Streets’ | website=VICE | date=2020-07-17 | url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/trump-sent-the-feds-to-portland-and-theyre-kidnapping-people-off-the-streets/}}</ref> When a US Navy veteran tried to ask Trump's federal forces a question, they tear-gassed him and beat him with batons.<ref>{{cite web | last=Ismay | first=John | title=A Navy Veteran Had a Question for the Feds in Portland. They Beat Him in Response. | website=The New York Times | date=2020-07-20 | url=https://archive.is/AVBUl}}</ref> Thank you for serving in the armed forces! Oh, and they also tear-gassed ''the fucking mayor of Portland''.<ref>{{cite web | title=Portland mayor tear-gassed by federal agents as protests continue | website=NBC News | date=2020-07-22 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/what-trump-wants-portland-protesters-call-peace-federal-standoff-continues-n1234631}}</ref> All of this amounted to the federal government trampling on local authority, something the [[state's rights]] Republican Party had always claimed to stand against.

===A diseased nation===
[[File:President Trump Works at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (50423941602).jpg|thumb|right|375px|President Trump at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for COVID treatment.]]
{{main|COVID-19 pandemic}}
As [[Trumpism]] itself is a disease, so did another sweep across the globe and through the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic became the defining crisis of Trump's final year in office. And ''boy'' did he fuck it up. Trump first tried to ignore medical experts,<ref>{{cite web | last=Romano | first=Aja | title=A new investigation reveals Trump ignored experts on Covid-19 for months | website=Vox | date=2020-04-12 | url=https://www.vox.com/2020/4/12/21218305/trump-ignored-coronavirus-warnings}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Kelly | first=Caroline | title=Washington Post: US intelligence warned Trump in January and February as he dismissed coronavirus threat | website=CNN | date=2020-03-21 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/20/politics/us-intelligence-reports-trump-coronavirus/ }}</ref> then tried to publicly undermine those medical experts,<ref>{{cite web | last=Jankowicz | first=Mia | title=Trump attacked Fauci's advice and boasted of ignoring government experts in his coronavirus response | website=Business Insider | date=2020-07-09 | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-attacks-fauci-boasts-of-ignoring-experts-on-coronavirus-2020-7}}</ref> and he even abandoned a federal plan to send much-needed face masks to American citizens.<ref>{{cite web | last=Miao | first=Hannah | title=White House abandoned plan to send 650 million face masks across the U.S. in April, report says | website=CNBC | date=2020-09-17 | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/17/white-house-abandoned-plan-to-deliver-650-million-face-masks-across-us-report-says.html}}</ref> Instead, Trump promoted an anti-malaria medication as some kind of miracle cure<ref>{{cite web | last=Lovelace | first=Berkeley Jr. | title=Trump says he still thinks hydroxychloroquine works in treating early stage coronavirus | website=CNBC | date=2020-07-28 | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/28/trump-says-he-still-thinks-hydroxychloroquine-works-in-treating-early-stage-coronavirus.html}}</ref> and bizarrely endorsed irradiating patients with ultraviolet light and injecting them with disinfectant.<ref>{{cite web | title=Coronavirus: Outcry after Trump suggests injecting disinfectant as treatment | website=BBC Home | date=2020-04-24 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52407177}}</ref> This is what happens when the physical manifestation of the [[Dunning-Kruger effect]] becomes president.

He also sent mixed messaging by encouraging protests against governors who imposed pandemic lockdown measures while federal guidelines endorsed those governors' decisions.<ref>{{cite web | last=Chalfant | first=Morgan | last2=Samuels | first2=Brett | last3=Chalfant | first3=Morgan | last4=Samuels | first4=Brett | title=Trump support for protests threatens to undermine social distancing rules | website=The Hill | date=2020-04-20 | url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/493701-trump-support-for-protests-threatens-to-undermine-social-distancing/}}</ref> He even attacked [[Michigan]] governor Gretchen Whitmer ''after'' his "LIBERATE MICHIGAN" rhetoric inspired militia groups to plot to kidnap her.<ref>{{cite web | title=Whitmer blasts Trump's 'appalling' response to her after feds foiled kidnap plot | website=NBC News | date=2020-10-15 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/whitmer-blasts-trump-s-appalling-response-her-after-feds-foil-n1243535}}</ref> Trump's inflammatory rhetoric tying Asians to the virus ("King Flu" and "China virus") resulted in a sharp increase in online hate directed towards Asian-Americans.<ref>{{cite web | last=Reja | first=Dr. Mishal | title=Trump's 'Chinese Virus' tweet helped lead to rise in racist anti-Asian Twitter content: Study | website=ABC News | date=2021-03-18 | url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/trumps-chinese-virus-tweet-helped-lead-rise-racist/story?id=76530148}}</ref> Anti-Asian hate crimes increased by nearly 150% in 2020.<ref>{{cite web | title=Anti-Asian hate crimes increased by nearly 150% in 2020, mostly in N.Y. and L.A., new report says | website=NBC News | date=2021-03-09 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/anti-asian-hate-crimes-increased-nearly-150-2020-mostly-n-n1260264}}</ref>

Trump's poor decisions and idiotic statements were widely blamed for worsening the situation and undermining his own administration's response to the crisis.<ref>{{cite web | last=Diamond | first=Dan | title=Trump's mismanagement helped fuel coronavirus crisis | website=POLITICO | date=2020-03-07 | url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/07/trump-coronavirus-management-style-123465 |}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Karlawish | first=Jason | title=A pandemic plan was in place. Trump abandoned it | website=STAT | date=2020-05-17 | url=https://www.statnews.com/2020/05/17/the-art-of-the-pandemic-how-donald-trump-walked-the-u-s-into-the-covid-19-era/ |}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Trump White House made 'deliberate efforts' to undermine Covid response, report says | website=NBC News | date=2021-12-17 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/trump-white-house-made-deliberate-efforts-undermine-covid-response-report-n1286211 |}}</ref> An October 2020 study from the University of Oxford found that Trump's mishandling of COVID resulted in a 28% greater rate of excess deaths than in [[Europe]] and potentially cost more American lives than did American combat fatalities in [[World War I]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Research finds that inadequate US pandemic response cost more American lives than World War I | website=University of Oxford | date=2020-10-01 | url=https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2020-10-01-research-finds-inadequate-us-pandemic-response-cost-more-american-lives-world-war-i |}}</ref> Holy ''shit''. Trump's COVID shitshow finally came home to roost in October 2020, when the president, his wife, and dozens of White House aides came down with the disease.<ref>{{cite web | last=Buchanan | first=Larry | last2=Gamio | first2=Lazaro | last3=Leatherby | first3=Lauren | last4=Keefe | first4=John | last5=Koettl | first5=Christoph | last6=Walker | first6=Amy Schoenfeld | title=Tracking the White House Coronavirus Outbreak | website=The New York Times | date=2020-10-02 | url=https://archive.is/nufvi|}}</ref> 

One good thing he did, though, was sign off on an emergency measure that represented one of the largest expansions of the [[welfare]] state in modern American history,<ref>{{cite web | last=Savage | first=Luke | title=The US Welfare State Expanded During the Pandemic. On Biden’s Watch, It’s Been Rolled Back. | website=Jacobin | date=2023-09-08 | url=https://jacobin.com/2023/09/biden-pandemic-welfare-state-rollback-economic-perfromance-polls |}}</ref> spending over $5 trillion on critically-necessary policies like emergency food benefits, free school meals, unemployment benefits, Medicaid expansion, and moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures.<ref>{{cite web | last=Miller | first=Claire Cain | last2=Parlapiano | first2=Alicia | title=The U.S. Built a European-Style Welfare State. It’s Largely Over. | website=The New York Times | date=2023-04-06 | url=https://archive.is/KUR1t}}</ref> Trump's "Operation Warp Speed" did successfully develop working COVID vaccines, but vaccine distribution was botched due to poor planning by the administration.<ref>{{cite web | last=Diamond | first=Dan | title=The crash landing of 'Operation Warp Speed' | website=POLITICO | date=2021-01-17 | url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/17/crash-landing-of-operation-warp-speed-459892}}</ref>

==2020 presidential election==
[[File:Donald Trump with supporters (50549003946).jpg|thumb|right|385px|A Stanford study came out in October linking Trump's crowded in-person rallies to at least 700 COVID deaths.<ref>{{cite web | last=Lim | first=David | title=Study links Trump rallies to more than 700 Covid deaths | website=POLITICO | date=2020-10-31 | url=https://archive.is/zzI9x}}</ref>]]
{{main|2020 United States presidential election}}
===Donald, you're fired!===
Trump's reelection campaign was a dumpster fire. His team managed to burn through a $1.6 billion cash advantage before the proper campaigning season even started,<ref>{{cite web | last=Kim | first=Soo Rin | title=How Trump’s team spent most of the $1.6 billion it raised over 2 years | website=ABC News | date=2020-10-24 | url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trumps-team-spent-16-billion-raised-years/story?id=73795897}}</ref> and his team was divided and shrouded by "an atmosphere of [[paranoia]]."<ref>{{cite web | last=Isenstadt | first=Alex | title=Paranoia and finger-pointing in Trumpworld as election approaches | website=POLITICO | date=2020-10-24 | url=https://archive.is/zGTdv}}</ref> Communication broke down between the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee broke down over strategy disagreements, and the RNC decided to run its own advertisements independently.<ref>{{cite web | last=Korecki | first=Natasha | last2=Isenstadt | first2=Alex | last3=Kumar | first3=Anita | last4=Orr | first4=Gabby | last5=Cadelago | first5=Christopher | last6=Caputo | first6=Marc | title=Inside Donald Trump’s 2020 undoing | website=POLITICO | date=2020-11-07 | url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/07/this-f-ing-virus-inside-donald-trumps-2020-undoing-434716 |archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.is/lHf61}}</ref> Trump had no real policy proposals for his second term and had presented basically no vision for what that term would look like or why he was even seeking it.<ref>{{cite web | last=Crowley | first=Michael | title=Trump Heads Into 2020 With No Clear Policy Agenda. But It May Not Matter. | website=The New York Times | date=2019-09-05 | url=https://archive.is/h7Kds|}}</ref> It also probably didn't help that Trump was acting like a crazy person on the campaign trail.<ref>{{cite web | last=Glasser | first=Susan B. | title=Here Are Twenty Other Disturbing, Awful Things That Trump Has Said This Month, and It’s Not Over Yet | website=The New Yorker | date=2020-09-24 | url=https://archive.is/7zhlF}}</ref>

It also couldn't be ignored that Trump was campaigning for reelection amid the smoldering ruins of the American economy, which was experiencing worse rates of unemployment than during the [[Great Recession]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Kochhar | first=Rakesh | title=Unemployment rose higher in three months of COVID-19 than it did in two years of the Great Recession | website=Pew Research Center | date=2024-04-14 | url=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2020/06/11/unemployment-rose-higher-in-three-months-of-covid-19-than-it-did-in-two-years-of-the-great-recession/}}</ref> Voters also understood that Trump had botched the government's response to the pandemic, downplayed the severity of the crisis that was killing Americans, and had fucked up so bad that he managed to get the virus himself.<ref>{{cite web | last=Bennett | first=Brian | last2=Rogers | first2=Tessa Berenson | title=How Donald Trump Lost The Election | website=TIME | date=2020-11-07 | url=https://time.com/5907973/donald-trump-loses-2020-election/}}</ref>  

The almost saving grace for Trump's reelection was his vocal opposition to lockdown measures. Trump's argument that lockdowns were a "cure worse than the problem itself" motivated voters who were worried about how the pandemic response was impacting the economy.<ref>{{cite web | last=Algara | first=Carlos | last2=Amlani | first2=Sharif | title=For many 2020 presidential election voters, economic concerns about COVID-19 restrictions trumped public health | website=USAPP | date=2022-10-31 | url=https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/2022/10/31/for-many-2020-presidential-election-voters-economic-concerns-about-covid-19-restrictions-trumped-public-health/ |}}</ref> This "think of the economy" message contributed to a much higher degree of support and turnout for Trump on Election Night than polls had predicted.<ref>{{cite web | last=Glenza | first=Jessica | title=Fears about economy under Covid lockdown helped Trump outperform polls | website=the Guardian | date=2020-11-04 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/04/exit-polls-economy-covid-lockdown-trump |}}</ref> 

Combined with the large number of mail-in ballots in this election, the higher-than-expected support for Trump manifested as an early lead for the president.<ref>{{cite web | last=Cohen | first=Marshall | title=How to spot a red or blue ‘mirage’ in early election night results | website=CNN | date=2020-10-30 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/30/politics/red-blue-mirage-election-results/index.html}}</ref> After an agonizing waiting period lasting several days, mail-in ballot counts confirmed that Trump had narrowly lost this election to his Democratic opponent, [[Joe Biden]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Cohen | first=Marshall | title=Analysis: How a post-election crisis was manufactured in Pennsylvania | website=CNN | date=2020-11-14 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/14/politics/pennsylvania-election-crisis/index.html}}</ref>

==Coup attempt and second impeachment==
{{main|2021 U.S. coup attempt}}
[[File:2021 storming of the United States Capitol 09 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|275px|The [[Beer Hall Putsch]]. No, sorry, this is actually the 2021 US Capitol Putsch.]]

While the aforementioned phone call certainly qualifies as an impeachable offence, on [[2021 U.S. Capitol riot|January 6th, 2021]], in perhaps the single most infamous and dangerous thing he has ever done, besides his horrible handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, Trump instigated an attempted self-coup by egging his armed supporters into '''''storming the fucking Capitol''''', so they could stop Congress from certifying Biden's win in 2020.<ref name=capriosum>[https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/06/politics/us-capitol-lockdown/index.html US Capitol secured, 4 dead after rioters stormed the halls of Congress to block Biden's win], ''CNN''</ref> Said supporters were actively trying to assassinate multiple members of Congress, including Vice President [[Mike Pence]], who refused to reject Biden's certification (which isn't even in his powers as VP, for obvious reasons), and House Speaker [[Nancy Pelosi]]; and it's quite easy to infer that they [[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez|likely]] [[Mitch McConnell|would]] [[Mitt Romney|not]] [[Chuck Schumer|have]] [[Ilhan Omar|stopped]] [[Lindsey Graham|there]]. The ensuing mob violence killed five people<ref>[https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/capitol-riot-taser-death/ Did Man at Capitol Riot Die After Accidentally Tasing Himself? Five persons died in conjunction with the Capitol riot, but some reports surrounding their deaths weren't entirely accurate.] by Madison Dapcevich (10 January 2021) ''Snopes''.</ref> and nearly led to the slaughter of an entire branch of government, as the entire Congress fled underground and evacuated the building, leaving the Capitol at the whims of Trump's mob until the National Guard came in to retake the building.<ref name=capriosum></ref> In the midst of this chaos, Trump refused to deploy the National Guard (Pence did it instead), ignored panicked calls from his fellow Republicans, and reportedly ''relished'' in the violence being done in his name and by his words (read: cruelty).<ref>[https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/president-trump-was-pleased-by-chaos-and-violence-at-capitol-59h8jx88k President Trump was ‘pleased’ by chaos and violence at Capitol], ''The Times''</ref>

After Congress reconvened and certified Biden’s victory, Donald Trump became the first President ever to be impeached '''twice'''. He is also the only incumbent president who refused to accept defeat during the election, the only one to have instigated insurrection, and the only one to have incited an attack on the Capitol. Although he was acquitted after leaving office,<ref group=note>Insane from the Republican party, who were on the edge of being slaughtered by a fascist mob.</ref> the damage was already done; his legacy is marked forever by this event, and it can be brought up at any time to paint him as the extremist that he truly is. This mark will be hard to scrub off, as he was permabanned from most of his social media accounts right after this event, due to the very real fear of more violence incited by his dangerous rhetoric.<ref name=twitter-boots-trump>[https://archive.ph/ezwLr Permanent suspension of @realDonaldTrump] by Twitter Inc. (8 January 2021) ''Twitter'' (archived from 13 Jan 2021 15:58:55 UTC).</ref><ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2021/01/07/facebook-trump-instagram-social-media-accounts-block-indefinitely-zuckerberg/6580221002/ Facebook bans Trump account indefinitely, along with Instagram], ''USA Today''</ref> Gone was his ability to incessantly babble his way out of a bad situation, and people are left with this final memory of his first term.

With nothing else to do, he gave a Farewell Address in the tradition of most Presidents the day before he hit the road.<ref>[https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/farewell-address/ Farewell Address]</ref> January 20th, 2021 was a day that many anticipated. He decided not to witness Biden's inauguration (The first President to skip inauguration since [[Richard Nixon]], and left for Marine One in the morning. He made a speech at Joint Base Andrews, implying he could be back in some way, before getting on Air Force One for one last time to his Mar-a-Lago estate. To the cue of YMCA, Trump finally left D.C., and as one last act, pardoned tax evader Al Pirro.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-leaves-white-house-ad718c0048c341d0044c4709fb23c8dd Trump bids farewell to Washington, hints of comeback]</ref> Trump’s first term came to an end, but the [[Ron DeSantis|post]]-[[Marjorie Taylor Greene|Trump]] [[Lauren Boebert|interim]] [[Mike Lindell|has]] [[Mike Johnson|begun]].

==Biden interregnum==
Trump remained adamant about returning to the White House in 2024. While super early polls suggested Florida Governor, [[Ron DeSantis]], as a strong contender, Trump has claimed that he could beat him, and DeSantis has fallen behind in Republican primary polling, and eventually dropped out.<ref>[https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/president-primary-r/2024/national/ Who’s ahead in the national polls?] FiveThirtyEight. Accessed 24 July, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://www.politico.com/news/2021/10/03/trump-desantis-2024-beat-him-514975 Trump on prospect on facing DeSantis in 2024, 'I'd beat him'] ''Politico''</ref> In March 2022, Trump announced that [[Mike Pence]] would not be his running mate, which if he follows through will be the first time since Ford, in his failed second term election bid in 1976, for a candidate to pick a different person than his first vice president as his running mate.<ref>[https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/16/trump-rules-out-pence-as-vp-2024-00017783  Trump rules out Pence as VP in potential 2024 presidential bid] by Samuel Benson (03/16/2022 01:27 PM EDT) ''Politico''.</ref>

===On the Russian invasion of Ukraine===
Unsurprisingly, Trump spoke favorably about [[Vladimir Putin]]'s decision to invade [[Ukraine]], calling him a "genius" and "savvy."<ref>[https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/23/trump-putin-ukraine-invasion-00010923 Trump calls Putin ‘genius’ and ‘savvy’ for Ukraine invasion] by Joseph Gedeon (February 23, 2022 10:15 AM), ''Politico''.</ref>

===Overturning of ''Roe v. Wade''===
On June 26, 2022, Trump held a rally for U.S. Representative Mary Miller (IL-15), in which she made a remark claiming the overturning of ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' was <b>"a historic victory for white life",</b> with Miller clapping while Trump nodded and smiled in agreement.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOUruueOeTE Rep. Miller thanks Trump for 'historic victory for white life']</ref> In a January 2024 town hall with Fox News, Trump took credit for [[Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization|the ''Dobbs'' decision]] that overturned ''Roe'': "For 54 years they were trying to get ''Roe v. Wade'' terminated, and I did it. And I'm proud to have done it."<ref>Nur Ibrahim (February 23, 2024). [https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-roe-alabama-ivf/ "Trump Took Credit for Overturning Roe v. Wade?"]. ''Snopes''.</ref>

===FBI visit===
[[File:Classified intelligence material found during search of Mar-a-Lago.jpg|thumb|right|295px|Classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago by the FBI.]]
On August 8, 2022, the FBI executed a search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, looking for documents meant to be turned over to the National Archives.<ref name="APNews FBI search">Whitehurst, Lindsay.[https://apnews.com/article/florida-donald-trump-mar-a-lago-merrick-garland-government-and-politics-5ffebbfdae66d71790195f67f282fe80 Timeline of events leading up to FBI search of Trump’s home.] ''AP News''. August 12, 2022.</ref> On August 12, the search warrant was released to the public alongside court records showing that top secret documents, including [[Nuclear war|nuclear]] secrets,{{efn|''[[The Onion]]'' saw this coming in 2017.<ref>[https://www.theonion.com/mar-a-lago-assistant-manager-wondering-if-anyone-coming-1819579801 Mar-A-Lago Assistant Manager Wondering If Anyone Coming To Collect Nuclear Briefcase From Lost And Found] (3/27/17 9:30AM) ''The Onion''.</ref>}} were recovered during the search.<ref name="APNews FBI search" /> The warrant specifies three federal laws suspected to have been violated, including the Espionage Act (18 U.S. Code § 793).<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/trump-mar-a-lago-search-warrant-337546097701 Read the warrant that allowed the FBI to search Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.] ''AP News''. August 12, 2022.</ref> Many of Trump's supporters were furious over the raid and has led to multiple violent threats and acts towards the FBI, with some politicians even calling for abolishing the Bureau altogether.

In a filing by Trump's legal team, outlining their defense strategy, they argued that he still had "[[QAnon#Q clearance|Q clearance]]" at the time that the FBI raided his residence. Q clearance, which is issued by the Department of Energy, allows people to view nuclear secrets. What the filing apparently did not mention, however, was that even ''with'' Q clearance, a person is not to allowed to view nuclear secrets except on a need-to-know basis, which Trump would not have had as an ex-president.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/01/17/trump-q-clearance-classified-nuclear-secrets Trump lawyers say document shows he kept ‘Q’ clearance for nuclear secrets: In Florida trial involving classified documents, Donald Trump’s lawyers are seeking more information about a Department of Energy clearance list] by Perry Stein (January 17, 2024 at 1:43 p.m. EST) ''The Washington Post''.</ref> The lawyers were most likely feeding a bone to anyone still in the QAnon sphere of influence.{{efn|In other words, grasping at straws to keep Trump's personality cult going.}}

===2024 bid===
On November 15, 2022, Trump formally announced he would run in 2024.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-63463738 Donald Trump says he'll run for president again in 2024] by Sarah Smith and Jude Sheerin, ''BBC News''</ref> The DOJ said that Trump's 2024 candidacy won't stop criminal proceedings against him.<ref name="crimdoj">"[https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/a-trump-2024-bid-for-president-won-t-stop-justice-dept-criminal-probes/ar-AA148jas Trump's 2024 bid for president won't stop DOJ criminal probes]" - MSN</ref>

===NFT, WTF?===

{{cquote|"I can’t believe I’m going to jail for an [[NFT]] salesman."|||[[Baked Alaska]], [[2021 U.S. coup attempt|Capitol rioter,]] after Trump's big NFT cards reveal<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-jan-6-capitol-riots-baked-alaska-b2246654.html "Capitol rioter slams Trump: ‘I can’t believe I’m going to jail for an NFT salesman’"] by Bevan Hurley, Independent, 2022 December 16</ref>}}

On December 14, 2022, Donald Trump posted a video on his Truth Social account with the caption, "AMERICA NEEDS A SUPERHERO! I will be making a MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT tomorrow." The post featured a video featuring a comic book cartoon of Trump ripping off a suit to reveal a superhero costume with a letter "T" as laser beams shot out of his eyes. Speculation was rife on social media what this announcement could be, with possibilities for the announcement including Trump announcing a running mate for his 2024 campaign or Trump announcing a return to his recently un-banned [[Twitter]] account.<ref>[https://www.newsweek.com/trumps-major-announcement-sparks-speculation-vp-pick-lawsuit-1767204 "Trump's 'Major Announcement' Sparks Speculation About VP Pick, Lawsuit"] by Katherine Fung, Newsweek, 2022 December 14</ref>

The next day's big reveal: [[NFT]] digital trading cards. At $99 each, the cards feature (hilariously) machismo-style, cartoonish images of Trump cosplaying as an astronaut, a fighter pilot, and more. Reportedly, many of the cards' images were lifted, crudely-altered stock footage and clothing photos found online.<ref>[https://www.pcmag.com/news/art-for-trumps-nfts-relies-on-stock-photos-for-online-clothing Art for Trump's NFTs Relies on Stock Photos for Online Clothing] by Michael Kan (2022 December 16) ''PCMag''.</ref> Even by the low standards of NFTs, the cards were widely seen as ugly, cringe, beyond parody, and an obvious grift of his supporters.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2022/12/15/trumps-major-announcement-was-to-hawk-his-99-nfts/?sh=43c7272a290d "Trump’s ‘Major Announcement’ Was To Hawk His $99 NFTs"] by Sara Dorn, Forbes, 2022 December 15</ref><ref>[https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-announces-nft-trading-card-collection-1234648014/ "Trump’s ‘Major Announcement’ Was a Scammy, Superhero-Themed NFT Collection"] by Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 2022 December 15</ref> The announcement was met with mockery on social media.<ref>[https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/12/donald-trump-major-announcement-nft-digital-trading-cards "Donald Trump's Major Announcement: Urging Followers to Spend $99 On Badly Photoshopped NFTs of His Face"] by Bess Levin, Vanity Fair, 2022 December 15</ref> Even many conservatives (including [[Steve Bannon]], [[Fox News]] editor Chris Pandolfo, [[TheBlaze|BlazeTV]] host {{wpl|Chad Prather||,}} and others) were flabbergasted and embarrassed by Trump's "[[Pokémon]] cards" (as Prather put it in a tweet).<ref>[https://www.newsweek.com/trump-nft-trading-card-major-announcement-gop-1767627 "Donald Trump's Trading Cards Have Sparked a Republican Meltdown"] by Ewan Palmer, Newsweek, 2022 December 16</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20221215215720/https://twitter.com/watchchad/status/1603439644695306241 "We have a nation going down the toilet, and Donald Trump is selling Pokémon cards. No thanks. And those of you with your secret decoder ring trying to figure out why need to STFU."] by Chad Prather, @WatchChad, Twitter, 2022 December 15, archived on 15 Dec 2022</ref>

Despite the WTF nature of the NFTs, the grift was successful: all 45,000 pieces sold out in 12 hours, raising millions for the company that produced the NFTs{{efn|An obscure entity based in a shopping mall in Park City, Utah called NFT INT.}} and for Trump (who licensed his name and likeness to the company).<ref>[https://www.cnet.com/culture/donald-trumps-nft-collection-sells-out-raising-4-45m/ "Donald Trump's NFT Collection Sells Out, Raising $4.45M"] by Daniel Van Boom, CNet, 2022 December 15</ref><ref>[https://nftlately.com/what-is-nft-int-llc/ "What is NFT INT LLC? (And Who Owns It?)"] by Alex Borden, NFT Lately, 2022 December 16</ref>

===Indictment, arrest, and convictions===
[[File:Donald Trump mug shot.jpg|thumb|165px|Donald J. Trump's mugshot, 2023, a photo that no other US President has posed for.<ref>[https://time.com/6308324/donald-trump-mug-shot-georgia/ "Here Is Trump's Mug Shot, the First Ever of a Former President"] by Brian Bennett and Nik Popli, Time, 2023 August 24</ref>{{efn|"…the number one selling mug shot in history", according to the subject.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/02/trump-reverts-unchanged-harris-vance-nabj/ Trump’s ‘disciplined’ campaign is unraveling: The out of control Trump&nbsp;— suppressed in recent months with varying degrees of success — is back.] by Dana Milbank (August 2, 2024 at 7:45 a.m. EDT) ''The Washington Post''.</ref>}}]]
On March 31st, 2023, Trump was indicted for falsification of business records to cover up hush money payments to Stormy Daniels.<ref name=Sheerin>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65132553 Donald Trump indictment: Ex-US president to be charged over hush money], by Anthony Zurcher & Jude Sheerin ''BBC News''</ref> Shockingly, he did not take it very well, claiming it was [[Persecution complex|a political "Witch-Hunt" and that Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg was "doing Joe Biden's dirty work"]].<ref>Donald Trump (March 30, 2023). [https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/110114592721226234 "Statement by Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America…"]. Posted to [[Truth Social]]. [https://archive.ph/PCh4H (Archived)].</ref> [[QAnon|Certain other groups]] claimed it was a sign that the [[deep state]] would soon be exposed; the credibility is non-existent.<ref>{{a|https://archive.ph/20230331043813/https://twitter.com/oneunderscore__/status/1641573937149804545|NBC News reporter Ben Collins, via Twitter}}</ref> To add another bucket of salt to poor ol' Donnie's wounds, he is now to face 34 felony charges.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-felony-charges-indictment-stormy-daniels-b2313564.html Trump to face 34 felony charges but won’t have mugshot or be handcuffed, report says] by Graeme Massie (04 April 2023 14:56 BST) ''Independent''.</ref> He was arrested on April 4, 2023.<ref>Dareh Gregorian and Adam Reiss (April 4, 2023). [https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-news-arrested-updated-new-york-court-rcna77707 "Trump pleads not guilty after arrest, arraignment in hush money case"]. ''NBC News''.</ref>

On May 30 2024, Trump was found guilty of every single one of these 34 felony charges. This is the first time that a former or sitting U.S. president has ever been convicted of criminal charges.<ref name="nprconvictedfelon">[https://www.npr.org/2024/05/30/nx-s1-4977352/trump-trial-verdict "Former President Trump is found guilty in historic New York criminal case"] by Ximena Bustillo and Andrea Bernstein, NPR, 2024 May 30</ref>

====Kicking him while he's down====
Before the hush money case had even gone to trial, Trump was indicted ''again'' on federal charges in June 2023, alongside his valet Walt Nauta.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/65862112 Who is Walt Nauta, the Trump aide charged in classified documents case?]. ''BBC News''. 9 June 2023.</ref> The initial charges against Trump (37 in all) related to the above-mentioned documents Trump had been hoarding at Mar-a-Lago and included 31 charges under the Espionage Act of unlawfully retaining national defence information.<ref name=Peach>Nikki Peach (June 10, 2023) [https://inews.co.uk/news/will-donald-trump-go-prison-criminal-charges-2402723?ico=above_article_ticker Will Donald Trump go to prison? The 37 criminal charges he faces including files in his shower explained] ''inews''.</ref> An updated copy of the indictment brought further charges against Trump and Nauta, and charged Trump employee Carlos de Oliveira with helping to conceal the documents from subpoena.<ref>[https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2023/07/31/carlos-de-oliveira-donald-trump-classified-documents/70488633007/ Donald Trump's co-defendant, Carlos De Oliveira, appears in court over classified documents] by Bart Jansen and Hannah Phillips</ref> A copy of the original indictment can be found [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/06/09/us/trump-indictment-document-annotated.html here] for those interested, and the updated version is [https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2023/06/politics/annotated-trump-indictment-dg/ here]. Unfortunately, the federal judge assigned to the case was a Trump appointee named Aileen Cannon who proceeded to repeatedly undermine the prosecution through either incompetence or bias.<ref>[https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/08/egal-experts-blast-judge-aileen-cannons-latest-pro-trump-rulings “Dopey and Constitutionally Dubious”: Legal Experts Blast Judge Aileen Cannon’s Latest Pro-Trump Rulings]. ''Vanity Fair''. 8 August 2023.</ref> Judge Cannon eventually dismissed the case completely, claiming that the appointment of the special prosecutor on the case was illegal and unconstitutional; the Justice Department will appeal the ruling.<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-documents-case-dismissed-by-federal-judge/ Trump documents case dismissed by federal judge, with special counsel vowing to appeal]. ''CBS News''. 15 July 2024.</ref>

====But wait, THERE'S MORE! ====
On August 1st, 2023, after 2 years of debates and legal proceedings, Donald Trump was finally indicted for interfering in the 2020 election following his defeat and the subsequent [[2021 U.S. coup attempt|January 6th Capitol insurrection]]<ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-2020-election-probe-08-01-23/index.html Trump indicted in special counsel’s 2020 election interference probe] by Elise Hammond et al. (7:25 PM EDT, Tue August 1, 2023) ''CNN''.</ref> He was indicted on four counts: conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding; and conspiracy against rights.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/01/politics/donald-trump-indictment-grand-jury-2020-election/index.html "Donald Trump has been indicted in special counsel’s 2020 election interference probe"] By Tierney Sneed, Holmes Lybrand, Marshall Cohen, Zachary Cohen, Devan Cole, Hannah Rabinowitz, Holmes Lybrand and Katelyn Polantz, CNN, 2023 August 1</ref> Fittingly, he was charged under Section 241 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code, which was originally adopted in 1870 as part of the [[Ku Klux Klan]] Acts to protect rights guaranteed by the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution that were enacted during [[Reconstruction]].<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/08/01/trump-indictment-civil-rights-law Trump is charged under civil rights law used to prosecute KKK violence: The provision was originally adopted in 1870 and was intended to protect the newly codified rights of Black citizens after the Civil War] by  Isaac Stanley-Becker & Spencer S. Hsu (August 1, 2023) ''The Washington Post''.</ref> An annotated copy of the indictment is available [https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2023/08/politics/annotated-text-copy-trump-indictment-dg/ here] courtesy of [[CNN]]. Unsurprisingly, he pleaded not guilty and call his arrest "a sad day for America." Top that all off, he went as far as to threaten the people investigating him. [[Sarcasm|Totally something an innocent person would do.]]

====Where will it end?====
In the latest chapter in the Trump indictment saga, on 15 August 2023 Trump, several of his lawyers (including [[Rudy Giuliani]]), his former Chief of Staff, the state GOP chair and assorted co-conspirators were all indicted on racketeering and conspiracy charges in Georgia.<ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-indictment-georgia-fulton-county-08-15-23/ The latest on Trump's indictment in the Georgia 2020 election probe] by Leinz Vales, Aditi Sangal and Adrienne Vogt (August 15, 2023) ''CNN''.</ref> Like his third indictment, these charges related to his illegal attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state via fake electors and pressuring state officials to "find" votes.<ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/19-people-charged-georgia-indictment-connected-trump-election-102274367 A look at the 19 people charged in Georgia indictment connected to Trump election scheme] by Kate Brumback and Jonathan J. Cooper (August 15, 2021) ''ABC News''.</ref>
He was booked in the Fulton county PD on August 24 and released on a $200,000 bond. Fulton county made sure to get an unartistic photo of him that captured his character.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66612433 Smirk, don't smile: The art of a good mugshot] by Holly Honderich (August 4, 2023) ''BBC''.</ref>

His arrest was not only [[List of former heads of democratic countries charged with crimes|justice]], but also [[karma]]: the [[Fred Trump|son of a klansman]]<ref name=fredvice>[http://www.vice.com/read/all-the-evidence-we-could-find-about-fred-trumps-alleged-involvement-with-the-kkk All the Evidence We Could Find About Fred Trump's Alleged Involvement with the KKK] by Mike Pearl (March 10, 2016) ''Vice''.</ref> was indicted by District Attorney Fani Willis, the daughter of a [[Black Panther Party]] member.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20211125181612/https://southatlantamagazine.com/2021/01/20/fultoncountyda/ You Can Call Her Madam DA; Fani Willis on Making History As Fulton County’s First Woman District Attorney] by Ashtin Rose (January 20, 2021) ''South Atlanta Magazine'' (archived from November 25, 2021).</ref> Surprise, surprise, he pleaded not guilty.

For most people, indictments and jailing would bring a political career to a disgraceful end; for Trump it's an opportunity to double down. He has gone so far as to use his mugshot in campaigning,<ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/donald-trumps-campaign-mug-shot-fundraising-push/story?id=102561262 Donald Trump's campaign using mug shot in fundraising push: The campaign says Trump's legal battles are "election interference."] by Soo Rin Kim et al. (August 25, 2023, 8:29 AM) ''ABC News''.</ref> and to sell alleged pieces of the suit that he wore for the mugshot.<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/donald-trump-sells-pieces-suit-205500646.html Donald Trump sells pieces of suit worn during Georgia booking] by Brian Niemietz (December 13, 2023 at 12:55 PM PST) ''Daily News'' via ''Yahoo News''.</ref>

===Descent into fascism===
[[File:Trump x Hitler.jpg|thumb|right|160px|The flag may be different but the methods are the same.]]
{{cquote|Trump’s opening himself up to the [[Hitler]] comparison...You could say the ‘vermin’ remark or the ‘poisoning the blood’ remark, maybe one of them would be a coincidence. But both of them pretty much makes it clear that there’s something thematic going on, and I can’t believe it’s accidental.|||[[Mike Godwin]], stating that comparing Trump's rhetoric to Hitler's is apt, and ''not'' an example of [[Godwin's Law]].<ref>[https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/12/19/godwins-law-trump-hitler-00132427 "‘Trump Knows What He’s Doing’: The Creator of Godwin’s Law Says the Hitler Comparison Is Apt"] by Calder McHugh, Politico, 2023 December 19</ref>}}

Trump, with his rhetoric and tactics (such as directly quoting Mussolini in a tweet<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/02/28/donald-trump-retweets-post-likening-him-to-mussolini/|title=Donald Trump Retweets Post With Quote From Mussolini|last=Haberman|first=Maggie|date=February 28, 2016|publisher=The New York Times}}</ref> or keeping a book of Hitler’s speeches<ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Politics/donald-trumps-history-adolf-hitler-nazi-writings-analysis/story?id=105810745 Donald Trump's history with Adolf Hitler and his Nazi writings: ANALYSIS] ABC News</ref>) was classified by political analysts and historians (including Umberto Eco and Jason Stanley) as an authoritarian, even a fascist, since his presidential run in 2016.<ref>{{cws|https://www.businessinsider.com/is-trump-fascist-jason-stanley-says-it-is-wrong-question-2020-7|Trump announced a 'surge' of federal agents to cities led by Democrats. The author of 'How Fascism Works' says Trump is 'performing fascism.'|Business Insider}}</ref><ref>{{cws|https://lithub.com/umberto-eco-on-donald-trump-14-ways-of-looking-at-a-fascist/|Umberto Eco on Donald Trump: 14 Ways of Looking at a Fascist|Literary Hub}}</ref> The capitol insurrection on January 6th strengthened his classification as a fascist, and it’s only gotten worse from there.<ref>{{cws|https://www.newsweek.com/robert-paxton-trump-fascist-1560652|I've Hesitated to Call Donald Trump a Fascist. Until Now.|Newsweek}}</ref>

In late 2023, Trump made two remarks that critics found disturbingly close to the rhetoric of [[fascist]] regimes. In a Veterans Day speech, Trump stated:

{{QuoteBox|We pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country that lie and steal and cheat on elections... They’ll do anything, whether legally or illegally, to destroy America and to destroy the American Dream.<ref name="wapovernim">[https://web.archive.org/web/20231204000337/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/12/trump-rally-vermin-political-opponents/ "Trump calls political enemies ‘vermin,’ echoing dictators Hitler, Mussolini"] by Marianna LeVine, Washington Post, 2023 November 3, archived on 2023 December 4</ref>}}

The usage of the word "vermin" attracted particular rebuke, drawing comparisons to the rhetoric of Hitler, [[Mussolini]], and other [[authoritarian]] dictators.<ref name="wapovernim"/> In particular, the Nazis were very fond of slurring [[Jews]] as "the vermin of mankind."<ref>[https://newrepublic.com/article/176877/trump-vermin-speech-nazi-language "It’s Official: With “Vermin,” Trump Is Now Using Straight-up Nazi Talk"] by Michael Tomasky, New Republic, 2023 November 12</ref>

In a speech in Durham, [[New Hampshire]] in mid-December 2023, Trump described immigrants as "poisoning the blood of our country":<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-repeats-poisoning-blood-anti-immigrant-remark-2023-12-16/ "Trump repeats 'poisoning the blood' anti-immigrant remark"] by Nathan Layne, Reuters, 2023 December 16</ref>

{{QuoteBox|They’re [Immigrants] poisoning the blood of our country... That’s what they’ve done. They’ve poisoned mental institutions and prisons all over the world — not just in South America, not just the three or four countries that we think about, but all over the world. They’re coming into our country, from Africa, from Asia — all over the world. They’re pouring into our country, nobody's even looking at them, they just come in, the crime is going to be tremendous..."<ref>[https://www.c-span.org/video/?532231-1/president-trump-holds-rally-durham-hampshire "Former President Trump Holds Rally in Durham, New Hampshire"], C-Span, Campaign 2024 video, time: 47:40-48:05</ref>}}

The phrasing was criticized for the similarity in his rhetoric that Adolf Hitler used in [[Mein Kampf]].{{efn|A sample from ''Mein Kampf'': "Alle großen Kulturen der Vergangenheit gingen nur zugrunde, weil die ursprünglich schöpferische Rasse an Blutsvergiftung abstarb."<ref>Hitler, Adolf, 1889-1945. [https://ia903106.us.archive.org/21/items/Popanz/Popanz.pdf Mein Kampf.] Page 257</ref> This translates to: "All great cultures of the past only perished because the original creative race died of blood poisoning."}} The rhetoric drew criticism not only from Democrats like [[Joe Biden]] (who noted the similarity to Hitler), but even [[Stopped clock|from a few Republicans]], including [[Mitch McConnell]] and {{wpl|Susan Collins||.}}<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-sparks-republican-backlash-saying-immigrants-are-poisoning-blood-rcna130493 "Trump sparks Republican backlash after saying immigrants are 'poisoning the blood' of U.S."] by Megan Lebowitz, NBC News, 2023 December 19</ref>

Trump again drew condemnation for his fascist rhetoric in a campaign ad his team posted, where a heading titled “a unified reich” appeared halfway in the video. Although it was discreet, many people caught a glimpse in pauses, and showed that Trump’s team are sympathetic to fascists (many of them being Nick Fuentes fans, much like DeSantis’ former speechwriter who created the Nazi laced ad that ultimately killed DeSantis’ campaign).<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/trump-election-2024-rhetoric-germany-antisemitism-31002afb91b642c0314223d19e51f427 Trump’s social media account shares a campaign video with a headline about a ‘unified Reich’] AP News</ref>

In 2025, Trump hosted a meeting in the White House on [[antifa]], in which the historical antifa  (those who fought against Hitler's rise to power) of the [[Weimar Republic]] of Germany, was characterized as the 'bad guys'. Thus the event positioned itself as supporting [[Nazi Germany]] and against [[democracy]] and the [[rule of law]].<ref>[https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/trump-antifa-portland-pam-bondi-posobiec-b2842048.html Trump just hosted an ‘Antifa roundtable’ at the White House. It was so much worse than you’re imagining. Holly Baxter reports on a meeting that, at one point, appeared to position people protesting against Nazis in the Weimar Republic as the bad guys, and at another saw the president declare, ‘We got rid of freedom of speech’] by Holly Baxter (09 October 2025 09:57 EDT) ''Independent''.</ref><ref>[https://snyder.substack.com/p/when-anti-antifa-means-pro-nazi-video Who was Who in Weimar Germany (video). Notes from a Presidential "Roundtable"] by Timothy Snyder (Oct 10, 2025) ''Thinking about…'' (Substack).</ref>

===Assassination attempts===
On July 13<sup>th</sup> 2024 at a campaign rally in [[Pennsylvania]], a man named {{wpl|Thomas Matthew Crooks}} climbed to a rooftop nearby where Trump was speaking and opened fire with a legally purchased AR-15 style assault rifle owned by his father.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/thomas-matthew-crooks-shooter-trump-assassination-parents-b2580368.html What we know about gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks who shot at Trump at his Pennsylvania rally] by Shahana Yasmin et al. (July 16, 2024) ''Independent''.</ref><ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/14/us/trump-shooting-thomas-matthew-crooks-intl-hnk/index.html FBI identifies Trump rally shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks] by Jessie Yeung (July 14, 2024) ''CNN''.</ref> Trump was struck near the top of his right ear by a single shot, thus completing his apotheosis amongst conservatives. Early reports indicated<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/13/politics/eyewitnesses-shooting-trump-rally/index.html Eyewitnesses describe scene at Trump rally shooting: ‘It’s pure insanity’] by Kate Sullivan (July 13, 2024) ''CNN''.</ref> that one rally attendee was killed, and at least one other badly injured. Crooks was killed by Secret Service agents at the scene. Trump's campaign almost immediately confirmed that he was 'fine'.<ref>[https://www.ktsm.com/news/national-news/trump-campaign-says-former-president-is-fine-after-apparent-shooting-at-rally/ Trump campaign says former president is ‘fine’ after shooting at rally] by Caroline Vakil (Jul 13, 2024) ''KTSM''.</ref> The attack was swiftly denounced by Joe Biden.<ref>[https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/trump-rally-shooting-political-leaders-condemn-call-for-unity-and-peac-rcna161743 President Biden, political leaders condemn violence after shooting at Trump rally] by Victor Brand (July 13, 2024, 6:00 PM PDT) ''MSNBC''.</ref> Despite this, outrage towards Biden came from the right in full force. This ranged from criticizing his rhetoric, to arguing that he and the Deep State were in cahoots with each other in order to take him down. There were also some on the left who pushed the theory that Trump himself staged the incident.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/07/14/blueanon-conspiracy-theories-trump-rally-shooting/ ‘BlueAnon’ conspiracy theories flood social media after Trump rally shooting] by Taylor Lorenz (July 14, 2024 at 3:45 p.m. EDT) ''The Washington Post''.</ref>

As the investigation progressed, it was revealed that not only had members of the crowd been trying to alert the police to a man crawling across the roof of a nearby building, <ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4v7v2g5l1o Witness says he saw gunman on roof near Trump rally] by Gary O'Donoghue (13 July 2024) ''BBC''.</ref> the building itself had been identified as a potential problem before the rally, yet no team was placed where Crooks eventually fired from.<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-rally-shooting-secret-service-identified-rooftop-security-flaw-rcna161783 Rooftop where gunman shot at Trump was identified as a security vulnerability before rally: sources] by Sarah Fitzpatrick (July 14, 2024, 4:46 PM PDT) ''NBC News''.</ref> A major security / planning fuckup was impossible to deny.{{nofact}} The Republican party and their mouthpieces took the opportunity to blame the whole situation on [[DEI]] hiring in the Secret Service. <ref>[https://time.com/6998539/trump-shooting-republicans-blame-dei-secret-service-women/ What to Know About Women in Secret Service as Critics Blame ‘DEI’ for Trump’s Shooting] by Koh Ewe (Updated: July 17, 2024 12:30 AM EDT) ''TIME''.</ref> {{wpl|United States Secret Service}} Director {{wpl|Kimberly Cheatle}} resigned after acknowledging in a congressional hearing that, as director, responsibility for the incident fell on her. To her credit, she owned it from the outset.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/23/politics/secret-service-director-kimberly-cheatle/index.html Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigns] by Evan Perez et al. (July 23, 2024) ''CNN''.</ref> Conservative pundit [[Meghan McCain]] demonstrated [[tokenism|support for her gender]] by retweeting self described theocratic fascist [[Matt Walsh]] who said [[Fractal wrongness|"There should not be any women in the secret service. They are supposed to be the very best, and none of the very best at this job are women."]] <ref>[https://archive.ph/wip/rDJdx This is why the notion that men and women are the same is just absurd. You need to be taller than the candidate to protect them with your body. Why do they have these short women (one who can’t holster a gun apparently) guarding Trump? This is embarrassing and dangerous.] by Meghan McCain (7:29 AM · Jul 14, 2024) ''Twitter'' (archived from 6 Oct 2024 20:49:55 UTC).</ref>

====… and again====
This was not the end of violence however. On September 15, Ryan Wesley Routh fired shots near Mar-A-Lago, but was quickly detained.<ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Politics/trump-safe-after-shooting-mar-lago-campaign/story?id=113704100 Trump safe after apparent 'attempted assassination'; Sources identify detained man] By Katherine Faulders, Rachel Scott, Jack Date and Leah Sarnoff September 15, 2024,  ''ABC News''</ref>

{{anchor|Term 2}}
==Term 2: Fooled me twice, shame on me {{lived|2025}}==
{{update section}}

{{cquote|We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected. When they wake up in the morning, we want them to not want to go to work because they are increasingly viewed as the villains. We want their funding to be shut down so that the EPA can't do all of the rules against our energy industry because they have no bandwidth financially to do so.|||Russel Vought, architect of [[Project 2025]] and current director of Office of Management and Budget<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBH9TmeJN_M</ref><ref>https://www.npr.org/2025/03/26/nx-s1-5338945/federal-workers-return-to-office-chaos 
"We Want the Bureaucrats to Be Traumatically Affected"] ''ProPublica (Oct 28, 2024) ''YouTube''.</ref>}}

Despite all the madness, and chaos inflicted by the MAGA world, when Election Day came, none of those things mattered. The frustrations of inflated prices were what drove people most to reelect him, complete with a new legion of yes men by his side. He even won the popular vote, the first time a Republican did so since 2004. Voter concerns for right leaning voters were about the economy, immigration secondly, and foreign policy in third.<ref> [https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/09/09/issues-and-the-2024-election/ "Issues and the 2024 election"], Pew Research Center</ref> Despite the fears of inflation,<ref> [https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/05/business/trump-economy-tariffs/index.html "The Trump policy that scares economists the most"], Matt Egan, CNN</ref> during the Biden presidency, 16 Nobel economists were in agreement prior to that election that Trump would make inflation worse.<ref> [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24777566-nobel-letter-final "Nobel Letter Final"], Zach Basu (Axios)</ref>

Upon his second inauguration, Trump immediately pardoned 1,500 [[2021 U.S. coup attempt|January 6]] defendants and convicts, including [[Proud Boys]] and [[Oath Keepers]] who violently attacked police.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/capitol-jan-6-pardons-trump-justice-department-8ce8b2a8f8cb602d5eaf85ac7b969606 "Trump grants sweeping pardon of Jan. 6 defendants, including rioters who violently attacked police," Associated Press]</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y7l47xrpko "Proud Boys and Oath Keepers among over 1,500 Capitol riot defendants pardoned by Trump," Max Matza, BBC]</ref><ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/21/politics/what-to-know-pardons-january-6-trump/index.html "They assaulted cops and tried to overturn an election. What to know about Trump’s mass pardons for January 6 rioters," Marshall Cohen, CNN]</ref>

His first day was marked by a series of executive orders reversing many of Biden's own policies. Trump declared a national emergency at the Mexican border, began the process of withdrawing from the World Health Organization and Paris Climate Agreement, proclaimed an end to birthright citizenship, ending remote work for federal workers, removing protections for trans people in federal prisons, removing all climate policies under Biden, allowing offshore oil drilling in Alaska, reversing Biden's ban on offshore drilling for 625 million acres of federal waters, issuing a federal hiring freeze, making it easier to fire federal workers, and consider designating Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organization, among many other such directives and orders.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/20/us/politics/trump-executive-orders-list.html "Trump’s Executive Orders: Reversing Biden’s Policies and Attacking the Deep State," New York Times]</ref>

Things only got worse from then on. Despite one of his most popular promises being removing taxes on tips, overtime, and social security, his press secretary confessed that Trump would do zero of those things. His so-called ‘big, beautiful bill’ slashed approximately one trillion dollars used to fund SNAP benefits, Medicaid, and other social programs, and used it to fund tax cuts for his billionaire cronies. He has facilitated the unlawful deportation of legal immigrants without any due process, as well.<ref>{{cite web |last=Knutson |first=Jacob |date=May 27, 2025 |title=Judge Rips Trump Administration Over Failure to Give Deportees Due Process|url=https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/judge-rips-trump-administration-over-failure-to-give-deportees-due-process/|website=Democracy Docket |location=<!--Not stated--> |publisher=Democracy Docket |access-date=May 27, 2025}}</ref> This includes going as far as glorifying deporting immigrants through the White House Twitter account, creating AI images of arrested immigrants.<ref>[https://www.huffpost.com/entry/white-house-deportation-ai-ghibli-animation-cartoon_n_67e5b4ace4b0455df70b41c2 "White House Posts Ghoulish AI Cartoon Showing Woman's Deportation", Huffington Post]</ref>

Trump began launching wars against [[Iran]] and [[Venezuela]], the latter resulting in the capture of president [[Nicolás Maduro]] and his vice president swearing in as the next leader.

===Erosion of free markets===
{{main|1=Free market|3=Command economy}}
Despite running against what he called "[[socialism]]" during his candidacy, he has made a variety of [[Socialism#Planned economy|authoritarian-style socialist]] moves during his second term, more reminiscent of [[Xi Jinping]]'s Chinese Communist Party policies than of [[democratic socialism]]:<ref>[https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-financial-page/socialism-but-make-it-trump Socialism, But Make It Trump: After Zohran Mamdani’s victory, Republicans are fearmongering about Democrats turning socialist. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is busy taking stakes in private companies and ordering them around.] by John Cassidy (November 10, 2025) ''The New Yorker''.</ref><ref>[https://www.defiance.news/p/donald-trump-fear-mongered-about Donald Trump fear-mongered about "socialist" dictators. Now he's becoming one. The president is taking over the American economy. But his effort to control the money-printing powers of government is what could send us over the edge.] by Miles Taylor (Jan 12, 2026) ''Defiance News''.</ref><ref>[https://archive.ph/ZutYy The U.S. Marches Toward State Capitalism With American Characteristics. President Trump is imitating Chinese Communist Party by extending political control ever deeper into economy] by Greg Ip (Aug. 11, 2025 10:16 am ET) ''The Wall Street Journal'' (archived from 8 Oct 2025 16:47:39 UTC).</ref>
*Attempting to eliminate the independence of the [[Federal Reserve]]
*Having the US government acquire ownership stakes in major companies, including Intel and US Steel
*Imposing export controls and then extorting the affected companies
*Imposing seemingly arbitrary tariffs as a means of wealth redistribution
*Humiliating and threatening corporate CEOs who did not show sufficient obsequiousness
*Firing government economists who dared to report the actual economic [[statistics]]

===Evil Nazi things===
{{cquote|Hitler did a lot of good things.|||Donald Trump in 2017, according to White House chief of staff and retired General John Kelly<ref>[https://cambridgeblog.org/2023/03/hitler-did-a-lot-of-good-things-trump-and-the-us-rehabilitation-of-nazism/ "Hitler Did a Lot of Good Things": Trump and the US Rehabilitation of Nazism] by Ben Kiernan (28 Mar 2023) ''Fifteen Eighty Four, Academic perspectives from Cambridge University Press''.</ref>}}
While [[Fascism#Paxton|Trumpism is definitionally fascist]], some members of his second administration have at times gone out of their way to reference the most notoriously evil of all fascist regimes, [[Nazi Germany]]:
*In January 2025, Kristi Noem as the Secretary of the DHS had the following text printed in front of podium while addressing the killing of an innocent US citizen by an [[ICE]] officer, "One of Ours, All of Yours". The phrase, while not a direct quote from Nazi Germany, is reflective of Nazi policy, a policy that was used for example to execute or deport an entire [[Czech]] village for their alleged cooperation in the assassination of [[SS]] officer and chief architect of the [[Holocaust]], [[Reinhard Heydrich]].<ref>[https://www.snopes.com/news/2026/01/14/one-of-ours-all-of-yours-noem-podium/ Unpacking claim that 'one of ours, all of yours' phrase on Noem's podium is Nazi slogan. We found no evidence confirming the phrase appearing on a lectern originated verbatim in Nazi Germany, as social media posts suggested.] by Joey Esposito (Jan. 14, 2026) ''Snopes''.</ref> Two recent fictional films were made about the Heydrich assassination and the Nazi reprisals, and may have inspired Noem's slogan: {{wpl|Anthropoid (film)|''Anthropoid''}} (2016) and {{wpl|The Man with the Iron Heart|''The Man with the Iron Heart''}} (2017).<ref>[https://jamesfell.substack.com/p/ice-and-the-nazi-history-of-one-of ICE and the Nazi History of "One of Ours, All of Yours". The assassination of Reinhard Heydrich and the reprisals that followed] by James Fell (Jan 12, 2026) ''Sweary History with James Fell'' (Substack).</ref>
*In August 2025, DHS used text in its recruitment poster with the text "Which Way, American Man?" that appeared to be referencing a neo-Nazi book published by National Alliance, ''Which way, American man?"<ref>[https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/dhs-white-nationalist-anti-immigrant-social-media/ Homeland Security deploys white nationalist, anti-immigrant graphics to recruit] by Caleb Kieffer & R.G. Cravens (August 28, 2025) ''SPLC''.</ref>
*In August 2025, DHS posted a video on [[Twitter|Twitter/X]] that included the neo-Nazi co-opted character "[[Moon Man]]".<ref>[https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/dhs-includes-white-supremacist-meme-181101387.html DHS Includes White Supremacist Meme in Video Promoting Deportation Blitz] by Hunter Walker (October 3, 2025 at 11:11 AM PDT) ''TPM'' via ''Yahoo!News''.</ref>
*In October 2025, Border Patrol Chief {{wpl|Gregory Bovino}}, who has led teams of lawless agents, posed for a portrait for [[CNN]], in which appeared to be dressed in an outfit that was reminiscent of [[Adolf Hitler]]'s overcoat.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/08/politics/gregory-bovino-border-patrol-chicago-immigration ‘There is no sanctuary here’: Meet the Border Patrol chief in charge of Trump’s Chicago crackdown] by Priscilla Alvarez & Michael Williams (Oct 8, 2025) ''CNN''.</ref><ref>[https://ca.news.yahoo.com/trump-top-border-patrol-goon-171200396.html Trump’s Top Border Patrol Goon Roasted for ‘Nazi’ Look] by Tom Latchem (October 30, 2025 at 10:12 a.m. PDT) ''Yahoo!News''.</ref>
*Several members of the Trump administration have falsely claimed that ICE has immunity from prosecution (Vice President [[J. D. Vance]], White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy [[Stephen Miller]], Deputy Attorney General {{w|Todd Blanche||,}} and the Department of Homeland Security).<ref>[https://newrepublic.com/post/205283/stephen-miller-ice-full-immunity Stephen Miller Delivers Chilling Message to ICE as Violence Grows. Stephen Miller is all but encouraging ICE to get more violent, just days after an agent killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.] by Malcolm Ferguson (January 14, 2026 / 1:28 p.m. ET) ''The New Republic''.</ref><ref>[https://archive.ph/MmQfx Under Trump, a Shift Toward ‘Absolute Immunity’ for ICE. Since the fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis, administration officials have defended the use of deadly force, which agency guidelines say should be a last resort.] by Hamed Aleaziz & Nicholas Nehamas (Jan. 15, 2026) ''The New York Times'' (archived from 16 Jan 2026 14:47:31 UTC).</ref>
*Even (former?) Trump supporter [[Joe Rogan]] criticized ICE in January 2026 for acting lawless like the [[Gestapo]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/15/joe-rogan-trump-ice-gestapo Has Joe Rogan fully soured on Trump’s presidency?] by J. Oliver Conroy (15 Jan 2026 08.00 EST) ''The Guardian''.</ref>
*In January 2026, Trump's Equal Employment Opportunity Commission demanded the "names and personal information about Jewish members of the {{w|University of Pennsylvania}}{{efn|Trump's alma mater}} community, allegedly to combat anti-semitism on campus, but the public impression this made was that this was the first step that the Nazis made to purge Jews from universities in the years before the [[Holocaust]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/13/upenn-trump-jews-list UPenn faculty condemn Trump administration’s demand for 'lists of Jews': Groups say EEOC demand for names and personal details echoes dark history and threatens safety and civil rights] by Alice Speri (13 Jan 2026 16.12 EST) ''The Guardian''.</ref>
*In January 2026, DHS and the White House posted an image with the phrase "We’ll Have Our Home Again". "We’ll Have Our Home Again" is a song that was posted on the web by the [[white nationalist]] and neo-Nazi-affiliated group Pine Tree Riots in 2020.<ref>[https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/white-nationalist-song-ice-recruitment-posts/ DHS, White House shared white nationalist song in ICE recruitment posts] by Hannah Gais (January 15, 2026) ''SPLC''.</ref>
*In January 2026, the Department of Labor posted a video on Twitter with the caption "One Homeland. One People. One Heritage", reflecting the Nazi slogan, ''Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer'' ("One people, one empire, one leader") as well as the Nazi Germany's ''Blut und Boden'' ("blood and soil") ideology.<ref>[https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2026/01/social-media-trump-administration-dhs/685659/ The Trump Administration Is Publishing a Stream of Nazi Propaganda. Government social-media managers have transformed official feeds.] by Ali Breland (January 21, 2026) ''The Atlantic''.</ref>

===Corruption and bribery by oligarchs===
Analogous to The German Nazi Party's interdependence with German industrialists,<ref>[https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/how-big-business-bailed-out-nazis How Big Business Bailed Out the Nazis: A tragic tale of what can go wrong when profits are entangled with politics.] by Ciara Torres-Spelliscy (May 20, 2016) ''Brennan Center for Justice''.</ref> The second Trump regime has been shown that many technology leaders and other oligarchs have been quick to obey in advance by paying thinly-veiled bribes to Trump in return for payoffs from the government for their businesses. Examples are:
#$250 million to the Trump’s Inaugural Committee, essentially a slush fund.<ref>[https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/04/trump-inauguration-funds-corporations-oligarchy/ Corporate Chiefs Gave Trump’s Inaugural Committee $250 Million. Benefits Abound.]</ref><ref>[https://www.opensecrets.org/trump/2025-inauguration-donors Trump Administrations: 2025 Inauguration Donors] ''OpenSecrets''.</ref><ref>[https://archive.ph/QbOvT Meet the top donors to Trump’s $239 million inauguration fund
The list includes more than a dozen nominees to the administration, a poultry giant and embattled crypto companies.] by Clara Ence Morse et al. (May 9, 2025) ''The Washington Post'' (archived from 5 Oct 2025 15:50:33 UTC).</ref>
#$300 million in donations to rebuild the {{w|East Wing}} of the White House that Trump had illegally destroyed.<ref>[https://fortune.com/2025/10/26/37-white-house-ballroom-donors-funding-300-million-build-tech-ceos-trump/ Meet all 37 White House ballroom donors funding the $300 million build, including Silicon Valley tech giants, crypto bros and the Lutnicks] by Nino Paoli (October 26, 2025, 5:03 AM ET) ''Fortune''.</ref>
#$75 million from [[Jeff Bezos]] via his {{w|Amazon Prime Video}} company for a destined-to-be-a-flop [[Hagiography|hagiographic]] [[Advertising|infomercial]] called ''{{w|Melania (film)|Melania|,}}'' scrutinized by Melania, and about Melania Trump, directed by {{w|Brett Ratner}} who had been accused of sexual assault by multiple women (charges dropped)<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2026/jan/27/melania-will-documentary-bankrolled-by-bezos-flop-the-latest Melania: will Bezos-bankrolled documentary be a flop? – The Latest] by Lucy Hough & Catherine Shoard (27 Jan 2026 14.03 EST) ''The Guardian''.</ref> and was closely associated with Epstein-tied child rapist {{wpl|Jean-Luc Brunel||.}}<ref>[https://people.com/brett-ratner-director-melania-trump-doc-seen-in-photo-released-from-epstein-files-11874122 Brett Ratner, Director of Upcoming Melania Trump Documentary, Seen in Photo Released from Epstein Files] by Raven Brunner (December 21, 2025 06:23PM EST) ''People''.</ref>

==Rare moments of sanity==
{{cquote|Our country is divided and out of control. The world is watching. Our country is totally divided and our enemies are watching.|||Trump accidentally says something truthful, but lacks the self-awareness that he is both the benefactor and partial source of the divisions.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sinclair|first1=Harriet|title=Trump to discuss US safety at Republican Convention 2016 in wake of terrorism and gun violence|accessdate=July 21, 2016|work=International Business Times|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/trump-discuss-us-safety-republican-convention-2016-wake-terrorism-gun-violence-1571138|date=July 18, 2016}}</ref>}}

Despite his deplorable reputation, Trump is no exception to the [[stopped clock]] principle. Here is an incomplete list of the [somewhat] right things he has done.
*He regularly calls out the [[neoconservative]]s and their hired help.<ref>Weiss, Phillip, [http://mondoweiss.net/2015/10/adelson-perfect-puppet "Adelson will mold Rubio into 'perfect little puppet'"], Mondoweiss 10.13.15. Remember, Shelly is even richer ''and'' crazier than Trump. He wants to nuke Iran and wishes he had served in the Israeli military instead of the U.S. Army.</ref> His [[pwned|annihilation]] of the [[Club for Growth]] was also on point.<ref>Strauss, Daniel, [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/donald-trump-club-for-growth-cease-desist-letter-213936 "Donald Trump sends Club for Growth cease and desist letter"], Politico (09/22/15 03:00 PM EDT, Updated 09/22/15 03:51 PM EDT).</ref>
*Trump's comments on George Bush having {{wpl|September 11 attacks advance-knowledge conspiracy theories|advance foreknowledge}} of the [[September 11 attacks]] and the lack of strategy post-9/11 from the Bush administration have led some in the right-wing news media<ref>[https://youtu.be/cLjvu35lc-c "Fox News Calls Trump A Truther"], via [[The Young Turks]]' official [[YouTube]] channel. Published on October 20, 2015.</ref> (even confessed truther [[Alex Jones]]<ref>[https://youtu.be/7RUIhYT33_0 "Donald Trump: The Latest 9/11 Truther"], from Alex Jones's official YouTube channel. Published October 20, 2015.</ref>) to label him a "[[truther]]", although this isn't very accurate, as Trump backtracked from some of the advance knowledge comments, and he is not known for trutherism.<ref>David Weigel. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/02/16/trumps-foes-hes-a-911-truther-truthers-would-disagree/ "Trump's foes say he's a 9/11 truther. Truthers would disagree."]. ''Washington Post''. February 15, 2016.</ref> He also believes the famous “28 pages” redacted from the official 9/11 report were done to please [[Saudi Arabia|the Saudis]],<ref>Hains, Tim, [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2016/02/17/trump_you_will_find_out_who_really_knocked_down_the_world_trade_center_secret_papers_may_blame_saudis.html "Donald Trump on 9/11: 'You Will Find Out Who Really Knocked Down The World Trade Center'"], RCP 2.17.16.</ref> which would appear to be partially accurate.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/16/us/28-pages-saudi-arabia-september-11.html "Congress Releases Secret 9/11 Document Detailing Possible Saudi Ties to Al Qaeda"] (16 July 2016). ''New York Times''. </ref>
*On the bureaucracy front, he dropped a requirement that federal government agencies report on their [[Y2K]] preparedness 17 years after it came and proved to be a big pile of nothing.<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-06-15/trump-orders-government-to-stop-work-on-y2k-bug-17-years-later "Trump Orders Government to Stop Work on Y2K Bug, 17 Years Later"], ''[[Michael Bloomberg|Bloomberg]]''.</ref>
*His administration sided with [[South Dakota]] in a [[Supreme Court]] case that allows states to collect sales tax for all online stores, even if they don't have physical establishments in the charging state.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/law/2018/jun/21/supreme-court-rules-states-can-collect-sales-tax-from-online-retailers "Supreme court rules states can collect sales tax from online retailers"], ''[[The Guardian]]''. "The Trump administration had urged the justices to side with South Dakota."</ref>
*His claims on the troubles with (unfettered) free trade are largely correct.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-44438908 G7: Fact-checking Trump's tweets about trade]. BBC News. June 11th, 2018.</ref><ref group="note">For a more in-depth and nuanced look on the deceptive promise of free trade, there is [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnW9ZQtI1_E this excellent DW documentary].</ref><ref group="note">[https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/6suwhn/hairswap/ The worst trade deal in the history of trade deals, ever!] </ref> The Trump administration withdrew the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and worked on modernizing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
*He signed into law a bill that upgrades the birthplace of the famed civil rights activist [[Martin Luther King Jr.]] in Atlanta, Georgia, into a national historical park. He also signed bills linking historical sites related to the civil rights movement and commemorating the first Africans' arrival in the English colonies in Point Comfort, Virginia, in 1619.<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/01/08/trump-signs-bill-upgrade-martin-luther-kings-birthplace-national-historic-park/1015174001/ Trump signs bill to upgrade Martin Luther King's birthplace to national historic park]. ''USA Today''. January 8, 2018. </ref>
*Despite his "tough on crime" policies, he commuted the sentence of Alice Johnson, a first-time offender who was sentenced to life imprisonment on nonviolent drug-related charges.<ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/06/politics/alice-marie-johnson-commuted-sentence/index.html Trump commutes sentence of Alice Marie Johnson] (June 6, 2018) ''CNN''.</ref> Trump later granted Johnson a full pardon.<ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/28/politics/donald-trump-alice-johnson-pardon/index.html Trump pardons Alice Johnson] (August 28, 2020) ''CNN''.</ref>
*He issued an executive order forcing the Department of Defense to provide army veterans with mental health facilities after they leave the service.<ref>[https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=3995 President Donald J. Trump signs Executive Order to Improve Mental Health Resources for Veterans Transitioning from Active Duty to Civilian Life] (January 9, 2018) ''U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs''.</ref>
*His administration banned bump stocks by defining them as "machineguns", which are illegal under the National Firearms Act.<ref>[https://www.atf.gov/rules-and-regulations/bump-stocks Bump Stocks] (February 21, 2019) ''Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives''.</ref>{{efn|That is, until the Republican-appointed majority Supreme Court he helped pack overturned the executive order banning them in 2024.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-guns-bump-stocks-b3bd1b4163d78514a6d5acc5b44c8b3d Supreme Court strikes down Trump-era ban on rapid-fire rifle bump stocks, reopening political fight] by Lindsay Whitehurst (6:39 PM PDT, June 14, 2024) ''AP''.</ref>}}
*Even though it was a jab at the Obama administration, he issued a pardon posthumously to former heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson (1878-1946). In his lifetime, Johnson was prosecuted for transporting a white woman across state lines in his car.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Eligon|first1=John|last2=Shear|first2=Michael D.|date=2018-05-24|title=Trump Pardons Jack Johnson, Heavyweight Boxing Champion (Published 2018)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/24/sports/jack-johnson-pardon-trump.html|access-date=2021-02-25|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
*During the 2016 Presidential Campaign, he advocated for allowing people to purchase health insurance across state lines. However, he did not implement this plan.<ref group=note>It should be noted that this isn't necessarily a good idea. First off, the "state lines" thing isn't due to federal law – ''it's a state issue''. Each state has its own rules and regulations for what it considers acceptable insurance policy levels; this is the cause of the so-called "state lines." Second, forcing a state to follow another state's lower policy levels could cause problems — [https://www.factcheck.org/2017/07/selling-insurance-across-state-lines/ this document] summarizes these issues.</ref><ref>[https://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/27/trump-executive-order-health-care-state-lines-243213 Health plans, regulators pan Trump's plan to allow purchase of insurance across state lines], ''Politico'', September 27, 2017</ref>
*He supports paper backup ballots.<ref>[https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/06/trump-elections-ballots-paper-440361 Trump floats idea to secure elections: 'It's always good to have a paper backup'] by Ayanna Alexander (03/06/2018 05:15 PM EST) ''Politico''.</ref>
*On March 16<sup>th</sup> 2021, in a blow to Trump-worshipping [[anti-vaccination]] conspiracy theory movements such as [[QAnon]], Donald Trump urged America to get vaccinated for [[COVID-19]], calling it "safe" and "something that works."<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/16/politics/donald-trump-covid-19-vaccine/index.html "Trump urges Americans to get Covid-19 vaccine: 'I would recommend it'"] by Paul LeBlanc, CNN, 2021 March 17</ref> His followers booed him at a rally in Alabama, but he tried to quell them by saying they have freedom.<ref>[https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1277404 Trump booed at Alabama rally after telling supporters to get vaccinated] ''NBC News''</ref> Trump repeatedly continued to recommend the [[COVID-19 vaccine]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Blake |first=Aaron |date=2021-12-21 |title=Dear Republicans: Your favorite president wants you to get vaccinated |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/12/21/dear-republicans-trump-wants-you-get-vaccinated-thats-not-fake-news/ |access-date=2024-10-07 |work=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> and some research suggests this actually did "move the needle" with some of his fans.<ref>(April 4th, 2022). [https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2022/04/using-trumps-vaccine-endorsement-move-needle-covid-19-vaccines "Using Trump's vaccine endorsement to move the needle on COVID-19 vaccines"]. Stanford University.</ref> This is despite his previous attempts to stop isolation and mask-wearing, so it may be less of a startling moment of sanity and more of a consistent practice to side with whatever keeps his businesses afloat. On the insanity side, though, it was later revealed that the Trump White House overruled a proposed 2020 [[CDC]] policy that would have put some limitations on church gatherings during the pre-vaccine phase of the pandemic, likely resulting in increased deaths of Trump's supporters.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/04/29/trump-administration-cdc-interference-religious-groups/ Trump officials muzzled CDC on church covid guidance, emails confirm: The documents offer new details about how the White House delivered on the priorities of religious communities that were key to the president’s base.] by Dan Diamond (April 29, 2022) ''The Washington Post''.</ref>
===Iraq War?===
{{main|Iraq War}}

In 2002, Trump appeared on Howard Stern's show and voiced his support (such as it was) for the [[Iraq War]] based on the "business opportunity" in the region ([https://youtu.be/4amgOoCE5gY as Clinton put it]) in 2011. However, Trump personally had a financial interest in opposing the war in Iraq and expressed concerns about the war soon after it had started: by 2004, it was well-known that Trump was an opponent of the Iraq War.<ref>Eugene Kiely. (February 19, 2016). [http://www.factcheck.org/2016/02/donald-trump-and-the-iraq-war/ "Donald Trump and the Iraq War"].</ref> In 2015, visiting Las Vegas, Trump swerved the entire Republican Party, blasting the war louder than any Democrat would have:
{{QuoteBox|Thousands and thousands of lives, we have nothing. Wounded warriors all over the place who I love, we have nothing for it.<ref>Meghashyam Mali [http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/255052-trump-gop-rivals-want-to-start-world-war-iii-over-syria "Trump: GOP rivals want to 'start World War III over Syria'"], The Hill.</ref>}}

Then, during the election, Trump used the Iraq War as one of the most common sticks to beat Clinton with, even going to far as to suggest [[Barack Hussein Obama]] and Hillary Clinton were the "founders" of [[DAESH|Daesh]] for leaving a power vacuum in the region: a power vacuum [[hypocrisy|Trump also would have left]], as he was calling for the immediate withdrawal of the US from Iraq as early as 2007.<ref>Juan González, Scott Anderson (August 12, 2016). [http://www.democracynow.org/2016/8/12/donald_trump_claims_obama_clinton_founded "Donald Trump Claims Obama & Clinton Founded ISIS, But Bush Negotiated U.S. Withdrawal from Iraq"]. ''[[Democracy Now!]]''</ref> When asked about running mate [[Mike Pence]]'s decision to vote in favor of the Iraq War, Trump rather patronizingly said that Pence was "entitled to a mistake", and as for Hillary, "[[hypocrisy|she's not]]."<ref>Savransky, Rebbecca, [http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/288097-trump-on-pence-voting-for-iraq-war-i-dont-care "Trump: Pence entitled to make mistakes, Hillary's not"], ''The Hill'' (7/17/16 at 7:01 pm).</ref>

It is clear then that Trump's views on Iraq are not as well-informed as they initially appear.

==List of nicknames==
{{cquote|Long live Emperor Trump!|||A Chinese fan on social media<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/09/world/asia/trump-china-fans.html 'Uncle Trump' Finds Fans in China] by Javier C. Hernández & Iris Zhao (November 9, 2017) ''The New York Times''.</ref>}}
Donald Trump is a man of many nicknames: "The Donald",<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2015/09/01/why-does-everyone-call-donald-trump-the-donald-its-an-interesting-story/ Why does everyone call Donald Trump 'The Donald'? It's an interesting story.] by Amy Argetsinger (September 1, 2015) ''The Washington Post''.</ref> "John Miller",<ref>"[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/05/16/donald-trumps-john-miller-interview-is-even-crazier-than-you-think/ Donald Trump's 'John Miller' interview is even crazier than you think]" (May 16, 2016), ''The Washington Post''</ref> "John Barron",<ref>Marc Fisher and Will Hobson, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/donald-trump-alter-ego-barron/2016/05/12/02ac99ec-16fe-11e6-aa55-670cabef46e0_story.html "Donald Trump masqueraded as publicist to brag about himself"], WaPo 5.13.16.</ref> "David Dennison",<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/03/07/the-7-most-interesting-parts-of-stormy-danielss-lawsuit-against-trump/ The 7 most interesting aspects of Stormy Daniels's lawsuit against Trump] by Aaron Blake (March 7, 2018 at 8:52 AM) ''The Washington Post''.</ref> "Don the Con",<ref>[https://www.mediaite.com/online/michael-avenatti-follows-up-2020-talk-by-workshopping-trump-nicknames-on-twitter-don-the-con/ Michael Avenatti Follows Up 2020 Talk by Workshopping Trump Nicknames on Twitter: 'Don the Con'] by Josh Feldman (Jul 6<sup>th</sup>, 2018, 11:38 am) ''Mediaite''.</ref> "[[Fun:God|God-Emperor]] Trump",<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/godemperortrumpofficial/ God Emperor Trump] ''Facebook''.</ref> "Mr. [[Brexit]]",<ref name="MrBrexit">McCarthy, Tom (August 18, 2016). [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2016/aug/18/trump-says-hell-be-known-as-mr-brexit-despite-poor-poll-showing-politics-live "Trump says he'll be known as 'Mr Brexit' despite poor poll showing – politics live"]. ''[[The Guardian]]''.</ref>, Honest Don <ref>[https://uk.news.yahoo.com/donald-trumps-nickname-himself-people-123859380.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJvjjqzejcSKEFq5Qiw9_mIFMQhoYu4w2Qda_v333mCV4C1oAo1tVe8aTXN2TusyFchlb8cJqL8vJ7Sum9rogxVQv4xTvZIDxJeTMJ0jrWbsraCyXPe7DRsGRdS6VsOqF9zslRSOpXXpnPGyBXp7ThsCO_Oo_QJ8qq71lNVFIHZG]</ref> and Cadet Bone Spur.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5iRvUK5A0U Duckworth to Trump: I won't be lectured by a draft dodger]. CNN. January 21, 2018.</ref> One might also add "The Waanald", in light of his constant whining on Twitter and elsewhere whenever someone says something about him he doesn't like.

During his second term in office, the fat man gained the nickname "TACO" (short for "Trump Always Chickens Out"), alluding to his noticeable habit of talking a big, BIG game and then reneging on deals, policies, or pretty much just about anything that could potentially make him look bad.<ref>[https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2025/06/13/why-do-they-call-trump-taco-people-are-calling-what-is-taco-trade-trump-always-chickens-out-meaning/84169623007/]. DelawareOnline. June 13, 2025.</ref>

During the George Floyd protests, Trump hid in the White House basement and turned off the lights, a feat that earned him the nickname "Bunker Boy."<ref>[https://www.rawstory.com/2020/06/trump-branded-bunker-boy-for-hiding-in-the-basement-and-turning-off-white-house-lights-total-lack-of-leadership/ Trump branded 'bunker boy' for 'hiding in the basement' and turning off White House lights: 'Total lack of leadership'], ''Raw Story'', June 1, 2020, Accessed June 1, 2020</ref>

==Trump supporters==
[[File:Trump and Rodman 2009.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Well, let's give Denny his due: when has he ''ever'' [[Kim Jong-un|given us any bad advice or led us in the wrong direction?]]<ref>Shearlaw, Maeve, [http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/30/short-history-dennis-rodman-north-korea "Rodman and North Korea: A Short History"], ''The Guardian'' (9/30/14, 10.31 EDT). Say what you will about North Koreans, they're really solid on border control.</ref>]]

La Familia Trump consists of the usual suspects: a pack of [[appeal to celebrity|celebrities]] as unfit to hold office as the man himself. We have dossiers on most of them:
*[[Jake Angeli]]: Became a terrorist to defend Trump.
*[[Joe Arpaio]]: Cartoonishly-corrupt sheriff of [[Arizona|Maricopa County]]. Arpaio, whose department has been sued multiple times for racist policing practices by the federal government, declared "I'm with him to the bitter end."<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/01/26/arizona-sheriff-joe-arpaio-endorses-trump/ "Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio endorses Trump"]. ''washingtonpost.com''. Retrieved on 4 August 2016.</ref> Subsequently repaid in full with a presidential pardon for his sundry [[Joe Arpaio#Civil rights violations|crimes and human rights violations]].
*[[Herman Cain]]: 2012 Presidential candidate for the Republican nominee. Died after catching COVID at a rally.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/30/politics/herman-cain-dies-coronavirus/index.html Herman Cain dies from Coronavirus]</ref>
*[[Kenneth Copeland]]: Creepy [[Televangelist|televangelist]] who plays as a spiritual advisor for Trump. Supported him in 2016, and maniacally laughed at Biden's victory.<ref>[https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/11/video-televangelist-kenneth-copeland-laugh-biden-victory.html Watch Televangelist Kenneth Copeland Laugh Maniacally at Media for Saying Biden Won]</ref>
*Anti-PC crusader [[Ann Coulter]]: Hopped on the Trump Train early<ref>Joshua De Leon, [https://www.ringoffireradio.com/2015/07/coulter-endorses-trump-says-bush-rubio-and-perry-are-midgets-who-would-doom-gop/ "Coulter Endorses Trump – Says Bush, Rubio and Perry Are Midgets Who Would Doom GOP"], ''Ring of Fire.''</ref> but appeared to sour on his [http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ann-coulter-appears-sour-mental-donald-trump-article-1.2582185 'half-baked tweets at midnight'.] What's that old saying about a speck in your neighbor's eye?
*[[Dinesh D'Souza]]: Such a big Trump supporter he made a movie about it.<ref>[https://www.westernjournal.com/dsouzas-new-film-trump-card-slashes-deep-state-ribbons/ D'Souza's New Film 'Trump Card' Slashes the 'Deep State' to Ribbons]</ref>
*[[David Duke]]: [https://www.vox.com/2016/7/25/12270880/donald-trump-racist-racism-history Practically inevitably], the former head of the [[KKK]] tweeted that Trump was "the only way to stop the commie Bolsheviks." Bizarrely, Duke also endorsed [[Tucker Carlson]] for VP.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/kkk-trump-david-duke-tucker-carlson-election-2020-a9609491.html Former KKK leader endorses Trump for president again – and Tucker Carlson for VP]</ref>
*[[George Galloway]]: Here's a tricky one: Who would be a more terrible president, Donald Trump or George Galloway?<ref>Nelson, Louis, [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/george-galloway-trump-clinton-224001?cmpid=sf "George Galloway: trump Better Than Clinton"], Politico (06/07/16 01:25 PM EDT).</ref><ref>[http://www.private-eye.co.uk/issue-1421/hp-sauce "The serial litigant finally says 'sorry'"], ''[[Private Eye]]'' #1421.</ref> Fellow [[Brexit]]eer [[Nigel Farage]] appears to agree with Galloway on this one.<ref>europarl, (8 June 2016). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYsE88hmIbY "Nigel Farage: I think Hillary Clinton is a crook"]. Retrieved on 26 June 2016 &ndash; via YouTube.</ref>
*[[Sean Hannity]]: His inner construction worker cannot resist.<ref>Ludlum, Judd, [http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2016/04/22/3771945/the-truth-about-how-sean-hannity-covers-donald-trump/ "The Truth About How Sean Hannity Covers Donald Trump"], ThinkProgress (4/22/16 12:26 pm).</ref> Compared Trump to [[King David]], who "had five hundred concubines", ffs.<ref>Michael, Brett, [http://uproxx.com/news/hannity-trump-king-david-concubines/ "Sean Hannity's Defense Of Trump Is Now Beyond Parody"], Uproxx 10.8.16.</ref>
*[[Alex Jones]]: Vaunted anti-government loon, is spreading the Trump Gospel – in essence, becoming a cheerleader for torture, the surveillance state, deportations, and zero-percent corporate taxes – all in exchange for a plug from Donald on his show.<ref>[http://mediamatters.org/blog/2016/11/14/conspiracy-theorist-alex-jones-says-president-elect-trump-called-thank-his-audience/214424 Conspiracy Theorist Alex Jones Says President-Elect Trump Called To Thank His Audience. Jones: Trump Says He Will "Be On In The Next Few Weeks"] by Ben Dimiero ( November 14, 2016, 9:52 AM EST) ''Media Matters for America''.</ref> Has since defected to [[Ron DeSantis]], calling him "way better than Trump."<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/alex-jones-abandons-trump-ron-desantis-b2147385.html Alex Jones abandons Trump for Ron DeSantis: ‘We have someone way better’], ''The Independent.''</ref>
*[[Laffer curve|Arthur Laffer]]: Trickle-down needs to be brutally murdered because it won't fucking die on its own.<ref>Tankersly, Jimm, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/04/19/one-part-of-the-republican-establishment-actually-loves-donald-trump-and-ted-cruz/ "One part of the Republican establishment actually loves Donald Trump"], WaPo 4.19.16. Won't ''someone'' think of the billionaires? </ref> (Shouldn't you be wrecking [https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/economy/2016/05/07/reagan-voodoo-economics-the-heart-scott-morrisons-budget/14625432003219 Australia's] economy right now?)
* [[Greg Locke]]: Pastor who denies Joe Biden won, and that Trump is the legitimate winner. Also thinks there is a pedophile ring in D.C. tunnels.<ref>[https://www.newsweek.com/pastor-greg-locke-says-biden-demon-possessed-insists-trump-legitimate-president-1604528 Pastor Greg Locke Says Biden Is 'Demon-Possessed,' Insists Trump is 'Legitimate President']</ref> Locke has recently renounced his support for Trump, due to his promotion of COVID-19 vaccinations.<ref>[https://www.newsweek.com/right-wing-pastor-rips-trump-supporting-vaccines-he-going-lose-his-voter-base-1667714 Right-Wing Pastor Blasts Trump for Vaccine Support: 'He Is Going to Lose His Voter Base']</ref>
*[[Michelle Malkin]]: Sees which way the wind is blowing and announced she would be "pulling the lever for Donald Trump." This from the woman who called him a [https://twitter.com/michellemalkin/status/315104019880239105 "conservafraud"] two years before. Others might have taken offense at Trump calling them "born stupid", but not Malkin: she couldn't Stump The Trump, and hopefully gained "wisdom" from the experience.<ref>Josiah Ryan, [http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/11/18/we-asked-michelle-malkin-if-donald-trump-would-make-good-president-she-had-this-to-say/ "We Asked Michelle Malkin If Donald Trump Would Make Good President. She Had This to Say"], ''The Blaze.''</ref>
*[[Ted Nugent]]: Of course, no collection of wingnuts would be complete without Nugent.<ref>Neetzan Zimmerman, [http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/249951-ted-nugent-president-trump-would-kick-ass-and-take-names "Ted Nugent: President Trump 'would kick ass and take names'"], ''The Hill''.</ref> Political life lessons from him are like filling the seats at the BET awards with KKK members.
*[[Mehmet Oz]]: ''He looks healthy to me! What do you think, studio audience?''
*[[Dennis Prager]]: Admits he only supports Trump out of hate for the left. One of the most adamantly anti-Trump talk show hosts of the past year was, in fact ... Dennis Prager.<ref>Goldstein, Aaron, [http://spectator.org/dennis-pragers-cop-out-on-trump/ "Dennis Prager had me, but then he lost me."], ''The American Spectator'' (5/10/16, 11:54 pm).</ref>
*[[Dan Quayle]]: The people who know what the job actually entails want nothing to do with Trump.<ref>Samuelshon, Darren, [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/exclusive-george-hw-bush-to-vote-for-hillary-228395 "George H.W. Bush to vote for Hillary Clinton"], Politico (09/19/16 11:20 PM EDT).</ref> That should tell you everything you need to know. Dan Quayle does, so there's that.<ref>Collins, Eliza, [http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/05/12/dan-quayle-trump-more-qualified-than-clinton-election/84275246/ "Dan Quayle: Trump is 'more qualified' than Clinton in this election"], USA Today (5/12/16 at 12:55 p.m. EDT).</ref>
*[[Donald Rumsfeld]]: Trump's not doing so well in endorsements; he'll take what he can get.<ref>Levitz, Eric, [http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/06/rumsfeld-calls-donald-trump-a-known-unknown.html "Donald Rumsfeld Will Vote for Trump Because He's a 'Known Unknown'"], ''New York Magazine'' (6/23/16 at 5:19 p.m.) Officially a self-parody.</ref> Let's speculate on other stupid endorsements he may get. Lynndie England? Ollie North? Is G. Gordon Liddy dead yet?
*[[Michael Savage]]: Called Trump "the [[Winston Churchill]] of our time."<ref>Cathy Burke, [http://www.newsmax.com/t/#!newsmax/article/659542 "Michael Savage: Trump Is the 'Winston Churchill of Our Time'"], [[Newsmax]].</ref> We live in savage times indeed.
*[[Phyllis Schlafly]]: 
[[Marital rape]] supporter
 [[Kinder, Küche, Kirche|stay-at-home mom]] and [[Equal Rights Amendment]] opponent.<ref>[http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/phyllis-schlafly-faces-ouster-attempt-following-trump-endorsement Phyllis Schlafly Faces Ouster Attempt Following Trump Endorsement] by Brian Tashman (Monday, 4/11/2016 12:15 pm) ''Right Wing Watch''.</ref> Now deceased.
*{{wpl|Martin Shkreli||:}} "Most hated CEO in America" and convicted fraudster.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/martin-shkreli-donald-trump-endorsement-twitter-a7052611.html 'Most hated man in the world' announces his support for Republican nominee]</ref>
*[[Ben Stein]]: Once a flack, always a flack. [http://mediamatters.org/video/2016/03/15/ben-stein-i-have-not-heard-a-racist-word-out-of/209278 "He wants a peaceful, calm America."]<ref>Kelley, Marty, [http://wonkette.com/602643/pretend-smart-person-ben-stein-thinks-donald-trumps-a-moron-endorses-donald-trump "Pretend Smart Person Ben Stein Thinks Donald Trump's A Moron, Endorses Donald Trump"], Wonkette 6.7.16.</ref>
*[[Christchurch terrorist attacks|Brenton Tarrant]]: Made the questionable decision to express his support for the Donald ''in his manifesto published before a terrorist attack''.<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/new-zealand-shootings-racist-gunman-brenton-tarrant-inspired-anders-breivik-wanted-revenge-104941343.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmluZy5jb20v&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAKTGsyqSEkxYkjt1DtK20cSH-FYpQhZeUKYEfQCbfTcMqSVmn694bRPri0NF_6nCIuQtRFfuwczub4JFbak7qPYeFXQ6TqT9fNeIwSEvcbvHVe9hk9zDMbPeUN3fE_8K5vw1crqXNnlTXFzgqu9j8nttx1v5pDonAqU4Ny_gDrbr Christchurch shootings suspect said Trump is 'symbol of white supremacy']</ref><ref group=note>Although the truthfulness of Tarrant's manifesto is disputed and some have claimed he was simply trying to cause division.</ref>
*[[Peter Thiel]]: Though he initially supported [[Carly Fiorina]] during the 2016 election, after she dropped out, Thiel supported Trump, donating $1.25 million to his campaign.<ref>[https://www.opensecrets.org/donor-lookup/results?name=peter+thiel&order=desc&sort=A Donor Lookup - Peter Thiel]. ''OpenSecrets''.</ref> After Trump's victory, Thiel was named to the executive committee of his transition team.<ref>[https://fortune.com/2016/11/11/thiel-trump-transition-team/ Silicon Valley Investor Peter Thiel Will Join Trump’s Transition Team] by Kia Kokalitcheva (November 11, 2016), ''Fortune''.</ref>
*[[Andrew Wakefield]]: In case you thought Trump was the stupidest person in the room.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jul/18/how-disgraced-anti-vaxxer-andrew-wakefield-was-embraced-by-trumps-america How disgraced anti-vaxxer Andrew Wakefield was embraced by Trump's America]</ref>
*[[Allen West]]: Wanted Trump to constantly visit Texas in 2020 in order to fanboy over him.<ref>[https://www.texastribune.org/2020/09/29/texas-allen-west-donald-trump/ State GOP Chair Allen West calls on Donald Trump to visit Texas before Election Day]</ref> Not surprising, given their shared love of [[Torture|unorthodox interrogation techniques]].
*[[Kanye West]]: Along with Herman Cain and Ben Carson, one of Trump's token black supporters.
*[[Milo Yiannopoulos]]: Refers to Trump as "Daddy."<ref>{{cite web |title= help me daddy @realDonaldTrump|author= Milo Yiannopoulos ひ✘ |date= 9 January 2016|url=https://twitter.com/nero/status/685895852368506880|archive-date= 7 July 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.ph/20160707170820/https://twitter.com/nero/status/685895852368506880}}</ref> As the official spokesman for [[8chan|the Internet's sewer]], Yiannopoulos half-jokingly yearns for a God-Emperor Trump to transform America into some sort of a [[fascist]] monarchy.<ref>The Rubin Report. [https://youtu.be/Fely6gd2Q-k "Milo Yiannopoulos Loves Donald Trump"]. March 24, 2016.</ref>

==Similar people==
*[[Benito Mussolini]]: Trump has adopted from him, consciously or not, many of the same gestures, rhetoric, body language, scapegoating tendencies, and authoritarian impulses all the way back when he was first a candidate for president.<ref>[https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/08/american-authoritarianism-under-donald-trump/495263/ An American Authoritarian The Republican presidential candidate is not a Fascist, but his campaign bears notable similarities to the reign of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.] by Ruth Ben-Ghiat (Aug 10, 2016) ''The Atlantic''.</ref> After serving President and campaigning for president once more, these parallels are now no longer just parallels, but profoundly problematic executive policy and ideology with millions of followers.<ref>[https://www.thedailybeast.com/it-is-happening-here-trump-is-already-early-stage-mussolini It Is Happening Here, (President) Trump is Already Early Stage Mussolini] by Clive Irving, ''The Daily Beast''.</ref>
*[[Silvio Berlusconi]]: Il Trump Italiano. Just subtract a foot of height and add underage Moroccan prostitutes. Was wildly popular in Italy until his sex party scandals caused his campaign to implode, and he was reduced to a national joke. In his bid to get re-elected, he allied with fascists.
*[[Boris Johnson]]: British Trump, from the anti-Obama racism and anti-immigrant stances to the terrible hair and larger-than-life comedic image as a clownish man with a huge media personality. As Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris also caught flak for his less than stellar response to the coronavirus pandemic and tested positive for COVID-19.<ref>"PM Boris Johnson tests positive for coronavirus." BBC News. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.</ref> He also purges members of his own party for disagreeing with his policies, causing some of his ministers to also resign in protest.<ref>"Twenty-one Tory rebels lose party whip after backing bid to block no-deal Brexit." PoliticsHome.com. 4 September 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2019.</ref><ref>"PM's brother quits as Tory MP and minister." BBC News. 5 September 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2019.</ref> He also ran afoul of the Supreme Court, which unanimously found he illegally dismissed parliament to prevent them from scrutinizing his no-deal Brexit plan.<ref>Bowcott, Owen (24 September 2019). "Boris Johnson's suspension of parliament unlawful, supreme court rules." The Guardian.</ref>
*[[Rodrigo Duterte]]: Former president of the Philippines who's also the oldest to be elected to their respective countries' highest office. He's been called the "Trump of the East" due to both being "self-professed political outsiders with a penchant for tough talk and shocking turns of phrase." They're known for misogynistic comments, outlandish bombast, impulsive and violent rhetoric, and being in favor of the death penalty for drug users.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asias-version-of-donald-trump-may-be-the-philippines-next-president/2016/05/06/f2c30f12-120b-11e6-a9b5-bf703a5a7191_story.html?utm_term=.621bf45bdfd2 "The 'Trump of the East' could be the next president of the Philippines", Washington Post]</ref> He was praised by Trump himself for mass murdering thousands of suspected drug users and is one of the few Filipinos he respects.<ref>[https://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/24/trump-rodrigo-duterte-call-transcript-238758 Trump praises Duterte for ‘unbelievable job’ cracking down on drugs in the Philippines] by Louis Nelson (05/24/2017 07:27 AM EDT0 ''Politico''.</ref>
*{{wpl|Janez Janša||:}} Former Prime Minister of Slovenia, Ivan Janša is known for making false claims, dressing up bald-faced lies as truths, accusing critics of being puppets to [[George Soros]], promoting conspiracy theories on Twitter, including 2020 election denial-ism, which has earned him the nickname of Marshal Twito. He is a fan of Trump, an ally of [[Viktor Orban]], and a notorious bigot who rails against migrants and journalists, even calling reporters "presstitutes." His career reads like a mix of Orban and Trump: beginning as a pro-democracy advocate, he turned hard right while in power, presiding over cronyism and corruption, dabbing into [[Antisemitism]] and [[Islamophobia]], embracing climate change denial and anti-migrant rhetoric, and parading misogynistic language, up to publicly calling female journalists "washed-up prostitutes." With a coalition government in power, he has taken steps to degrade democracy and defeat any limitations to his power, including passing a law that removes the rights of most NGOs to take part in environmental assessments of infrastructure projects.<ref>[https://www.dw.com/de/slowenien-marschall-twito-und-die-presse/a-56749904 Whole article in German.]</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/04/janez-jansa-new-pm-slovenia-in-mould-of-orban Slovenia's PM Janša channels Orbán with attacks on media and migrants] by Shaun Walker (4 May 2020 05.31 EDT) ''The Guardian''.</ref><ref>[https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-viktor-orban-serbia-aleksandar-vucic-ee5af0e59e073a4b9fe7c8085eb5d0d8 Slovenian premier endorses Trump’s reelection, joins others] (9:11 AM PDT, October 23, 2020) ''AP''.</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/11/end-trump-era-blow-rightwing-populist-leaders-worldwide-biden-victory-brazil-hungary End of Trump era deals heavy blow to rightwing populist leaders worldwide] by Shaun Walker et al. (11 Nov 2020 07.05 EST) ''The Guardian''.</ref>
*[[Jair Bolsonaro]]: Brazil's most dangerous man who served as president from 2018 to 2022, Jair reads like he was bred from a Trump cloning factory. He once said to a woman who accused him of rape, "I would never rape you because you aren't worth it." He's incited violence from his supporters, and he is a notorious homophobe, racist, misogynist, and an incendiary reactionary on every social issue imaginable; he praised a dictator ([[Alberto Fujimori]]) for strong leadership, paid homage to a fascist {{wpl|Carlos Brilhante Ustra|colonel}} who tortured dissidents (including former President Dilma Rousseff), and repeatedly scapegoats society's ills on the weak and vulnerable. He even says "the only difference [between me and Trump] is that I'm richer!"<ref>[https://news.vice.com/article/meet-brazils-donald-trump-hes-deliberately-outrageous-and-he-wants-to-be-president Meet Brazil's Donald Trump: He's Deliberately Outrageous and He Wants to Be President: Legislator Jair Bolsonaro has always been brash and, often, deeply offensive. Now his refusal to be "politically correct" is turning him into one of the big winners of Brazil's current political crisis.] by James Armour Young (Apr 27, 2016, 11:20 am) ''Vice''.</ref><ref>[http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/wtf/is-this-the-worlds-most-repulsive-politician/news-story/926a4a59cf6132f770dfdbd46f610e97 Is this the world's most repulsive politician? THOUGHT Donald Trump was bad? Meet the could-be Brazilian president whose repulsive beliefs have shocked the world.] by Gavin Fernando (May 2, 20168:46am) ''news.com.au''.</ref><ref>[https://qz.com/1003000/jair-bolsonaro-brazil-has-a-donald-trump-and-his-chances-at-the-presidency-are-looking-better-every-day/ Brazil has a Donald Trump, and his chances at the presidency are looking better every day] by Chayenne Polimédio (June 20, 2017) ''Quartz''.</ref><ref>[https://theintercept.com/2014/12/11/misogynistic-hateful-elected-official-democacratic-world-brazils-jair-bolsonaro/ The Most Misogynistic, Hateful Elected Official in the Democratic World: Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro] by Glenn Greenwald & Andrew Fishman (December 11, 2014, 7:48 a.m.) ''The Intercept''.</ref> Like Trump, he was also a sore loser.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/former-brazil-military-chiefs-implicate-bolsonaro-coup-conspiracy-2024-03-15/ Former Brazil military chiefs implicate Bolsonaro in coup conspiracy], Lisandra Paraguassu and Ricardo Brito, ''Reuters'' 15 March 2024</ref>
*{{wpl|Doug Ford||:}} Canadian premier of Ontario, a "businessman turned anti-establishment politician", a "son of a wealthy entrepreneur" who "rails against elites" and "often shuns expertise." But similar to Boris, he has a stranglehold on power despite his own party not really liking him very much.<ref>Kassam, Ashifa (April 30, 2018). "[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/30/doug-ford-ontario-conservative-trump-comparison-canada Canada's Trump moment? Doug Ford rises in conservative party]." ''The Guardian''.</ref><ref>Porter, Catherine (June 2, 2018). "[https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/02/world/canada/doug-ford-ontario.html Will a Canadian Donald Trump Become Ontario's Leader?]." ''The New York Times''. Retrieved June 2, 2018.</ref> He also awards family friends and political allies with patronage,<ref>Benzie, Robert (July 6, 2018). "[https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2018/07/06/ford-rewards-key-tory-adviser-with-348k-patronage-job-to-curb-hospital-overcrowding.html Ford rewards key Tory adviser with $348K patronage job to curb hospital overcrowding]." ''The Toronto Star''.</ref> and also attacks basic democracy by willfully ignoring court rulings in defiance of what the people say, as he changed the size of the Toronto city council to prevent them from voting against his policies in defiance of the courts saying such a thing was unconstitutional.<ref>"[https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2021/03/12/doug-fords-decision-to-cut-the-size-of-toronto-city-council-heads-to-canadas-top-court-on-tuesday-heres-what-to-expect.html. Doug Ford’s decision to cut the size of Toronto city council heads to Canada’s top court on Tuesday.]" - ''The Toronto Star''.</ref>
*[[Jaime Rodríguez]] - The Mexican Trump. From wealth and nepotism to railing against crime despite being involved in the criminal underworld to wingnut rhetoric and policies. Unlike Trump though, he’s seen little electoral success during his bid to run for president of Mexico.
*[[Sebastián Piñera]]: Former President of Chile, another businessman-turned-chief of state, who resembles 2020-stage Trump, as an outright authoritarian who ordered the deployment of the military against peaceful protesters.
*[[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]]: President of [[Turkey]], another bloviating, loud-mouth racist authoritarian who ushered in a rise in xenophobia, racism against minorities, violence against leftists, and attempts to overturn election results that didn't go his way (i.e. ''redoing'' the mayoral election of Istanbul only to then have his party lose by an even ''bigger'' margin).
*[[Benjamin Netanyahu]]: Prime Minister of [[Israel]], who used fear-mongering tactics against Arabs and Muslims to get elected, conducted a sterilization programme against minorities (Ethiopian Jews for Bibi, [[ICE]] detainees for Trump), antagonized [[Iran]] to help his reelection efforts, caused a political crisis that reached downright authoritarian levels (Bibi trying not to get indicted for corruption while navigating Israel's parliamentary politics; just about every major policy for Trump), refused to vaccinate a huge segment of the population (Palestine for Bibi, all of America for Trump), and dealt with a corruption investigation while in office.
*[[Mohammad bin Salman]]: Another right wing authoritarian ultranationalist. Basically a better version of Trump in regards to silencing dissent (with the murder of Jamal Khashoggi), engaging in imperialism and war crimes (with Saudi Arabia’s neighbor Yemen), and has an obscene amount of wealth. Hence a common ground with Trump.

{{anchor|Foreshadowing}}

==See also==
===Spawn of Trump===
*[[Trumpism]]
*[[Authoritarianism of Donald Trump]]
*[[COVID-19 pandemic#Calling Doctor Howard, Doctor Fine… Doctor Trump]]
*[[Foreign policy of Donald Trump]]
*[[Infrastructure policy of Donald Trump]]
*[[Rhetoric of Donald Trump]]
*[[Conservapedia:Donald Trump achievements]]

===Trump shell companies===
*''[[Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House]]''
*[[Know Nothing Party]]
*[[Ultracrepidarian]]
*[[Nepotism]]
*[[Paradise Papers]]
*[[Pissgate]]
*[[Secure the border]]

===Trump, the game===
[[File:Trump, The Game.jpg|thumb|right|165px|So, sue me.]]
*[[Fun:A day in the life of Donald J. Trump]]
*[[Fun:Quantum Trump]]
*[[Fun:Trump insult generator]]
*[[Fun:Trump synonym generator]]
*[[Fun:Trump tweet generator]]

===Trump subsidiaries===
*[[Pat Buchanan]]
*[[Charles Coughlin]]
*[[Paul LePage]]
*[[Ron DeSantis]]
*[[Rush Limbaugh]]
*[[Joseph McCarthy]]
*[[Richard Nixon]]
*[[Sarah Palin]]
*[[Vladimir Putin]]
*[[Ronald Reagan]]
*[[Shinzō Abe]]
*[[George Wallace]]

==External links==
*[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/donald-trump-campaign-offered-actors-803161 "Donald Trump Campaign Offered Actors $50 to Cheer for Him at Presidential Announcement"], ''The Hollywood Reporter''.
*[http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/23/464129029/donald-trump-i-could-shoot-somebody-and-i-wouldnt-lose-any-voters "Donald Trump: 'I Could ... Shoot Somebody, And I Wouldn't Lose Any Voters'"] – We're not sure the world is ready for a mad emperor Gordon Gekko.
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs6UcgiDwg0 "The End of the World"] &mdash; a 1958 episode from a TV show featuring a [[conman]] named Walter Trump, eerily similar<ref>[http://www.snopes.com/trackdown-trump-character-wall/ Trackdown Shakedown: An episode of the 1950s western TV series 'Trackdown' featured a character named Walter Trump who claimed he would build a wall to protect a town from the end of the world] by Dan Evon (Updated: Jan 12, 2017) ''Snopes.com''.</ref>
*Sesame Street mocking Trump: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FeyDm4vrFo Ronald Grump Builds The Grump Tower], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQyTpPu0gvc Grouch Apprentice with Donald Grump]. Trump is so petty, this is why he wants to destroy the National Endowment for the Arts, which funds Sesame Street.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2017/03/20/trump-wants-to-defund-pbs-sesame-street-brutally-parodied-him-for-decades/?utm_term=.21b8472a6134 Trump wants to defund PBS. 'Sesame Street' brutally parodied him for decades] by Avi Selk (March 21 at 12:25 PM) ''The Washington Post''.</ref>
*[https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/91tlsf/found_this_at_my_local_711they_even_got_putin_in/ Match of the Millennium]. [https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/920514/cover_of_a_german_magazine_frankfurter_allgemeine/ Trump Alert!]
*{{wpa|Donald Trump sexual misconduct allegations}}
*[https://qr.ae/TUrJx5 How intelligent is Donald Trump]?
*[https://fark.fandom.com/wiki/Nicknames_for_Donald_Trump The many nicknames of President Donald J. Trump].
*[https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-claims-database/ In four years, President Trump made 30,573 false or misleading claims: The Fact Checker’s database of the false or misleading claims made by President Trump while in office.] (Updated Jan. 20, 2021) ''The Washington Post''.
* [https://m.youtube.com/Donaldtrump?itct=CDMQoTAYASITCJKIsqGVkPoCFYeRVQod3IsC9g%3D%3D His YouTube channel]
* [https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump His Twitter Account] - [[Elon Musk]] unbanned him
*{{wpl|A Rake's Progress}} — Trump's life story foretold in the 18<sup>th</sup> century

===Trump language===
*[http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/01/28/upshot/donald-trump-twitter-insults.html?action=click&contentCollection=Television&module=Trending&version=Full&region=Marginalia&pgtype=article His insults toward other candidates], ''The New York Times''.
*[http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-trump-language-20160912-snap-story.html The language he uses] – is it [http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/09/24/bigly_or_big_league_what_exactly_is_donald_trump_saying.html "bigly" or "big league"]? Neither – it's [[big lie]].
*[http://www.poetinchief.com Donald Trump limerick generator]
*[http://time.com/3966291/donald-trump-insult-generator/ Donald Trump Insult Generator], ''TIME''.

===Videos===
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Pnr10AUdHI Never forget.]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYxip8-0dzY RNC Prays For Democratic Defeat, Trump Victory] - The fact that they're literally praying [http://i.imgur.com/9QWnTLL.jpg in an empty room] is a powerful statement. So alone in their righteous anger.
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuRa1Br4K7o Donald Trump is the President!]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyVGHXlY5l8 Building Trump's Wall]. The B1M.
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSAzUlJd4yg The Tsar Spangled Banner]. Sheet Music Boss.
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HcUsONFW_M Donald, where's your trousers?] Performed by Garret Dillahunt (as John Henry) and Mackenzie Smith (as Savannah Weaver) in ''Terminator: the Sarah Connor Chronicles''.

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note|2|90%}}

==References==
{{Reflist|4|70%}}

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