The presidency of Donald J. Trump was uniquely defined by the term “fake news.” While he often used this phrase to criticize the mainstream media, it also accurately describes a torrent of deliberately fabricated stories that spread online. These false narratives aimed to provoke outrage, damage reputations, and sway public opinion. They created a chaotic information environment that shaped political discourse. This article examines ten of the most pervasive fake news stories from that era. We will detail their false claims and, importantly, identify their strategic targets.
The 2016 Election: Fabricated Endorsements and Health Scares
The first wave of major fake news stories emerged during the 2016 presidential campaign, designed to influence voters directly.
1. The Pope’s Shocking Endorsement
One early viral story came from a now-defunct website. It falsely claimed that Pope Francis had endorsed Donald Trump. This complete fabrication spread to millions of people, primarily targeting evangelical and Catholic voters. Ultimately, the story sought to lend divine and moral credibility to a candidate whom some voters viewed with skepticism. It was a clear attempt to manipulate religious sentiment for political gain.
2. Hillary’s Weaponized Illness
During the campaign, a viral story claimed a video proved Hillary Clinton had a debilitating and contagious illness. The so-called “proof” relied on decontextualized clips and shaky analyses. This story directly targeted Clinton’s perceived health and stamina. Consequently, it used outright deception to amplify a classic political attack and sway undecided voters.
Targeting Institutions: The “Deep State” and Law Enforcement
After the election, the focus of misinformation expanded to include the very institutions of government, aiming to erode public trust.
3. The Fictional FBI Agent Murder
A dark conspiracy theory falsely alleged that former FBI agent Shawn Henry was murdered. The story claimed his death was to silence his testimony about the Clinton email scandal. In reality, Henry was alive and well. This narrative specifically targeted public trust in federal law enforcement. It aimed to paint a “Deep State” as not just corrupt, but homicidal, thereby justifying political attacks on the FBI.
4. The Bowling Green Massacre That Never Was
In 2017, Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway referred to the fictional “Bowling Green massacre.” She used it to justify the administration’s travel ban. Although she later clarified her statement, the incident became a symbol of the administration’s relationship with facts. This false story targeted the public’s perception of a national security threat, using a non-event to build a case for policy.
5. Russia’s Fake Black Lives Matter Document
A forged FBI document falsely claimed the Bureau had evidence that Russia funded the Black Lives Matter movement. This fake news story aimed to sow discord on multiple fronts. It sought to discredit the BLM movement and undermine legitimate domestic protests. Furthermore, it attempted to downplay the real issue of Russian election interference by making it seem like a common, baseless accusation.
Undermining Electoral Integrity: The Voter Fraud Narratives
A persistent theme of fake news involved attacking the legitimacy of the electoral process itself, both after the 2016 and 2020 elections.
6. Trump’s “Secret” Illinois Voters
After the 2016 election, a viral image falsely portrayed a bus full of “illegal voters” heading to polls in Illinois. In truth, the picture showed a regular school bus. This story supported the broader narrative of widespread voter fraud. It directly targeted public faith in the electoral system, suggesting that the process was fundamentally corrupt.
7. The Michigan Ballot Dump Hoax
During the tense 2020 vote count, a false narrative claimed a mysterious truck delivered hundreds of thousands of fraudulent ballots in Michigan. Authorities and journalists quickly debunked this complete fabrication. Consequently, it directly targeted the legitimacy of Joe Biden’s victory. This story served as a primary catalyst for the “Stop the Steal” movement, showing how fiction can inspire real-world action.
Rewriting Reality: Conspiracies and Character Attacks
The final category of fake news involved elaborate conspiracies designed to rewrite recent history and launch deeply personal attacks.
8. The Alabama “Pee Tape” Poll
A fabricated poll, complete with fake logos, falsely claimed a majority of Alabama voters believed the infamous “Steele Dossier” allegation about Trump. The story mimicked a legitimate local news outlet. Its creators targeted the dossier’s credibility by inventing a fake public consensus. This tactic sought to mock and diminish the serious, if unverified, allegations it contained.
9. The “Crisis Actor” at the Capitol Riot
Following the January 6th Capitol riot, a cruel fake news story identified a rioter with a bloody face as a “crisis actor.” However, the photo actually came from an unrelated event. This narrative attempted to rewrite the history of the insurrection as it was happening. It aimed to frame the violent event as a staged false-flag operation, thus absolving participants of responsibility.
10. The Manufactured “N-Word” Tape
For years, a persistent rumor claimed a tape existed of Donald Trump using the N-word during The Apprentice filming. Despite extensive investigations by numerous media outlets, no one has ever verified or surfaced such a tape. This story specifically targeted Trump’s character. It aimed to provide concrete, damning proof of racism where none has been proven, keeping a potent piece of political folklore alive.
Conclusion: A Weaponized Information Ecosystem
In conclusion, this list of top fake news stories reveals a clear and troubling pattern. Strategists did not choose the targets randomly. They crafted false narratives to bolster the president’s support and discredit his enemies, from Hillary Clinton to the FBI. Furthermore, they systematically worked to undermine democratic institutions like the press and the electoral process. Ultimately, understanding this landscape is crucial. It highlights how misinformation became a powerful and destructive force, deepening the nation’s political and cultural divisions and challenging the very concept of shared truth.
Frequently Asked Questions: Top False Claims Associated with Donald Trump
This FAQ lists and clarifies some of the most prominent pieces of misinformation that have been widely circulated. The purpose is to provide factual context for these claims.
Q1: Did Donald Trump have the largest inaugural crowd in history?
Fact Check: This claim is false. Comparative photographs and official Washington D.C. Metro ridership data from the day show that the crowds for Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration were significantly larger. This claim has been repeatedly debunked by multiple news outlets and fact-checking organizations.
Q2: Did he win the 2020 presidential election in a “landslide”?
Fact Check: No. The official, certified results from all 50 states and the District of Columbia show that Joe Biden won 306 electoral votes to Donald Trump’s 232. Biden also won the national popular vote by over 7 million votes. Dozens of court cases challenging the results failed due to a lack of evidence.
Q3: Was the “Steele Dossier” the primary basis for the FBI’s Russia investigation?
Fact Check: This is inaccurate. According to the Department of Justice Inspector General, the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation into Russian interference began in July 2016, triggered by information about Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos, not the Steele Dossier. The dossier was not a primary basis for initiating the investigation.
Q4: Did Trump call neo-Nazis in Charlottesville “very fine people”?
Fact Check: This is a misrepresentation of his full statement. In 2017, while commenting on the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Trump said, “you had very fine people on both sides.” However, he immediately clarified that he was not including white supremacists and neo-Nazis, saying, “I’m not talking about the neo-Nazis and the white nationalists, because they should be condemned totally.”
Q5: Was the Ukraine phone call “perfect”?
Fact Check: This is a matter of opinion and legal interpretation. The summary of the call released by the White House showed President Trump asking Ukraine’s president to “look into” the Biden family. This request, made while U.S. military aid to Ukraine was paused, was the central event that led the U.S. House of Representatives to impeach Trump for abuse of power. The Senate ultimately acquitted him.
Q6: Did COVID-19 disappear as a threat after the 2020 election?
Fact Check: False. The COVID-19 pandemic continued long after the November 2020 election. The United States experienced its largest waves of cases and deaths in the winter of 2020-2021, following the election. The development and distribution of vaccines, which began in late 2020, were key to managing the pandemic.
Q7: Did he ban all travel from China early, stopping the virus from entering the U.S.?
Fact Check: This is partially false. On January 31, 2020, the Trump administration restricted travel from China, which was a significant early action. However, it was not a full ban. The restrictions did not apply to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, their families, and others. Thousands of people continued to travel from China to the U.S. in the weeks following the order, and the virus was already present and spreading.
Q8: Was he the “greatest jobs president” in history before the pandemic?
Fact Check: This is an exaggeration. Job growth continued a trend from the previous administration. The three years before the pandemic (2017-2019) saw strong job growth, but it was not historically unprecedented. For example, in raw numbers, more jobs were created under Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama over their full terms.
Q9: Did he enact the “biggest tax cut in history”?
Fact Check: False. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 was a significant tax reduction, but it is not the largest in U.S. history. As a percentage of the economy (GDP), tax cuts under Presidents Ronald Reagan in 1981 and Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II were larger.
Q10: Did he personally and fully fund the construction of a wall on the southern border, and was it completed?
Fact Check: False. While the Trump administration did construct several hundred miles of new border barriers, the vast majority of the funding came from congressional appropriations, not personally from Donald Trump. Furthermore, much of the construction replaced existing, outdated fencing. The project was not completed by the end of his term.
