1. The Inauguration Crowd Size Controversy
The Claim
Right out of the gate, President Trump launched his presidency with a bold and easily debunkable claim: that his inauguration crowd was the largest ever witnessed. He and then-Press Secretary Sean Spicer insisted that the National Mall was “packed” with spectators, surpassing even Barack Obama’s 2009 historic turnout.
Trump told the CIA in his first public appearance as President, “We had a massive field of people… packed from the back all the way forward.” His administration doubled down, even chastising the media for showing photos that clearly told a different story.
What the Facts Say
Satellite imagery and side-by-side comparisons of the 2009 and 2017 inaugurations revealed a stark contrast. Obama’s inauguration drew an estimated 1.8 million attendees, while Trump’s was estimated to have fewer than 600,000. Even Washington D.C.’s Metro system confirmed lower ridership.
The controversy sparked widespread ridicule and gave rise to the term “alternative facts,” coined by Kellyanne Conway, which quickly became a meme and symbol of misinformation. Though seemingly trivial, this was an early signal of Trump’s willingness to reshape truth to suit narrative—a tactic he would employ repeatedly throughout his presidency.
2. Obama’s Birth Certificate Hoax
Origin of the Birther Movement
One of Trump’s most infamous early forays into fake news came well before his presidency, with his aggressive promotion of the “birther” conspiracy theory. Trump claimed that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States and therefore was ineligible to be President.
Despite Obama having released a short-form birth certificate in 2008 and a long-form version in 2011 proving his birth in Hawaii, Trump continued to stoke doubts. He tweeted, gave interviews, and called for “investigators” to dig deeper, fanning the flames of racist innuendo.
Impact on Public Discourse
This was not just a fringe claim—it dominated headlines and shaped political conversations for years. Polls at the time showed a significant portion of Republican voters believed Obama was not American-born.
Trump only publicly admitted Obama was born in the U.S. in 2016, and even then, offered no apology or retraction. This disinformation campaign damaged trust, widened racial divides, and showed how a lie—when repeated enough—can become embedded in public consciousness.
3. Climate Change is a Hoax
Trump’s Repeated Denials
“Global warming was created by and for the Chinese,” Trump tweeted in 2012. He later claimed it was a joke, but his policies and public statements said otherwise. As President, Trump repeatedly dismissed climate science, pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Agreement, and rolled back over 100 environmental regulations.
He used every opportunity—campaign rallies, speeches, interviews—to cast doubt on the scientific consensus. “It’s freezing in New York—where the hell is global warming?” he said, confusing weather with climate in typical fashion.
Scientific Consensus vs. Trump’s Claims
The scientific community overwhelmingly agrees that climate change is real, man-made, and accelerating. Organizations like NASA, NOAA, and the IPCC have provided extensive data and research showing rising temperatures, sea-level changes, and extreme weather events.
By spreading misinformation, Trump didn’t just mislead the public—he stalled meaningful climate action during a critical time in global history. His words gave cover to fossil fuel interests and confused millions about one of the most urgent issues facing humanity.
4. COVID-19 Will Disappear Like a Miracle
Initial Statements in 2020
When the COVID-19 pandemic began to emerge in early 2020, Trump consistently downplayed its seriousness. He compared it to the flu, claimed it would “go away” in warmer weather, and famously said, “It’s going to disappear. One day—it’s like a miracle—it will disappear.”
Despite mounting warnings from public health experts and his own advisers, he continued to insist that the situation was “under control” and that cases were “going down,” even as infections skyrocketed across the country.
Real-Time Consequences
Trump’s false assurances created a sense of complacency among the public and local officials. States delayed lockdowns, many Americans ignored precautions, and thousands of lives were needlessly lost. The administration’s mixed messaging about masks and testing compounded the confusion.
Internal memos later showed Trump knew the virus was airborne and deadly as early as February 2020. Yet publicly, he offered hollow optimism and downplayed the threat, prioritizing the stock market and his reelection prospects over transparency.
This wasn’t just fake news—it was fatal misinformation on a global scale.
5. Election Fraud in 2020
The “Big Lie” Narrative
Perhaps Trump’s most damaging fake news campaign was his relentless insistence that the 2020 election was stolen. Long before election day, he planted the seeds of doubt, claiming mail-in voting was rife with fraud.
After losing to Joe Biden by over 7 million votes and 306 to 232 in the Electoral College, Trump refused to concede. He pushed a narrative of “massive fraud,” “rigged machines,” and “illegal ballots,” none of which stood up to scrutiny.
Legal Defeats and Lack of Evidence
Trump’s legal team, led by Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell, filed more than 60 lawsuits—most of which were thrown out or voluntarily withdrawn. Judges, including Trump appointees, found no credible evidence of fraud.
Even his own Department of Justice and Cybersecurity officials stated there was no significant fraud. Still, Trump’s claims fueled the January 6 Capitol riot, a violent attempt to overturn a democratic election.
The “Big Lie” has persisted, corroding faith in democracy and inspiring new voter suppression laws based on a fictional problem. It remains one of the most dangerous pieces of disinformation in modern American history.
6. Windmills Cause Cancer
Bizarre Claims at Rallies
In April 2019, during a National Republican Congressional Committee fundraiser, Trump made a jaw-dropping statement: “If you have a windmill near your house, congratulations—your house just went down 75% in value, and they say the noise causes cancer.” That’s right. Trump claimed that wind turbines, known for their role in renewable energy, could cause cancer—based solely on the noise they produce.
The audience laughed, unsure if it was a joke. But Trump didn’t clarify. In fact, this wasn’t his first time disparaging wind energy. He often referred to wind turbines as “ugly” and accused them of killing “all the birds,” showing clear disdain for the green energy sector.
Scientific Refutation
There is no scientific evidence linking the sound of wind turbines to cancer. Numerous studies have looked into “wind turbine syndrome,” which includes complaints of headaches, sleep disturbance, and dizziness—but none suggest carcinogenic effects.
Experts and health agencies swiftly debunked Trump’s assertion. The American Cancer Society flatly stated there was no known mechanism by which sound could cause cancer. Yet despite expert pushback, Trump never walked back the claim, allowing the myth to linger.
This falsehood wasn’t just bizarre—it revealed a deeper tactic: discredit green technology to favor fossil fuel interests. By casting doubt on wind energy, Trump effectively slowed renewable energy adoption and misinformed millions about its safety and potential.
7. Injecting Disinfectants to Cure COVID-19
The Infamous Briefing
One of Trump’s most widely mocked and dangerously misinformed moments came during a White House COVID-19 briefing in April 2020. After hearing a presentation about how disinfectants kill the virus on surfaces, Trump mused aloud: “Is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning?”
The comment sent shockwaves across the medical community and the public. Was the President of the United States seriously suggesting injecting bleach or disinfectant to cure COVID-19? The short answer: yes. The long answer: it caused chaos.
Backlash and Damage Control
Medical experts and disinfectant manufacturers rushed to clarify that disinfectants are toxic and should never be ingested or injected. Lysol issued a public statement warning against any such use of their products.
Emergency hotlines reported a spike in calls about disinfectant exposure. Poison control centers nationwide issued alerts. Trump’s defenders tried to play it off as sarcasm, but video footage showed no sign of jest. It was clear he was grasping at straws.
This incident demonstrated the real-world dangers of misinformation from a person in power. The media, health officials, and even late-night comedians had to spend days cleaning up the damage. But Trump? He never apologized. He simply moved on, leaving misinformation—and potential harm—in his wake.
8. “I’m the Least Racist Person” While Sharing Racist Content
Retweets of White Supremacists
Trump has repeatedly declared, “I am the least racist person in the world,” and “nobody has done more for Black Americans than I have.” But those statements were often accompanied by actions and tweets that told a different story.
During his presidency, Trump retweeted accounts linked to white supremacists, shared videos with racist overtones, and even amplified false crime statistics about Black communities. One retweet falsely claimed that 81% of white homicide victims are killed by Black people—a statistic fabricated by a neo-Nazi group.
Contradictory Public Behavior
Trump also called for the death penalty for the Central Park Five even after they were exonerated. He infamously said there were “very fine people on both sides” after a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville. He questioned why immigrants from “shithole countries” (referring to African nations) were allowed in, asking instead for more immigrants from places like Norway.
All of these instances contradicted his self-declared anti-racist image. While his supporters may brush off the comments, his words and actions have had a measurable impact on public discourse, stoking racial tensions and legitimizing fringe ideologies.
In claiming to be “the least racist,” while simultaneously promoting racist ideas and falsehoods, Trump weaponized fake news to distort perceptions of his character—and reality.
9. Claiming Credit for Veterans Bill Passed by Obama
Misleading Tweets
In August 2018, Trump tweeted, “Honored to sign the VA MISSION Act, ensuring our VETS the care they deserve.” He went on to claim that past administrations failed veterans, and that he delivered where others didn’t.
While Trump did sign the VA MISSION Act, he also took credit for the Veterans Choice Act, saying, “I got Choice approved for the vets.” There’s just one problem: that bill was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2014.
Trump repeatedly stated that no one had ever been able to get it passed before him, which is categorically false. His tweets left the impression that he single-handedly revolutionized veterans’ healthcare.
The Truth About the Bill’s Timeline
The original Veterans Choice Program was enacted under Obama as a response to the VA wait time scandal. It allowed veterans to receive care outside the VA system under certain conditions. Trump’s administration expanded and modified the program with the VA MISSION Act, but he didn’t create it from scratch.
By blurring lines and rewriting history, Trump managed to take credit for something he didn’t originate, misleading the public and distorting the facts. It’s another textbook example of using partial truths and confident delivery to turn misinformation into perceived accomplishment.
10. False Claims About Immigrant Crime
Trump’s Rhetoric vs. Statistics
From the moment he descended the Trump Tower escalator in 2015 and claimed that Mexico was sending “rapists” and “criminals,” Trump painted a picture of immigrants—especially from Latin America—as violent and dangerous.
Throughout his presidency, he cited exaggerated or cherry-picked crime stories to justify policies like the border wall, child separation, and ICE raids. He often referenced the notorious MS-13 gang as if it were representative of all undocumented immigrants.
But here’s the truth: multiple studies show that immigrants, both legal and undocumented, are less likely to commit crimes than native-born Americans.
Stoking Fear for Political Gain
Trump’s strategy was clear: create fear, then offer himself as the only one who could protect America. He used dehumanizing language like “animals” to refer to certain immigrants and frequently lied about the scope and nature of crimes committed by undocumented people.
His administration even created a Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office, a controversial initiative focused solely on crimes committed by undocumented immigrants, despite no evidence of disproportionate crime rates.
This manipulation of data and consistent spread of misinformation about immigrant crime wasn’t just politically motivated—it reinforced dangerous stereotypes, fueled xenophobia, and divided communities.
11. Trade Deficit Lies
Misunderstanding Trade Balances
One of Trump’s favorite economic talking points was that the U.S. was being “ripped off” in trade deals—especially with countries like China, Mexico, and Germany. He repeatedly pointed to trade deficits as evidence of other nations “winning” and America “losing.”
But here’s where it gets misleading: trade deficits don’t actually mean what Trump suggested. He claimed that when the U.S. imports more than it exports, it’s losing money. According to him, countries like China were stealing billions in wealth because the U.S. bought more from them than it sold.
He pushed tariffs on goods from China and Europe based on this logic, insisting that trade wars were “easy to win” and that America would benefit through increased revenue and job growth.
Economists Respond
Experts and economists overwhelmingly disagreed. A trade deficit is not inherently bad—it reflects consumer demand and economic structure. In fact, strong consumer spending (a sign of a healthy economy) often results in a trade deficit. It’s not the same as a budget deficit or national debt.
Moreover, Trump’s tariffs triggered retaliatory tariffs from other nations, hurting American farmers, manufacturers, and consumers. Prices went up on goods like washing machines, steel, and even everyday groceries.
In trying to simplify a complex economic concept into a catchy talking point, Trump distorted the truth. His trade war rhetoric relied on a fundamental misunderstanding—or misrepresentation—of how international economics works. And the consequences were felt across the U.S. economy.
12. Hurricane Dorian and the Alabama Fiasco (“Sharpiegate”)
Altering Official Maps
In early September 2019, as Hurricane Dorian approached the southeastern U.S., Trump tweeted that Alabama “will most likely be hit (much) harder than anticipated.” This sparked immediate pushback from the National Weather Service, which clarified that Alabama was not in danger from Dorian.
Instead of correcting the statement, Trump doubled down—hard. He displayed a doctored National Hurricane Center map in the Oval Office, altered with a black Sharpie to extend the storm’s path into Alabama.
The move was widely mocked online and dubbed “Sharpiegate.” But the bizarre attempt to rewrite reality didn’t end there.
NOAA’s Rebuttal
In an unprecedented step, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued an unsigned statement backing Trump’s claim, reportedly under pressure from top officials. This contradicted its own meteorologists and the National Weather Service’s public warnings.
Meteorologists and scientists across the country expressed outrage, arguing that political interference had compromised public trust in weather warnings. Altering official forecasts could have led to panic or confusion during a real crisis.
Trump’s refusal to admit a simple mistake—saying Alabama was at risk when it wasn’t—turned into a weeklong controversy that exposed how far he was willing to go to protect his public image, even if it meant misleading the public and undermining science.
13. “I Brought Back Jobs” – A Misleading Economic Picture
Pre-Pandemic Employment Trends
Trump often bragged about creating “the greatest economy in history” and bringing back American jobs. While unemployment did fall during the early years of his term, much of the economic growth he took credit for was a continuation of trends set in motion during the Obama administration.
The U.S. economy added an average of 217,000 jobs per month during Obama’s final three years. Under Trump, that number slightly dropped to around 182,000 monthly—until COVID-19 hit. That’s not job creation on steroids; that’s a continuation, not a revolution.
Cherry-Picking Data
Trump would routinely cherry-pick economic stats. For example, he claimed African American unemployment was at historic lows under his presidency. That’s true—but the downward trend began during Obama’s second term. Trump inherited the positive momentum and used it as a personal branding tool.
He also made inflated claims about manufacturing jobs returning, despite data showing that the sector saw slower growth under his policies than under previous administrations. When the pandemic hit, over 22 million jobs were lost in a matter of weeks, erasing nearly all the employment gains made during his presidency.
Rather than acknowledging economic complexities, Trump boiled it all down to slogans and half-truths. While he wasn’t solely responsible for the job losses or gains, he distorted the narrative to fit a false storyline of unmatched personal success.
14. Accusing Democrats of Wanting Open Borders
Oversimplified Immigration Claims
Throughout his campaigns and presidency, Trump repeatedly claimed that Democrats wanted “open borders,” meaning no controls, no enforcement, and essentially a free pass into the country for anyone who arrived.
He used this claim to justify harsh immigration policies, from family separations to the travel ban on Muslim-majority countries. He insisted that only a wall could save America from an “invasion.”
But Democrats—while generally favoring more humane immigration policies—never proposed open borders. They support border security, but often advocate for reforms that include a pathway to citizenship, better treatment of asylum seekers, and immigration courts with due process.
What the Policies Really Say
Fact-checkers debunked the “open borders” claim numerous times. Even Democratic legislation like the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 emphasized border technology, anti-smuggling efforts, and immigration enforcement—not abolition of borders.
By painting his opponents as anarchists, Trump turned a policy debate into a moral panic. His misinformation misled voters and escalated divisions, creating a false binary: you’re either for border walls or for chaos.
This was fake news as political strategy—weaponizing fear to score points.
15. “The Russia Hoax” and Denial of Intelligence Reports
Mueller Report Mischaracterizations
Trump labeled the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election “a hoax” from day one. He repeated this mantra despite mounting evidence from U.S. intelligence agencies, the FBI, and the Mueller Report itself, which documented numerous contacts between Trump campaign officials and Russian operatives.
While the report did not charge Trump with collusion or obstruction, it clearly outlined behaviors and interactions that were ethically questionable and legally ambiguous. Trump’s claim that it was all a “witch hunt” ignored the report’s conclusions, particularly its confirmation that Russia actively worked to help him win.
Undermining the Intelligence Community
In 2018, during a summit in Helsinki with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump publicly sided with Putin over U.S. intelligence agencies. “President Putin says it’s not Russia. I don’t see any reason why it would be,” Trump stated, drawing bipartisan outrage back home.
He also dismissed intelligence findings about Russia placing bounties on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan and minimized warnings about foreign election interference in 2020.
By calling well-documented investigations “fake news,” Trump undermined public trust in U.S. institutions and emboldened foreign adversaries. It wasn’t just misinformation—it was a national security concern.
Conclusion
Donald Trump’s relationship with the truth has been a central theme of his political career. From day one, he has repeatedly used misinformation, exaggeration, and outright falsehoods as tools to shape narratives, rally his base, and discredit opponents. While many politicians bend the truth, Trump elevated it to a core strategy. His consistent pattern of spreading fake news wasn’t just about misinformation—it was about control. Control of the narrative, control over public opinion, and control of institutions that questioned his version of events.
These 15 examples highlight the breadth of his misinformation, spanning public health, national security, racial issues, economics, and basic facts about his own record. What makes Trump’s fake news particularly dangerous is the power behind it. When a President speaks, people listen. And when those statements are demonstrably false, the consequences ripple through society—influencing policy, degrading trust, and endangering lives.
Ultimately, the impact of Trump’s fake news isn’t just measured by fact-check tallies or viral tweets. It’s measured in the erosion of democratic norms, the division among Americans, and the credibility lost in institutions meant to safeguard truth. As citizens, the responsibility to demand facts and reject lies has never been more critical.
FAQs
1. Why is misinformation from public figures dangerous?
Misinformation from public figures, especially presidents, is uniquely harmful because of the authority and reach their words carry. Millions believe and act based on what leaders say, and false claims can lead to poor public health decisions, civic unrest, or even violence, as seen on January 6th. When leaders lie or distort facts, it undermines democracy, trust, and informed decision-making.
2. How did Trump’s fake news claims impact trust in media?
Trump’s persistent branding of unfavorable coverage as “fake news” significantly eroded trust in the media. He framed legitimate journalism as enemy propaganda, leading many Americans to reject facts simply because they came from mainstream outlets. This tribalism around truth has made it harder for facts to unify people or resolve debates.
3. What is the difference between opinion and misinformation?
Opinion is a personal belief or judgment, while misinformation is false or inaccurate information, especially when spread deliberately. Trump often presented falsehoods as facts rather than opinions, blurring the line between the two. Saying, “I prefer X” is opinion. Saying, “X is true” when it isn’t—that’s misinformation.
4. Can public figures be held accountable for spreading falsehoods?
Yes, but it’s challenging. Legal accountability is limited unless the falsehood causes harm and meets specific legal criteria (e.g., defamation, incitement). Politically, voters and institutions must demand accountability through elections, hearings, and media scrutiny. Social media platforms also play a role in flagging or restricting harmful lies.
5. How can people protect themselves from fake news?
Stay skeptical of sensational headlines, check multiple reputable sources, and verify information with fact-checking sites like Snopes, FactCheck.org, or PolitiFact. Following journalists who value evidence over clicks can also help. Ultimately, being a critical consumer of information is the best defense against manipulation.
