was an anti-vaxxer?

Trump first voiced the unsound claim that vaccines cause autism during a 2007 interview with the Orlando Sun-Sentinal. Trump said his then-infant son Barron was being given vaccinations over a prolonged period of time, explaining, “When I was growing up, autism wasn’t really a factor. And now all of a sudden, it’s an epidemic. Everybody has their theory. My theory, and I study it because I have young children, my theory is the shots.”

In a 2009 Fox News segment, Trump called to say, “I think the vaccines can be very dangerous. And, obviously, you know, a lot of people are talking about vaccines with children with respect to autism.” He reiterated the claim again in a 2012 interview with Fox News on Autism Awareness Day.

Trump has also voiced this belief via Twitter.

During the 2015 Republican Presidential Primaries, Trump said he was supportive of vaccines, but again stated his belief that the dosages should be smaller and administered over a longer period of time.

Orlando Sun-Sentinal – Trump: Autism Linked to Child Vaccinations
Insider – The powerful media mogul at the core of Trump’s debunked views on vaccines and autism
The New York Times – President Trump on Vaccines: From Skeptic to Cheerleader

used pseudonyms to discuss himself with the press?

In 2016, audio resurfaced of a phone call to the media by John Miller, who claimed to be Trump’s publicists. It was noted, however, that his voice and speech patterns closely resembled those of Trump himself.

In the call, Miller said Trump was doing “tremendously well financially,” and despite there being several famous women who wanted to date him, including Carla Bruni and Madonna, “he treated his wife well and…he will treat Marla well.” Marla Maples was Trump’s second wife before their divorce and his marriage with Melania.

Trump has also accused of using another pseudonym, John Barron, to speak about himself to the media. Calling himself “vice-president of the Trump organization,” the name John Barron is first noted in the defense of Trump’s decision to destroy sculptures on the facade of a Manhattan building that was demolished for the construction of Trump Tower. Michael D’Antonio, the biographer to whom Trump said his temperament remained unchained since the first grade, noted that “John Barron was a way for Trump to talk himself up.” Trump later named his fifth child with third wife Melania “Barron.”

Trump vehemently denied the claims, saying in a Today interview. “It doesn’t sound like me on the phone, I will tell you that. And it was not me on the phone.” However, in a 1990 court case Trump testified, “I believe on occasion I used that name.”

Trump also appeared to pen a letter bragging of his relationship with women under another pseudonym, Carolin Gallego.

The Washington Post – Donald Trump masqueraded as publicist to brag about himself
The Washington Post – The amazing story of Donald Trump’s old spokesman, John Barron — who was actually Donald Trump himself
The New Yorker – Donald Trump and the “John Miller” Tape: A Question of Character
Vice – Remembering John Barron, Donald Trump’s ‘Spokesman’ Alter Ego
Today – Donald Trump denies posing as spokesman in recordings Washington Post uncovered
Wikipedia – Pseudonyms of Donald Trump

used a fake name to boast about his relationship with women in a NY Mag article?

In a 1992 issue of New York Magazine, a letter was published in defense of Donald Trump and his relationship with women.

Based on the fact that I work for Donald Trump as his secretary—and therefore know him well—I think he treats women with great respect, contrary to what Julie Baumgold implied in her article … I do not believe any man in America gets more calls from women wanting to see him, meet him, or go out with him. The most beautiful women, the most successful women—all women love Donald Trump.

Carolin Gallego December 7, 1992

No record of a Carolin Gallego in the employ of Trump has been found, and longtime Trump lawyer Michael Cohen said he’d never heard of her. The similarity between the letter and Trump’s own speech pattern has been noted by journalists and commentators.

Trump also used the pseudonyms John Miller and John Barron when speaking with the press.

Washingtonian – Carolin Gallego Wrote a 1992 Letter Saying Women Love Donald Trump. We’re Having Trouble Finding Her
Wikipedia – Pseudonyms of Donald Trump

talked about “nailing” Princess Diana after her death?

In his 1997 book The Art of the Comeback, Trump wrote, “I only have one regret in the women department – that I never had the opportunity to court Lady Diana Spencer. I met her on a number of occasions. I couldn’t help but notice how she moved people. She lit up the room with her charm, her presence. She was a genuine princess – a dream lady.”

Diana smiling
Princess Diana in 1997, the year of her death. Wikipedia

Trump also spoke about Princess Diana on-air during interviews with Howard Stern. During one such conversation after her death, Stern asked, “You could’ve nailed her?” Trump replied, “I think I could’ve.”

Stern and Trump also joked that Princess Diana would’ve needed an HIV test before Trump would’ve slept with her, referring to an earlier point in their conversation about HIV and dating.

“Hey Lady Di, would you go to the doctor?” Stern joked.

“Go back over to my Lexington Avenue doctor,” Trump added as though addressing the late princess. “We wanna give you a little checkup.”

Town and Country Magazine – A Brief History of Donald Trump’s Controversial Interactions with the British Royal Family
People – Donald Trump Hoped Princess Diana Would Be His ‘Trophy Wife,’ Says British TV Anchor
Newsweek – Trump Wanted to Sleep With Princess Diana If She Took an HIV Test First, According to Howard Stern Recordings

attacked late night hosts and comedy shows?

Before and after taking office, Trump has attacked a variety of comedians and late night hosts, including Jerry Seinfeld, Jon Stewart, John Oliver, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, and Bill Maher.

Many late night hosts were happy to address the comments on their shows.

He also has attacked Saturday Night Live multiple times, though claiming that he doesn’t watch it. He referred to their anti-Republican bias as “the real Collusion” and was voiced his frustration that they would spend so much time attacking his administration “without retribution.” He suggested that the Federal Election Commission and Federal Communications Commission investigate.

Unsurprisingly, this also drew more attention from SNL and late night hosts.

Trump has also taken specific aim at Alec Baldwin for his impression of Trump on Saturday Night Live:

Michelle Wolfe was also mentioned several times for her comments during the 2018 White House Correspondent’s Dinner, which were derided as being too vulgar and inappropriate. Trump has refused to attend any Correspondent’s Dinner since becoming President, and was famously roasted by Obama and Seth Meyers at the 2015 Correspondent’s Dinner.

Newsweek – Trump Wants ‘Retribution’ Against SNL and Critical News, Calling Media ‘Enemy of the People’
USA Today – Trump sounds off on ‘no talent’ late-night hosts; Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert fire back

attacked Obama over his handling of Ebola?

For four months, Trump railed against Obama’s handling of Ebola during the 2014 crisis. Trump demanded that all travel from Western Africa be immediately halted, promising that the crisis will “ONLY GET WORSE.” Saying that the government’s handling of the crisis was “almost like he’s saying F-you to U.S. public,” he warned about how “All the governors are already backing off of the Ebola quarantines.”

There were 11 total American cases of Ebola, resulting in 2 deaths. Neither of those who died contracted Ebola from within the United States. The CDC announced the first diagnosis September 30, 2014, and the last infected person was released from the hospital November 11.

Ebola outbreak in the United States / Wikipedia

During his Presidency, Trump repeatedly downplayed the severity of COVID-19. His administration implemented limited travel bans that only extended to non-US citizens and residents, failed to implement travel checks and tracing for the disease, and continually pushed for states to reopen their economies. Trump claimed he had total authority over governors to make policy in their states.

Fox News also drew attention for the discrepancy between their reporting on the handling of Ebola under Obama and COVID-19 under Trump.

An incomplete list of Trump’s tweets about Obama’s handling of Ebola follows:

Wikipedia – Ebola virus cases in the United States
Trump Twitter Archive

said the economy does better under Democrat leadership?

In a 2004 interview, Trump said he identified more with Democrats because he believed that the economy does better under their leadership.

I’ve been around for a long time and it just seems that the economy does better under the Democrats than the Republicans.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Trump blamed Obama, Democratic presidential candidates, and the federal reserve for economic problems during his tenure.

I think the financial markets are very upset when they look at the Democrat candidates on that stage making fools out of themselves.

The Fed was not good, as far as I’m concerned, and that was a big blip that should not have taken place, should not have happened…that was just killer when they raised the rate, it was just a big mistake, and they admit to it.

Forbes -Trump Is Right About One Thing: ‘The Economy Does Better Under The Democrats’
Politifact – Does the economy always do better under Democratic presidents? 

tweeted about “haters and losers” on the anniversary of 9/11?

While the tweet was deleted two year after first being made, a retweet of his own original tweet remains live.

Trump has made other, similar tweets about “haters and losers.”

Business Insider – Trump once extended ‘best wishes’ to ‘haters and losers’ on 9/11 — then deleted the tweet years later

said “I always felt I was in the military”?

Trump told his biographer that he “always felt that I was in the military” because of his time at New York Military Academy, a boarding school he had been sent to in his youth. He explained that he’d received “more training militarily than a lot of the guys that go into the military.”

While Trump received five draft deferments for Vietnam, he still explained that, “I felt that I was in the military in the true sense because I dealt with those people.” He has also told the same biographer that his temperament had not much changed since he was in the first grade.

The New York Times – Donald Trump Likens His Schooling to Military Service in Book
Business Insider – Donald Trump: ‘I always felt that I was in the military’ by attending a military school
Snopes – Donald Trump Compared Prep School to Military Service?

recounted how he was too disgusted at the sight of a man bleeding to death to help?

During an interview with Howard Stern in 2008, Trump explained his aversion to blood with a story about when he saw an elderly man fall during a charity ball at Mar-a-Lago.

I was at Mar-a-Lago and we had this incredible ball, the Red Cross Ball, in Palm Beach, Florida. And we had the Marines. And the Marines were there, and it was terrible because all these rich people, they’re there to support the Marines, but they’re really there to get their picture in the Palm Beach Post…

 

So you have all these really rich people, and a man, about 80 years old—very wealthy man, a lot of people didn’t like him—he fell off the stage. So what happens is, this guy falls off right on his face, hits his head, and I thought he died. And you know what I did? I said, ‘Oh my God, that’s disgusting,’ and I turned away. I couldn’t, you know, he was right in front of me and I turned away. I didn’t want to touch him… he’s bleeding all over the place, I felt terrible. You know, beautiful marble floor, didn’t look like it. It changed color. Became very red. And you have this poor guy, 80 years old, laying on the floor unconscious, and all the rich people are turning away. ‘Oh my God! This is terrible! This is disgusting!’ and you know, they’re turning away. Nobody wants to help the guy. His wife is screaming—she’s sitting right next to him, and she’s screaming.

 

What happens is, these 10 Marines from the back of the room… they come running forward, they grab him, they put the blood all over the place—it’s all over their uniforms—they’re taking it, they’re swiping [it], they ran him out, they created a stretcher. They call it a human stretcher, where they put their arms out with, like, five guys on each side. I was saying, ‘Get that blood cleaned up! It’s disgusting!’ The next day, I forgot to call [the man] to say he’s OK. It’s just not my thing.”

The Daily Beast – The Time Donald Trump Turned Away in Disgust While a Man Was Bleeding to Death in Front of Him
Metro – Trump once turned away in disgust when he saw a man bleeding to death on the floor

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