In another instance, Trump tweeted a gif of himself wrestling CNN to the ground. He has long called CNN and other press media “the enemy of the people,”
The Hill – Media criticizes Trump for retweet portraying CNN as blood on his shoe
Chicago Tribune – Trump retweets image depicting ‘CNN’ squashed beneath his shoe
Trump made the remark during an 2000 interview with Fortune Magazine.
Has also made reference to his “very large brain,” both during his campaign and as President.
Trump received five draft deferments during the Vietnam War. Four were for college, but a fifth was for bone spurs on his foot that allegedly made him ineligible to serve. There had been no medical history of spurs during medical examinations prior, and Trump claimed that they later healed on their own.
Despite having not served, Trump has called dodging STDs his “personal Vietnam,” said John McCain wasn’t a war hero because he was captured, and has attacked Gold Star families.
Business Insider – Donald Trump avoided the military draft 5 times, but it wasn’t uncommon for young men from influential families to do so during the Vietnam War
Military Times – Trump made up injury to dodge Vietnam service, his former lawyer testifies
USA Today – Podiatrist’s daughters say bone spur diagnosis that helped Trump avoid Vietnam draft was ‘favor’
During a Republican primary debate, Trump said,
In the Middle East we have people chopping the heads off Christians, We have people chopping the heads off many other people. We have things that we have never seen before as a group, we have never seen before…
I would bring back waterboarding. And I would bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding.
In another instance, Trump said that the US should “take out” the families of terrorists.
The Hill – Trump calls for ‘hell of a lot worse than waterboarding’
Chicago Tribune – GOP debate: Trump calls for a lot worse than waterboarding against terrorists
The Wall Street Journal – Trump Reaffirms Support for ‘Worse Than Waterboarding’
During a Fox News interview, Trump said that the problem with the US’ handling of the war against ISIS was that “we’re fighting a very politically correct war,” and so “the other thing is with the terrorists, you have to take out their families.”
Any intentional killing of civilian non-combatants is a war crime, though Trump previously asserted that the military wouldn’t refuse any orders from him.
Trump has also said he would reimpose torture techniques, threatened to target enemy cultural sites, and pardoned US soldiers convicted of war crimes.
Time – Donald Trump Says He’d ‘Take Out’ Terrorists’ Families
The Hill – Trump on terrorists: You have to take out their families
Politifact – Geneva Conventions bar Donald Trump’s idea of killing terrorists’ families, as Rand Paul says
While Trump has attacked Gold Star families and caused a war widow to cry, in another phone call, Trump offered $25,000 as condolences to the grieving family.
The check didn’t arrive until a few months later, after the Washington Post ran a story that made the offer public for the first time. The family received the personal check a few days later, which was dated the same day as when the story was released. The White House explained that “the check has been in the pipeline since the president’s initial call with the father,” and that there were just several processes that needed to first be navigated.
Nevertheless, the family received their promised check.
The Washington Post -Trump offered a grieving military father $25,000 in a phone call
Business Insider – Gold Star family receives $25,000 personal check from Trump — signed on the same day as a Washington Post exposé
CNN – Trump sends $25,000 check to fallen soldier’s family on same day as Washington Post report
The tweet using Cinco de Mayo to advertise Trump Tower Grill quickly became popular on social media. Trump is also known for his love of fast food and eating steak well done with ketchup.
NPR – #MemeOfTheWeek: Donald Trump’s Taco Bowl
Politico – Trump tweets picture of him eating taco bowl, says, ‘I love Hispanics’
CNN – Pictured with taco bowl, Trump proclaims, ‘I love Hispanics!’
During the primaries, Trump attacked Republican Senator Linsdey Graham, who had recently called Trump a “jackass.” Aside from calling Graham an “idiot” and “lightweight,” Trump also gave out Graham’s personal cell phone number.
Politico – Donald Trump gives out Lindsey Graham’s cellphone number
The Hill – Trump gives out Lindsey Graham’s phone number on stage
ABC News – Donald Trump Gives Out Lindsey Graham’s Cell Phone Number
Amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran following the drone strike of a senior official, Trump threatened to destroy a variety of targets including “some at a very high level & important to Iran & Iranian culture.” The deliberate destruction of cultural sites constitutes a war crime. The Pentagon immediately contradicted Trump by ruling out any such targets.
The threat is in line with similar rhetoric that Trump has employed before, such as the need to target the families of terrorists or reinstate torture techniques.
BBC News – Trump says US ready to strike 52 Iranian sites if Tehran attacks
The New York Times – Pentagon Rules Out Striking Iranian Cultural Sites, Contradicting Trump
While many NATO members house US nuclear weapons, according to Pentagon spokesman Air Force Lt. Col. Uriah Orland “it is U.S. policy to neither confirm nor deny the presence or absence of nuclear weapons at any general or specific location.” During a meeting with the Italian President, Trump confirmed the presence of US nuclear weapons at a specific Turkish air force base.
The Washington Post – Trump appears to confirm U.S. nukes are in Turkey, an admission that would break with longstanding protocol
Associated Press – Some worries about nuclear weapons at Turkey base
CNN – Trump appears to confirm open secret about US nuclear weapons in Turkey
