Trump instituted the tariffs unilaterally, claiming them to be of importance to national security.
The New York Times – Trump’s ‘Bully’ Attack on Trudeau Outrages Canadians
Trump said of the Democratic reaction to his 2018 State of the Union address,
Even on positive news, really positive news like that, they were like death. and Un-American. Un-American. Somebody said ‘treasonous.’ I mean, yeah, I guess. Why not? Can we call that treason? Why not. They certainly didn’t seem to love our country very much.
USA Today – Trump blasts ‘treasonous’ Democrats for not applauding at his State of the Union address
Time – President Trump Said Democrats Who Didn’t Clap at the State of the Union Were ‘Treasonous’
NPR – Trump: Democrats ‘Un-American,’ ‘Treasonous’ During State Of The Union
Serving as Trump’s Attorney General, Sessions recused from the investigation into Russian election interference. himself per a Department of Justice regulation that disallows officials from investigating campaigns they were a part of.
As head of the FBI, Sessions explained that Department of Justice regulations required he do so. The rule in question states that DoJ employees cannot “participate in a criminal investigation or prosecution if he has a personal or political relationship with any person or organization substantially involved…or who would be directly affected by the outcome.”
After, Trump repeatedly attacked his Attorney General, demanding he reverse his recusal. Sessions ultimately resigned the day after the 2018 midterm elections.
Trump continued to attack Sessions after, especially amid Sessions’ 2020 candidacy for Alabama’s US Senator.
Business Insider – Jeff Sessions explains why he recused himself from Trump campaign-related investigations
Business Insider – Jeff Sessions says he has no regrets over recusing himself from the Russia investigation
The New York Times – Trump Asked Sessions to Retain Control of Russia Inquiry After His Recusal
The Hill – Trump attacks Sessions: A ‘total disaster’ and ‘an embarrassment to the great state of Alabama’
During a 2004 interview with radio host Howard Stern, Stern referred to Ivanka as a “piece of ass,” asking if he could refer to her as such. Trump replied, “yeah…you’re the last person I would introduce her to.”
In another Stern interview, after being asked if Ivanka had gotten breast implants, Trump replied that “She’s actually always been very voluptuous.”
In both instances, Trump ultimately steered the conversation to Ivanka’s intelligence and performance at school. He also remarked during the interviews that “check out time” for relationships with women is when they turn 35, and bragged about having group sex.
During another Stern interview, Trump said,
You know who’s one of the great beauties of the world, according to everybody? And I helped create her. Ivanka. My daughter, Ivanka. She’s 6 feet tall, she’s got the best body. She made a lot money as a model—a tremendous amount.
In a later interview, Stern recounted of Trump, “He goes, ‘You know who’s a great beauty? My daughter Ivanka. Now she’s a 10.'”
Trump also said, “if Ivanka weren’t my daughter, perhaps I’d be dating her.” He made other questionable remarks about his other daughter, Tiffany.
Politico – Trump told Howard Stern it’s OK to call Ivanka a ‘piece of a–‘
The Hill – Trump told Howard Stern in 2004 it was OK to call Ivanka a ‘piece of ass’
The Hill – Howard Stern tells Letterman about the time Trump called Ivanka ‘a 10’
The incident was the culmination of an argument between Trump and Serge Kovaleski over the claim that thousands were seen celebrating in New Jersey during 9/11.
Trump took aim at the disabled Kovaleski, a Pulitzer-prize winning reporter employed by The New York Times at the time.
Now, the poor guy, you’ve got to see this guy: “Uhh, I don’t know what I said. Uhh, I don’t remember,” he’s going like “I don’t remember. Maybe that’s what I said.”
Despite their having met in the past, and Kovaleski having reported on and interviewed Trump multiple times, Trump defended himself by saying he didn’t know of him or his disability.
Very simple. I said this, and all of a sudden, because I said it very very expressively – and again, I’m trying to show someone groveling to take back the statement he made, because he wanted to take it back because it wasn’t good for the people that he knows and likes at the New York Times and Washington Post…
I would never mock a person that has difficulty. I would never do that. I’m telling you, I would never do it. I would never do it. I would never do it. I don’t care if I liked the person or didn’t – and I don’t know this person.
Defenders also noted that when Trump adopts a mocking imitation of someone, they tend to be a similar impression, and so asserted that Trump was not singling out Kovaleski’s disability.
Politifact – Says Hillary Clinton is “wrong” to say he mocked a disabled reporter.
Snopes – Donald Trump Criticized for Mocking Disabled Reporter
The Washington Post – Donald Trump’s revisionist history of mocking a disabled reporter
BBC News – Donald Trump under fire for mocking disabled reporter
Gold Star families are those that lost an immediately family member in the line of military duty. When one such family spoke at the Democratic National Convention, Trump suggested that the fallen soldier’s mother was not allowed to speak freely by her husband because they are Muslim.
Trump also suggested that Clinton’s campaign was supplying the family with talking points, saying,” “Who wrote that? Did Hillary’s scriptwriters write it?”
In response, 17 Gold Star families signed an open letter to Trump, which explained, “When you question a mother’s pain, by implying that her religion, not her grief, kept her from addressing an arena of people, you are attacking us. When you say your job building buildings is akin to our sacrifice, you are attacking our sacrifice.”
Trump explained in his defense that, “I think I’ve made a lot of sacrifices. I work very, very hard.”
Trump has had a checkered past on dealing with service members and their families. Trump later also brought a pregnant Gold Star widow to tears when he forgot the name of her husband. In another instance, Trump sent a $25,000 personal check to a grieving family, though it was after news reports noted its delay from when it was originally promised. He also infamously said John McCain was not a war hero because he was captured, and referred to dodging STDs as his own “personal Vietnam,” while having dodged the draft five times.
USO – What is a Gold Star Family?
The Washington Post – Trump stirs outrage after he lashes out at the Muslim parents of a dead U.S. soldier
The New York Times – Donald Trump Criticizes Muslim Family of Slain U.S. Soldier, Drawing Ire
ABC News – Donald Trump to Father of Fallen Soldier: ‘I’ve Made a Lot of Sacrifices’
Wikipedia – Khizr and Ghazala Khan
During the campaign, Trump tweeted a mocking photo of his wife alongside Ted Cruz’s, with the test “A picture is worth a thousand words.”
Trump defended himself three days later, and repeated his claim that no one has more respect for women than him.
USA Today – After insulting tweet, Cruz tells Trump: Leave my wife ‘the hell alone’
John McCain served as a pilot in the Vietnam War and was shot down, captured, and tortured. He broke both arms and a knee when ejecting from his plane.
McCain was held at the infamous Hanoi Hilton prisoner camp for five and a half years. He only received life-saving treatment for his injuries when his captors discovered that he was the son of an admiral. They offered McCain early release, which he turned down knowing it would be used as propaganda. He suffered permanent injuries, including the inability to raise his arms above his head.
McCain died in 2018, having served as a US Senator for Arizona for three decades.
During Trump’s campaign, he rebuffed the assertion that McCain was a war hero:
He hit me, he’s not a war hero. He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren’t captured, okay? I hate to tell you.
Trump avoided the military draft for Vietnam five times and called dodging STDs his “personal Vietnam.”
Politico – Trump attacks McCain: ‘I like people who weren’t captured’
Time – Inside John McCain’s Journey From Annapolis to the Hanoi Hilton: How He Became a Prisoner of War
Wikipedia – John McCain (Prisoner of War)
Trump first made the claim in a phone interview with Fox News:
His father was with Lee Harvey Oswald prior to Oswald’s being – you know, shot. I mean, the whole thing is ridiculous.
Trump defended his remark, saying, “All I did is point out the fact that on the cover of the National Enquirer there was a picture of him and crazy Lee Harvey Oswald having breakfast…This was a magazine that, in many respects, should be well respected. I mean if that was The New York Times, they would have gotten Pulitzer Prizes for their reporting.”
Trump also attacked Cruz’s wife’s appearance on Twitter.
BBC News – Trump links Cruz’s father to Kennedy assassination
Politico – Trump revives rumor linking Cruz’s father to JFK assassination
Alongside a Rolling Stone journalist, Trump commented on rival Carly Fiorina when she appeared on television. “Look at that face!” he exclaimed. “Would anyone vote for that? Can you imagine that, the face of our next president?”
The comment drew outrage, as Trump had previously made disparaging remarks about women.
Trump similarly insulted Ted Cruz’s wife. He also infamously commented about grabbing women “by the pussy,” and said that commentator Megyn Kelly had “blood coming out of her wherever” when she questioned him about yet other remarks about women.
USA Today – Donald Trump on Carly Fiorina: ‘Look at that face!’
The Hill – Trump mocks Fiorina’s physical appearance: ‘Look at that face!’
