said not paying taxes makes him “smart”?

On September 26, 2016, in the first of three debates with Hillary Clinton, Trump retorted to a claim that he paid no taxes by replying, “that makes me smart.”

Even after the election, Trump claimed he was withholding his tax returns from the public because he was under audit. However, in 2019, he sued to keep them being being obtained.

In September 2020, it was revealed that he paid a total of $750 in taxes for that year.

CNBC – Trump brags about not paying taxes: ‘That makes me smart’
Real Clear Politics – Clinton: “If Not Paying Taxes Makes Him Smart, What Does That Make The Rest Of Us?”
The New York Times – Long-Concealed Records Show Trump’s Chronic Losses and Years of Tax Avoidance

bragged about completing a cognitive test?

After taking the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, or MoCA, Trump claimed that his doctors were “very surprised” at the results of his test, which he said he “aced.” However, the White House has not released any details about the results of the exam.

In a July 19, 2020 Fox News interview with Chris Wallace, Trump also challenged Biden to take the exam. He said that the questions “get very hard,” and didn’t think Wallace would be able to answer them.

However, the creators of the exam have themselves described it as simple, intended only to test basic cognitive function rather than as any measure of intelligence. The one-page test can be easily found online.

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

During the same interview, Trump declined to answer if he would accept the 2020 election results.

Montreal Cognitive Assessment – MoCA Test
The New York Times – Trump Says He ‘Aced’ Cognitive Test, but White House Won’t Release Details
The New York Times – Trump Says He ‘Aced’ a Cognitive Test. What Does That Really Mean?
Market Watch – The doctor behind a cognitive test Trump took says ‘it’s supposed to be easy’
Forbes – Trump Says He Recently ‘Aced’ This Test: What Exactly Does That Mean?

Fox News – Trump challenges Biden to mental exam, says Chris Wallace would not score as high as he did

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

claimed at the UN that “my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country,” prompting laughter?

At the United Nations General Assembly, Trump drew laughter after saying “my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country.” After, he remarked, “Didn’t expect that reaction, but that’s okay.”

During Obama’s administration, Trump said “we need a president who isn’t the laughing stock of the world.”

New York Magazine – Trump’s Plan to Make the World Respect America Again Is Succeeding — on His Terms
Business Insider – World leaders laugh as Trump claims his administration has accomplished more than any other in US history
Associated Press – World leaders laugh as Trump boasts of his achievements

falsely claimed that he had the largest inaugural crowd size ever?

Trump made the claim immediately after his inauguration. All evidence pointed to the contrary. Sean Spicer defended the claim the day after, as well as other unfounded claims about voter fraud.

Spicer was replaced by Anthony Scaramucci six months later.

Image result for crowd size inaugural comparison

The Atlantic – Trump’s Press Secretary Falsely Claims: ‘Largest Audience Ever to Witness an Inauguration, Period’
Politico – Trump fumes over inaugural crowd size
Vox – Photos: the crowd at Donald Trump’s inauguration vs. Barack Obama’s
The Hill – Trump admitted he was wrong over inauguration crowd size fight: book

said he could be more Presidential than anyone, “except for possibly Abe Lincoln with the big hat”?

Trump made the remarks at a Tampa rally, which was also noted for the number of QAnon conspiracy theorists in attendance.

Trump also claimed at the rally that Americans need photo ID to purchase groceries.

An Economist/YouGov weekly tracking poll found in November, 2019 that 53% of Republicans considered Trump to be a superior President to Lincoln.

The Washington Post – ‘We are Q’: A deranged conspiracy cult leaps from the Internet to the crowd at Trump’s MAGA tour
The New Yorker – TRUMP’S INCREASINGLY WEIRD ATTEMPTS TO COMPARE HIMSELF TO LINCOLN

Reuters – Trump defends trade and tariff policies at Tampa rally
The Hill – Poll: Majority of Republicans say Trump better president than Lincoln

described an inadequate military briefing used to justify an attack on Iran as the “best presentation they’ve ever seen”?

Trump justified a strike on a senior Iranian official and escalated tensions by claiming that he represented an imminent threat, possibly targeting up to four US embassies. At a briefing for Congressional representatives those present reported that they weren’t given any meaningful information, despite asking multiple times about the nature of the imminent threat. Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah described it as “the worst briefing” he’d ever seen on a military issue.

When asked about this, Trump in typical fashion replied some people said that it actually the “best presentation they’ve ever seen.” He provided little further information on the nature of the imminent threat.

Axios – GOP Sen. Mike Lee calls Soleimani briefing the “worst” he’s ever seen
Roll Call – Trump to Lee: Other people called it ‘best presentation they’ve ever seen’

said he didn’t need preparation or notes for a summit with Kim Jong-Un?

Trump explained that he didn’t need to prepare much for an upcoming summit with North Korea in Singapore, a first between the two nations. Instead, he explained that it was all about “attitude.”

He also said that he didn’t need notes from the meeting, due to having “one of the great memories of all time,” a claim Trump has repeated elsewhere.

After the meeting, Trump declared he would end “provocative” joint defense exercises in South Korea.

Boomberg – Trump Says He Doesn’t Need to ‘Prepare Very Much’ for Kim Summit
Politico – Trump says Kim meeting will be about ‘attitude,’ not prep work

ABC News – Trump says he doesn’t need to ‘prepare very much’ for North Korea summit, ‘it’s about attitude’
The Hill – Trump on lack of notes from Kim meeting: ‘I have one of the great memories of all time’

More assuredly to come soon

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