In October 2020, a March remark by Dr. Anthony Fauci was used in a Trump campaign advertisement. Fauci immediately condemned its use, saying it was taken out of context, and noted that he had never publicly endorsed a candidate.
Trump defended the advertisement on Twitter:
They are indeed Dr. Fauci’s own words. We have done a “phenomenal” job, according to certain governors. Many people agree…And now come the Vaccines & Cures, long ahead of projections! https://t.co/ANqKL4eBqJ
Dr. Fauci subsequently supported pulling the advertisement altogether.
Dr. Anthony Fauci says “it’s really unfortunate and really disappointing” that the Trump campaign featured him in an ad touting the President’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
It was believed that his infection originated from a September 26 ceremony held in the Rose Garden, where Trump announced a Supreme Court nominee in front of over 180 people.
The announcement was two days after the first presidential debate, during which Trump mocked Biden for wearing masks.
Additionally, none of his family members in attendance wore masks.
Trump’s family during the first presidential debate.
The day after Trump announced he had contracted COVID-19, he was transported to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in what the administration described as a precautionary measure. By then, 11 total cases stemming from the debate alone were confirmed.
Marine One lands on the South Lawn to transport Trump to Walter Reed. J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press
The following day, Trump tweeted he was doing well.
Doctors, Nurses and ALL at the GREAT Walter Reed Medical Center, and others from likewise incredible institutions who have joined them, are AMAZING!!!Tremendous progress has been made over the last 6 months in fighting this PLAGUE. With their help, I am feeling well!
More confirmed COVID-19 cases among Trump’s family and administration also emerged, including wife Melania, campaign manager Bill Stepien, U.S. Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway, and Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany.
Three days after being admitted, Trump announced that he would be leaving Walter Reed, saying “Don’t be afraid of Covid” despite the United States having suffered over 200,000 deaths.
I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M. Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!
Trump twice tweeted a doctored video of Biden playing N.W.A.’s anti-police protest song “F*ck tha Police.” The account that originally posted the video that Trump retweeted was suspended.
The first rally Trump held since June, on September 13, 2020, was issued a $3,000. A compliance officer noted six violations by the indoor venue regarding state COVID-19 regulations, which mandated an attendance limit of 50, the wearing of masks, and the practice of social distancing. The venue issued temperature checks, had hand sanitizers available, and handed out face masks, though there was no requirement for the crowd to wear them.
On Twitter, Trump said that the state’s Governor tried to require an outdoor venue, before going on to claim that the Governor would assist in rigging the election.
…of the Ballots in Nevada!? Not fair, Rigged Election! @GovSisolak, will use every trick in the book to cheat with Ballots.
Twitter makes sure that Trending on Twitter is anything bad, Fake or not, about President Donald Trump. So obvious what they are doing. Being studied now!
Sleepy Joe Biden has spent 47 years in politics being terrible to Hispanics. Now he is relying on Castro lover Bernie Sanders to help him out. That won’t work! Remember, Miami Cubans gave me the highly honored Bay of Pigs Award for all I have done for our great Cuban Population!
The award in question was a hand-painted of the Brigade 2506 shield, which Trump received in 2016 during a visit to Miami’s Bay of Pigs museum. Brigade 2506 was the CIA-sponsored group of Cuban exiles formed to overthrow Fidel Castro’s government.
Trump receiving a plaque of the Brigade 2506 shield in 2016. @TrumpWarRoom
On September 2, 2020, Trump told supporters in North Carolina that they should vote by mail, and then vote in person to ensure it counts. Because double voting in such a manner is felony fraud, the North Carolina Board of Elections issued a statement urging people not to follow Trump’s advice. Trump has alleged widespread fraud since the 2016 election, though an investigative commission found none.
…send it in early and then go and vote and if it’s not tabulated, you vote and the vote is going to count. You can’t let them take your vote away. These people are playing dirty politics, dirty politics.
So if you have an absentee ballot, or as I call it a solicited ballot, you send it in, but I would check it in any event. I would go and follow it and go vote.
When Trump repeated his suggestion via Twitter, the company flagged the tweet with a special notice:
We placed a public interest notice on two Tweets in this thread for violating our Civic Integrity Policy, specifically for encouraging people to potentially vote twice. https://t.co/UU9kJfqptz
In an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Trump’s Attorney General William Barr evaded questions on the issue by claiming that he didn’t know state voting laws well enough to comment.
Trump’s tweet was in response to a new book’s depiction of an unplanned visit to Walter Reed Medical Center in November of 2019. His denial drew attention because the book never made mention of mini-strokes.
Donald Trump v. The United States, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Michael Schmidt, also said that Pence was told to be on standby to assume presidential powers in case Trump had to be anesthetized.
It never ends! Now they are trying to say that your favorite President, me, went to Walter Reed Medical Center, having suffered a series of mini-strokes. Never happened to THIS candidate – FAKE NEWS. Perhaps they are referring to another candidate from another Party!
Mike Pence was never put on standby, & there were no mini-strokes. This is just more Fake News by @CNN, a phony story. The reason for the visit to Walter Reed, together with the full press pool, was to complete my yearly physical. Short visit, then returned (with press) to W.H… https://t.co/GUVdbJRvqD
The White House physician issued a statement saying, “I can confirm that President Trump has not experienced nor been evaluated for a cerebrovascular accident (stroke), transient ischemic attack (mini stroke), or any acute cardiovascular emergencies, as have been incorrectly reported in the media.”
Trump’s tweets came amid his attempts to paint Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden as mentally unsuitable for the position. In July, he bragged about completing a basic cognitive test.
On August 16, 2020, Trump retweeted audio purportedly between Biden and former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko from a February 18, 2016 recording.
Trump’s retweet of what intelligence officials already confirmed to be Russian propaganda. CNN
The video had already been described by US intelligence officials as part of a Russian campaign to attack and spread conspiracy theories against Trump’s 2020 opponent, Joe Biden.
The excerpt of the retweeted conversation centers on the ouster of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor, who had previously investigated the owner of a Ukraine energy company where Biden’s son, Hunter, once held a board seat. During the Obama administration, Biden led the charge to oust the prosecutor in the first place, with backing from several European allies, because of his failure to pursue corruption cases.
The account that originally tweeted the recording was suspended.
The Washington Post compiled multiple instances up to 2019, including one in which he expressed admiration for China’s lack of term limits:
Trump retweeted a claim that he should have two years added to his term because of the Mueller investigation.
After the best week ever for @realDonaldTrump – no obstruction, no collusion, NYT admits @BarackObama did spy on his campaign, & the economy is soaring. I now support reparations-Trump should have 2 yrs added to his 1st term as pay back for time stolen by this corrupt failed coup
In a deleted tweet, Trump reiterated the sentiment that two years had been “stollen”:
He reiterated the suggestion a month later.
…..news is that at the end of 6 years, after America has been made GREAT again and I leave the beautiful White House (do you think the people would demand that I stay longer? KEEP AMERICA GREAT), both of these horrible papers will quickly go out of business & be forever gone!
On August 17, 2020, Trump said that he wanted a third term because of the Obama administration’s supposed spying on his campaign. The conspiracy theory, often referenced as Obamagate or Spygate, has been debunked.
Trump reiterated the claim on August 24, the first day of the Republican National Convention. He suggested 12 more years “because we caught them doing very bad things in 2016.”
The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution states, “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”
