The Trump presidency was a period of turbulence, controversy, and occasional moments of unintentional hilarity. While many of the big scandals and policy decisions remain painfully etched in our collective memory, some of the more cringeworthy moments deserve a revisit, so we take you through 21 embarrassing moments from Trump’s time in office:
When Trump Removed His Mask Even Though He Was Infected
After a weekend hospitalization for COVID-19, the former president’s return to the White House featured him removing his mask and offering a thumbs-up gesture to cameras. This action generated various interpretations regarding its public health implications and symbolic meaning.
The Windmill Cancer Caper
Trump inexplicably claimed, with zero scientific evidence, that windmills cause cancer. Wind energy is a well-studied and researched technology with a documented safety record. Numerous reputable scientific organizations, including the World Health Organization and the National Cancer Institute, have confirmed that wind turbines do not cause cancer.
The Covfefe Mystery
In 2017, the president sent a late-night tweet containing the nonsensical word “covfefe,” sparking a viral guessing game about its meaning. Theories ranged from typos to secret codes, but the truth, as always, remained shrouded in mystery.
The Day Trump Got to Sit in a Big Truck
The former president, known for his vehicle interest, participated in a photo opportunity posing inside a semi-truck. The images generated significant media attention and public discussion, much of it negative.
The Watergate Salute
Embarrassingly, when visiting French President Emmanuel Macron, Donald Trump greeted him and other officials with a hand raised to his head, with his fingers curled inwards, resembling the military’s “hand salute.”
The “Person, Woman, Man, Camera, TV” Debacle
In 2020, then-President Donald Trump publicly claimed to have aced a cognitive test by flawlessly repeating a simple five-word sequence: “Person, woman, man, camera, TV.” This seemingly unassuming event, however, generated significant controversy and became known as the “Person, Woman, Man, Camera, TV” Debacle.
Telling People They Could Inject Bleach During the Pandemic
Among the former president’s more controversial statements, his suggestion that sunshine could kill the coronavirus ranks high. The BBC cited this remark as a critical example, highlighting its potential for public misinterpretation.
The Paper Towel Toss
After tossing paper towels to hurricane victims in Puerto Rico like he was playing basketball, Trump declared, “There’s never been anything like this… I don’t think… This is all you… that’s what the hurricane is about.” The world was left speechless.
The “Hamberders” Summit
The “Hamberders” Summit was controversial during the G7 summit in Quebec City in 2018. After world leaders concluded their official summit dinner, then-President Donald Trump abruptly canceled a planned press conference and hosted an impromptu barbecue for the G7 leaders, serving fast food from McDonald’s and Wendy’s.
When Every World Leader Made it Very Clear They Hated Trump
During the 2018 G7 Summit in Canada, it was clear that world leaders did not enjoy spending time with Trump. Tensions surfaced around various topics during the 2018 G7 Summit in Canada, making achieving common ground on some matters more complicated.
The “Best People” Paradox
The “Best People” Paradox refers to a recurring theme in the rhetoric of former US President Donald Trump, where he frequently claimed to surround himself with only the “best people” – the most talented, qualified, and successful individuals in their respective fields. However, this claim often contradicted the reality of his appointments and administrations, frequently marked by controversy, turnover, and scandals involving individuals with questionable qualifications or ethical lapses.
The “Space Force” Punchline
The creation of the United States Space Force in 2019 undoubtedly raised eyebrows, sparked memes, and became a source of both amusement and apprehension. Some saw it as a satirical punchline, a “Star Wars” cosplay in real life, while others considered it a necessary and forward-thinking initiative. Let’s explore both sides of the “Space Force punchline.”
The Bleach Injection Brainstorm
The “Bleach Injection Brainstorm” refers to a now-infamous moment during a White House coronavirus briefing in April 2020, when then-President Donald Trump made seemingly unprompted suggestions about injecting disinfectant to treat COVID-19. This incident sparked widespread concern and confusion, raising questions about scientific accuracy, leadership, and pandemic communication.
The “Nuclear Button” Tweet
Trump casually tweeting about the “nuclear button” being “much bigger & more powerful” than Kim Jong-un’s was not the confidence-building measure the world was hoping for.
The “Beautiful Wall” Fiasco
The “Beautiful Wall” was a central promise of Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, envisioning a massive barrier along the US-Mexico border to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking. However, what began as a bold campaign pledge became a reality fraught with controversy, earning the moniker “Fiasco” due to its complex and challenging implementation.
Fastfood Football Feast
In an unconventional twist, the 2019 Clemson Tigers’ White House visit featured a menu of popular fast food chains like McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Burger King instead of the customary culinary experience.
The Bunker Boy Episode
The “Bunker Boy Episode” refers to a specific event during the Black Lives Matter protests of June 2020, when then-President Donald Trump spent time in the White House bunker during heightened tension outside. As peaceful protests raged outside the White House, Trump hid in a fortified bunker, further solidifying his “tough guy” image.
The “Two Scoops” Ice Cream Meeting
The “Two Scoops” Ice Cream Meeting refers to an incident during then-President Donald Trump’s visit to Children’s National Hospital in July 2019. During the visit, Trump stopped at a local ice cream shop to meet survivors of a building fire and their families. While serving ice cream, Trump reportedly inquired about serving sizes, questioning why confident children received one scoop while others received two.
The “Grab ‘Em by the…” Tape
The “Grab ‘Em by the…” tape, also known as the “Access Hollywood tape,” refers to a recording released in October 2016 featuring then-presidential candidate Donald Trump engaged in a lewd conversation with television personality Billy Bush. During the recording, filmed in 2005, Trump and Bush discuss women, with Trump making several vulgar and sexually suggestive remarks. The infamous line “Grab ’em by the…” comes from this discussion, as Trump brags about being able to “do anything” to women because “when you’re a star, they let you do it.”
The “Pee Tape” Conspiracy
The “Pee Tape” conspiracy theory, which emerged during the 2016 US presidential election, alleged that Russia possessed a compromising video recording of then-candidate Donald Trump engaging in lewd acts involving urine in a Moscow hotel room.
The “Sharpiegate Legacy
Sharpiegate is the nickname for two separate controversies involving then-President Donald Trump and altering weather forecast maps with a black marker. While discussing Hurricane Dorian’s path, Trump claimed Alabama would be “hit much harder than anticipated. National Weather Service Birmingham contradicted this, stating Alabama was not in the storm’s path. Later, Trump appeared in the Oval Office with a weather map altered with a black marker to exaggerate Alabama’s potential impact. This sparked accusations of manipulating scientific data and undermining public trust in weather forecasts. This incident was repeated when Hurricane Zeta hit Louisiana in 2020.
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