---
title: Donald Trump
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/quotes/donald-trump/
description: 26 verified quotes from Donald Trump, President of the United States, with sources.
section: FRAME
---

![Illustration: a dense, generic Cold War intelligence analyst's evidence wall of press photography, redacted reports and aerial reconnaissance imagery.](https://propagandaarchive.org/static/generated/detail/hero-evidence-wall.jpg)

[Quotes](https://propagandaarchive.org/quotes/) · United States

# Donald Trump

![Donald Trump, official presidential portrait, 2025](https://propagandaarchive.org/regimes/images/trump-administration/donald-trump.jpg)

[Photo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Official_Presidential_Portrait_of_President_Donald_J._Trump_(2025).jpg): Daniel Torok, official White House photograph, Public domain (U.S. federal government work)

President of the United States · United States

On the regime page: [Trump administration](https://propagandaarchive.org/regimes/trump-administration/#donald-trump)

26 quotes, oldest first. [Filter with other speakers](https://propagandaarchive.org/quotes/#speaker=donald-trump).

1. > “One thing I’ve learned about the press is that they’re always hungry for a good story, and the more sensational the better. It’s in the nature of the job, and I understand that.” — 1987 · Book — From a business memoir co-written with Tony Schwartz, in a section on generating publicity for a product. Carried over from the regime page's "In their words" list. — Trump: The Art of the Deal, with Tony Schwartz (Random House, 1987; page number from the Ballantine paperback scan), chapter "Trump Cards: The Elements of the Deal," section "Get the Word Out", p. 57 [Source](https://archive.org/details/6188165-Trump-Donald-the-Art-of-the-Deal-Text)
2. **Content note:** Vulgar sexual remarks about women. The words are shown as they were said or written. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) — > “And when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. [...] Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything.” — September 2005 · Private-remark · NBC studio lot (as recorded) Verified (secondary source) — Trump was recorded on a microphone while talking with Access Hollywood host Billy Bush on the way to a taping with a soap-opera cast. The recording surfaced in the final month of the 2016 campaign. — Recorded conversation with Billy Bush, September 2005, for Access Hollywood; published by The Washington Post on 7 October 2016; transcript as read on CNN, Anderson Cooper 360, 7 October 2016 [Source](https://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1610/07/acd.01.html)
3. **Content note:** Generalisation about Mexican immigrants as criminals. The words are shown as they were said or written. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) — > “When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best. They're not sending you. They're not sending you. They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.” — June 16, 2015 · Speech · New York City, Trump Tower — Speech launching his campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, delivered to a crowd at Trump Tower. The passage is part of his remarks on immigration and the southern border. — Remarks Announcing Candidacy for President in New York City, 16 June 2015, American Presidency Project transcript [Source](https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/remarks-announcing-candidacy-for-president-new-york-city)
4. **Content note:** Call to bar Muslims from entering the United States. The words are shown as they were said or written. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) — > “Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on.” — December 7, 2015 · Statement · New York, NY — Campaign press release issued days after the San Bernardino shooting, during the Republican primary. The statement went on to cite polling by the Center for Security Policy and Pew Research. — Statement by Donald J. Trump on Preventing Muslim Immigration, campaign press release, 7 December 2015, American Presidency Project [Source](https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/statement-donald-j-trump-statement-preventing-muslim-immigration)
5. **Content note:** Hypothetical about shooting someone. The words are shown as they were said or written. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) — > “They say I have the most loyal people — did you ever see that? — where I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters” — January 23, 2016 · Speech · Sioux Center, Iowa Verified (secondary source) — Remark to a rally audience about the loyalty of his supporters nine days before the Iowa caucuses. The report says he mimed a gun with his fingers as he spoke. — Campaign rally, Dordt College, Sioux Center, Iowa, 23 January 2016, as reported by the Associated Press (carried by The Columbian, 23 January 2016) [Source](https://www.columbian.com/news/2016/jan/23/trump-they-say-i-could-shoot-somebody-and-still-have-support/)
6. > “Nobody knows the system better than me, which is why I alone can fix it.” — July 21, 2016 · Speech · Cleveland, Ohio, Republican National Convention — Acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, delivered in the section on his claim that the political system was rigged against ordinary citizens. — Address Accepting the Presidential Nomination at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, 21 July 2016, American Presidency Project transcript [Source](https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/address-accepting-the-presidential-nomination-the-republican-national-convention-cleveland)
7. > “From this day forward, it's going to be only America first. America first.” — January 20, 2017 · Speech · Washington, D.C., U.S. Capitol — First inaugural address. The passage follows a section on trade, immigration and foreign policy and is followed by "Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families." — Inaugural Address, 20 January 2017, American Presidency Project transcript [Source](https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/inaugural-address-14)
8. > “The FAKE NEWS media (failing @nytimes, @NBCNews, @ABC, @CBS, @CNN) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American People!” — February 17, 2017 · Post · Twitter (@realDonaldTrump) — Post by the president on his personal account, about a month into the first term, naming five news organisations. Carried over from the regime page's "In their words" list. — Post on Twitter (@realDonaldTrump), 17 February 2017 [Source](https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/832708293516632065)
9. **Content note:** Threat of military force against North Korea. The words are shown as they were said or written. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) — > “North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States. They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen. He has been very threatening beyond a normal state. And as I said, they will be met with fire, fury, and, frankly, power, the likes of which this world has never seen before.” — August 8, 2017 · Statement · Bedminster, New Jersey — Answer to a reporter asking about reports on North Korea's nuclear capabilities, at the start of a briefing on a different subject. North Korea had been conducting missile tests that summer. — Remarks by President Trump Before a Briefing on the Opioid Crisis, Trump National Golf Club, Bedminster, New Jersey, 8 August 2017 (answer to a reporter's question), White House archive [Source](https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-briefing-opioid-crisis/)
10. **Content note:** Remarks on a white-nationalist rally and counter-protest. The words are shown as they were said or written. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) — > “They didn't put themselves down as you do, and you had some very bad people in that group, but you also had people that were very fine people, on both sides.” — August 15, 2017 · Speech · New York City, Trump Tower — Answer to a reporter at Trump Tower three days after a white-nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, at which a counter-protester was killed. He was responding to a question about the neo-Nazis who had come to protest the removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee. Earlier in the exchange he also said "I think there's blame on both sides." — Remarks on Infrastructure and an Exchange With Reporters in New York City, 15 August 2017, American Presidency Project transcript [Source](https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/remarks-infrastructure-and-exchange-with-reporters-new-york-city)
11. **Content note:** Reply to a request to condemn white-supremacist and militia groups, addressed to the Proud Boys. The words are shown as they were said or written. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) — > “Proud Boys, stand back and stand by. But I'll tell you what, I'll tell you what: somebody's got to do something about Antifa and the left because this is not a right wing problem this is a left-wing. This is a left-wing problem.” — September 29, 2020 · Speech · Cleveland, Ohio, first presidential debate — Moderator Chris Wallace asked whether he was willing to condemn white supremacists and militia groups. Joe Biden then named the Proud Boys, and Trump replied with this passage. — Presidential Debate at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, 29 September 2020, American Presidency Project transcript [Source](https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/presidential-debate-case-western-reserve-university-cleveland-ohio)
12. **Content note:** Speech given before the attack on the US Capitol. The words are shown as they were said or written. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) — > “We fight like hell. And if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore.” — January 6, 2021 · Speech · Washington, D.C., the Ellipse — Speech to supporters on the day Congress met to count the electoral votes of the 2020 election, which Trump contested. The passage comes near the end of the speech. After it, a crowd moved to the Capitol, where a riot took place. — Speech at the "Save America" rally, the Ellipse, Washington, D.C., 6 January 2021, Roll Call Factba.se transcript (timestamp 01:10:05) [Source](https://rollcall.com/factbase/trump/transcript/donald-trump-speech-campaign-rally-the-ellipse-january-6-2021/)
13. > “I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.” — January 6, 2021 · Speech · Washington, D.C., the Ellipse — Remark from the same speech, delivered shortly before the passage quoted above. Listed alongside it so the speech is represented by both statements about the march to the Capitol. — Speech at the "Save America" rally, the Ellipse, Washington, D.C., 6 January 2021, Roll Call Factba.se transcript [Source](https://rollcall.com/factbase/trump/transcript/donald-trump-speech-campaign-rally-the-ellipse-january-6-2021/)
14. **Content note:** Claim that the 2020 election was stolen, made during the attack on the US Capitol. The words are shown as they were said or written. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) — > “We had an election that was stolen from us. It was a landslide election, and everyone knows it, especially the other side, but you have to go home now. We have to have peace.” — January 6, 2021 · Statement · Washington, D.C., White House, videotaped remarks — Recorded on the afternoon of 6 January 2021, after the Capitol had been entered, and posted by the White House. The passage begins 'I know your pain. I know you're hurt.' and continues 'We have to have law and order.' — Videotaped Remarks During the Insurrection at the United States Capitol, 6 January 2021, The American Presidency Project (UC Santa Barbara), from the White House release [Source](https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/videotaped-remarks-during-the-insurrection-the-united-states-capitol)
15. **Content note:** Calls political opponents "vermin". The words are shown as they were said or written. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) — > “And today, especially in honor of our great veterans on Veterans Day, we pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists, and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country, that lie and steal and cheat on elections and will do anything possible, they'll do anything, whether legally or illegally, to destroy America and to destroy the American dream.” — November 11, 2023 · Speech · Claremont, New Hampshire — Campaign speech in the 2024 Republican primary, on Veterans Day. The passage follows a section about forgotten Americans and a pledge to put America first. — Campaign rally, Stevens High School, Claremont, New Hampshire, 11 November 2023, Roll Call Factba.se transcript [Source](https://rollcall.com/factbase/trump/transcript/donald-trump-speech-political-rally-claremont-new-hampshire-november-11-2023/)
16. **Content note:** Says immigrants are "poisoning the blood" of the country. The words are shown as they were said or written. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) — > “When they let, I think the real number is 15, 16 million people into our country, when they do that, we got a lot of work to do. They're poisoning the blood of our country.” — December 16, 2023 · Speech · Durham, New Hampshire — Campaign speech in the 2024 Republican primary, in a passage about migrants crossing the southern border. The Factba.se transcript and a second transcript (Rev.com) agree on the wording. — Campaign rally, Whittemore Center Arena, Durham, New Hampshire, 16 December 2023, Roll Call Factba.se transcript; the Rev.com transcript continues "That's what they've done." [Source](https://rollcall.com/factbase/trump/transcript/donald-trump-speech-political-rally-durham-new-hampshire-december-16-2023/)
17. **Content note:** Claim about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, disputed by city officials. The words are shown as they were said or written. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) — > “In Springfield, they're eating the dogs. The people that came in. They're eating the cats. They're eating -- they're eating the pets of the people that live there.” — September 10, 2024 · Speech · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, presidential debate — Answer on immigration during the debate with Kamala Harris. Moderator David Muir then said ABC News had contacted the Springfield, Ohio, city manager, who told it there had been no credible reports of specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community. Trump replied that he had seen people on television say their dog was taken. — ABC News Presidential Debate (Harris-Trump), 10 September 2024, ABC News transcript [Source](https://abcnews.com/Politics/harris-trump-presidential-debate-transcript/story?id=113560542)
18. **Content note:** Refers to domestic opponents as "radical left lunatics" and to using the National Guard or military. The words are shown as they were said or written. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) — > “But I don't think they're the problem in terms of Election Day. I think the bigger problem are the people from within. We have some very bad people. We have some sick people, radical left lunatics. And I think they're the -- and it should be very easily handled by -- if necessary, by National Guard, or if really necessary, by the military, because they can't let that happen.” — October 13, 2024 · Interview · Fox News, Sunday Morning Futures (interview with Maria Bartiromo) — Answer on what could go wrong around Election Day 2024, after Bartiromo asked about people who might cause trouble. Later in the interview he named Representative Adam Schiff. — Interview with Maria Bartiromo, Fox News Sunday Morning Futures, aired 13 October 2024, Roll Call Factba.se transcript (timestamp 00:08:36) [Source](https://rollcall.com/factbase/trump/transcript/donald-trump-interview-maria-bartiromo-fox-business-october-13-2024/)
19. **Content note:** Describes domestic political opponents as "the enemy from within". The words are shown as they were said or written. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) — > “Well, they're going to undermine -- well, I always say -- so we have two enemies, we have the outside enemy and then we have the enemy from within. And the enemy from within, in my opinion, is more dangerous than China, Russia, and all these countries, because if you have a smart president, he can handle them pretty easily.” — October 13, 2024 · Interview · Fox News, Sunday Morning Futures (interview with Maria Bartiromo) — Answer on how opponents inside government or politics might act against him in a second term. — Interview with Maria Bartiromo, Fox News Sunday Morning Futures, aired 13 October 2024, Roll Call Factba.se transcript (timestamp 00:27:58) [Source](https://rollcall.com/factbase/trump/transcript/donald-trump-interview-maria-bartiromo-fox-business-october-13-2024/)
20. > “Our sovereignty will be reclaimed. Our safety will be restored. The scales of justice will be rebalanced. The vicious, violent, and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department and our government will end.” — January 20, 2025 · Speech · Washington, D.C., U.S. Capitol — Second inaugural address, delivered in the Capitol Rotunda. The passage follows "the golden age of America begins right now" and a pledge to put America first. — The Inaugural Address, 20 January 2025, White House transcript [Source](https://www.whitehouse.gov/remarks/2025/01/the-inaugural-address/)
21. > “It is the policy of the United States to: (a) secure the right of the American people to engage in constitutionally protected speech; (b) ensure that no Federal Government officer, employee, or agent engages in or facilitates any conduct that would unconstitutionally abridge the free speech of any American citizen; (c) ensure that no taxpayer resources are used to engage in or facilitate any conduct that would unconstitutionally abridge the free speech of any American citizen; and (d) identify and take appropriate action to correct past misconduct by the Federal Government related to censorship of protected speech.” — January 20, 2025 · Statement · Washington, D.C. — Executive order signed on the first day of the second term, directing federal agencies on speech and content moderation. The regime page quotes clauses (a) and (b); the full section 2 is given here. — Executive Order 14149, "Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship," 20 January 2025, section 2 [Source](https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/executive-order-14149-restoring-freedom-speech-and-ending-federal-censorship)
22. > “The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too. We'll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site, and get rid of the destroyed buildings. Level it out, create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area. Do a real job. Do something different.” — February 4, 2025 · Speech · Washington, D.C., news conference with Benjamin Netanyahu — Opening statement at a joint news conference with Israel's prime minister during a ceasefire in Gaza. In answer to a later question he said, "I do see a long-term ownership position." — The President's News Conference With Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, 4 February 2025, American Presidency Project transcript [Source](https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/the-presidents-news-conference-with-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-israel-0)
23. > “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.” — February 15, 2025 · Post · Truth Social and X — Post made a month into the second term, while courts were hearing challenges to executive orders and funding freezes. The sentence is widely attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte. — Post on Truth Social (@realDonaldTrump) and X (@realDonaldTrump), 15 February 2025, 6:32 PM [Source](https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1890831570535055759)
24. **Content note:** Derogatory remarks about Somali immigrants and their country. The words are shown as they were said or written. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) — > “I don't want them in our country, I'll be honest with you, OK? Somebody would say, oh, that's not politically correct. I don't care. I don't want them in our country. Their country is no good for a reason. Their country stinks and we don't want them in our country. I can say that about other countries too.” — December 2, 2025 · Speech · Washington, D.C., Cabinet meeting at the White House — Remarks on Somali immigrants, made during a televised Cabinet meeting. Later in the same meeting he said "Ilhan Omar is garbage, she's garbage. Her friends are garbage." — Cabinet meeting at the White House, 2 December 2025, Roll Call Factba.se transcript (timestamp 02:16:17) [Source](https://rollcall.com/factbase/trump/transcript/donald-trump-remarks-cabinet-meeting-december-2-2025)
25. **Content note:** Uses the term "shithole countries" and derogatory language about Somalia. The words are shown as they were said or written. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) — > “Remember, I said that to the senators that came in, the Democrats. They wanted to be bipartisan. So, they came in and they said this is totally off the record. Nothing mentioned here. We want to be honest, because our country was going to hell and we had a meeting and I say why is it we only take people from shithole countries, right? Why can't we have some people from Norway, Sweden -- just a few -- let us have a few from Denmark. Do you mind sending us a few people? Send us some nice people, do you mind? But we always take people from Somalia, places that are a disaster, right? Filthy, dirty, disgusting, ridden with crime” — December 9, 2025 · Speech · Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania — An audience member called out "Shithole" after Trump spoke of pausing migration from "hellholes like Afghanistan, Haiti, Somalia." Trump replied "I didn't say shithole, you did," then described a January 2018 meeting with senators on immigration. In 2018 he had denied using the word at that meeting. — Remarks at a rally, Mount Airy Casino Resort, Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, 9 December 2025, Roll Call Factba.se transcript (timestamp 01:22:49) and Senate Democrats' transcript of the same speech [Source](https://rollcall.com/factbase/trump/transcript/donald-trump-speech-political-rally-mount-pocono-pennsylvania-december-9-2025/)
26. > “We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition.” — January 3, 2026 · Speech · Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach, Florida — Remarks hours after US strikes in Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. He repeated the sentence in the same answer. — Press conference on the capture of Nicolás Maduro, Mar-a-Lago, 3 January 2026, Roll Call Factba.se transcript (timestamp 00:04:37) [Source](https://rollcall.com/factbase/trump/transcript/donald-trump-press-conference-venezuela-maduro-january-3-2026/)

## Often attributed, not verified

These words circulate under Donald Trump’s name but could not be traced to a source. They are listed so readers can check them, not as Donald Trump’s words.

- > “If I were to run, I'd run as a Republican. They're the dumbest group of voters in the country. They believe anything on Fox News. I could lie and they'd still eat it up. I bet my numbers would be terrific.” — Apocryphal Usually said to come from: An interview with Trump in People magazine, 1998 (circulated as an image since at least 2015). — Snopes (rating False, 28 January 2024, which quotes the wording above and cites earlier checks in 2015 and 2020) found no evidence Trump said it. People magazine told FactCheck.org it had no record of any such interview and no 1998 interview with Trump at all.
- > “Those shitholes send us the people that they don't want.” — Unverifiable Usually said to come from: Account by Sen. Dick Durbin, 12 January 2018, of what Trump said at a 11 January 2018 White House meeting on immigration. — The meeting was private and not recorded. Trump denied the wording in posts on 12 and 15 January 2018; Sens. Perdue and Cotton and Secretary Nielsen did not recall the word. FactCheck.org (11 December 2025) reports that on 9 December 2025 Trump described the meeting himself, saying he asked "why is it we only take people from shithole countries": that 2025 speech is published as its own entry, but the 2018 wording is not verified.