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Donald J. Trump Quotes
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Donald John Trump is the 45th and current President of the United States, in office since January 20, 2017. Before entering politics, he was a businessman and television personality.

Trump was born in the New York City borough of Queens. He earned an economics degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. A third-generation businessman, Trump followed in the footsteps of his grandmother Elizabeth and father Fred in running the family real estate company. He served as chairman and president of The Trump Organization from 1971 until his inauguration as president in January 2017, when he delegated company management to his sons Donald Jr. and Eric. Trump's business career primarily focused on building or renovating office towers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses.

Trump also started several side ventures and branded various products with his name. He is credited as having written or co-written several books , and produced and hosted The Apprentice television series for 12 years. As of 2017, he was the 544th richest person in the world, with an estimated net worth of $3.5 billion.

Trump had long expressed interest in politics. He entered the 2016 presidential race as a Republican and defeated sixteen opponents in the primaries. Commentators described his political positions as populist, protectionist, and nationalist. His campaign received extensive free media coverage; many of his public statements were controversial or false. Trump won the general election on November 8, 2016, in a surprise victory against Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. He became the oldest and wealthiest person ever to assume the presidency, the first without prior military or government service, and the fifth to have won the election despite losing the popular vote. His election and policies have sparked numerous protests.

In domestic policy, Trump has unsuccessfully attempted to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. He appointed Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. He ordered a travel ban on citizens from six Muslim-majority countries, citing security concerns; the ban was partially implemented after several legal challenges. In foreign policy, he withdrew the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Paris Climate Agreement, undid parts of the Cuban Thaw, and ordered missile strikes in Syria in response to the Khan Shaykhun chemical attack. After Trump dismissed FBI Director James Comey, the Justice Department appointed Comey's predecessor Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate Russia's interference in the presidential election, potential links between Russia and Trump campaign associates, and any related matters.

✵ 14. June 1946
Donald J. Trump photo
Donald J. Trump: 904   quotes 25   likes

Donald J. Trump Quotes

“I'm truly honored by your support. Together, we accomplished what nobody thought was absolutely possible and you know what that is and we're only getting started and it's going to be beautiful, remember that. Tonight we close one chapter in history and we begin another. Our campaign received more primary votes than any GOP campaign in history, no matter who it is, no matter who they are, we received more votes. This is a great feeling. That's a great feeling. This is not a testament to me but a testament to all of the people who believed real change, not Obama change, but real change is possible. You've given me the honor to lead the Republican Party to victory this fall.”

Donald J. Trump

Victory speech after winning New Jersey and other states Tuesday night (7 June 2016) – TIME transcript http://time.com/4360872/donald-trump-new-jersey-victory-speech-transcript/
2010s, 2016, June

People , Beauty , Feeling , History

“People think I'm a gambler. I've never gambled in my life. To me, a gambler is someone who plays slot machines. I prefer to own slot machines. It's a very good business being the house.”

Donald J. Trump

Source: 1980s, Trump: The Art of the Deal (1987), p. 48

Life , People , Business , Thinking

“Now, if your boss is a sadist, then you have a big problem. In that case, fire your boss and get a new job.”

Donald J. Trump

Trump: How to Get Rich (2004)
2000s

Problem

“How can our great society tolerate the continued brutalization of its citizens by crazed misfits? Criminals must be told that their CIVIL LIBERTIES END WHEN AN ATTACK ON OUR SAFETY BEGINS!”

Donald J. Trump

"Bring Back the Death Penalty. Bring Back Our Police!" http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1838466.1403324800!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_970/trump21n-1-web.jpg An advert taken out by Trump in the New York Daily News and other newspapers in the wake of the arrests of the Central Park Five (whose convictions were eventually vacated once the real perpetrator was identified in 2002) (1 May 1989)
1980s

“Of course I hate these people and let's all hate these people because maybe hate is what we need if we're gonna get something done.”

Donald J. Trump

In 1989 interview http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/07/politics/trump-larry-king-central-park-five/index.html with Larry King, about the Central Park Five (who had, as was later discovered, been wrongfully convicted)
1980s

Hate , People

“I think the regulations are very tough, but I think they could be made tougher. And where they really have to be made tougher is when somebody is proven to be dishonest, not a mistake, not an honest mistake because look, people make bad business deals all the time. When somebody is proven to be dishonest, really harsh punishment has to take place.”

Donald J. Trump

Hardball with Chris Matthews (15 July 2002), as quoted in The World According to Trump (2005) by Ken Lawrence, p. 23
2000s

People , Business , Thinking , Time

“You've been hearing me say it's a rigged system, but now I don't say it anymore because I won. It's true. Now I don't care.”

Donald J. Trump

"Trump: GOP 'rigged,' but I don't care because I won" http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/trump-gop-rigged-but-i-dont-care-because-i-won/article/2590545 by Ryan Lovelace, Washington Examiner (5 May 2016)
2010s, 2016, May

“What we do want to do is we want to bring the country together, because the country is very, very divided, and that's one thing I did see, big league. It's very, very divided, and I'm going to work very hard to bring the country together.”

Donald J. Trump

2010s, 2016, November, New York Times Interview (November 23, 2016)

Country

“I can't believe I'm saying I'm a politician.”

Donald J. Trump

2010s, 2016, August, Speech at rally in Wilmington, North Carolina (August 9, 2016)

“I just wanna thank all of the incredible men and women who have done such a great job in helping with Florence. This is a tough hurricane. One of the wettest we've ever seen from a standpoint of water.”

Donald J. Trump

2010s, 2018, September
Source: Trump Describes Hurricane Florence "Wettest We've Seen From Standpoint Of Water" https://youtube.com/watch?v=RiDpRVqqXfk&t=30

Women , Men , Water , Help

“Our country is in serious trouble. We don't have victories anymore. We used to have victories, but we don't have them. When was the last time anybody saw us beating, let's say, China in a trade deal? They kill us. I beat China all the time. All the time. When did we beat Japan at anything? They send their cars over by the millions, and what do we do? When was the last time you saw a Chevrolet in Tokyo? It doesn't exist, folks. They beat us all the time. When do we beat Mexico at the border? They're laughing at us, at our stupidity. And now they are beating us economically. They are not our friend, believe me. But they're killing us economically. The U. S. has become a dumping ground for everybody else's problems.”

Donald J. Trump

2010s, 2015, Presidential Bid Announcement (June 16, 2015)

Stupidity , Cars , Problem , Time

“They haven't seen anything like what's coming at us in 25, 30 years. Maybe ever. It's tremendously big and tremendously wet. Tremendous amounts of water.”

Donald J. Trump

2010s, 2018, September
Source: Trump Says Hurricane Florence Is 'Tremendously Big And Tremendously Wet' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqHwQhZC8jQ

Water

“Immigration security, we need to protect American jobs. We need to protect American safety. We're going to build a wall folks, don't worry, we're going to build a wall. That wall will go up so fast, your heads will spin. And you'll say, "you know, know he meant it!" And you know what else I mean? Mexico is going to pay for the wall.”

Donald J. Trump

On immigration at a rally in Akron, Ohio (22 August 2016)
2010s, 2016, August

“Reporters at The New York Times are not journalists. They're corporate lobbyists for Carlos Slim and Hillary Clinton.”

Donald J. Trump

2010s, 2016, October

Time

“Am I morally obligated to defend the president every time somebody says something bad or controversial about him? I don't think so!”

Donald J. Trump

2010s, 2015

Thinking , Time

“We're also going to have to change our trade, immigration and economic policies to make our economy strong again. And to put Americans first again. This will ensure that our own workers, right here in America, get the jobs and higher pay that will grow our tax revenues, increase our economic might as a nation.”

Donald J. Trump

2010s, 2016, April, Foreign Policy Speech (27 April 2016)

Strong , Change

“If I'd started in business thinking I knew everything, I'd have been sunk before I started… Never think of learning as being a burden or studying as being boring. It may require some discipline, but it can be an adventure. It can also prepare you for a new beginning.”

Donald J. Trump

Think Like a Champion: An Informal Education In Business and Life (2009), pp. 16–17
2000s, 2009

Business , Thinking , Study , Learning

“Believe me: She [one of the women accusing him of sexual assault] would not be my first choice, that I can tell you.”

Donald J. Trump

at a rally in Greensboro, N.C. http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/14/politics/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-appearance-debate/ Also quoted in Donald Trump's Barrage of Heated Rhetoric Has Little Precedent http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/15/us/politics/trump-speech-highlights.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news (October 14, 2016)
2010s, 2016, October

Women

“The human soul yearns for discovery. By unlocking the mysteries of the universe, we unlock truths within ourselves. That's true. Our journey into space will not only make us stronger and more prosperous, but will unite us behind grand ambitions and bring us all closer together. Wouldn't that be nice? Can you believe that space is going to do that? I thought politics would do that. (Laughter.) Well, we'll have to rely on space instead.”

Donald J. Trump

2010s, 2017, June

Truth , Soul , Laughter , Universe

“When our sailors were captured last week, I said that's one of the saddest things that I have seen when those young people were on their hands and knees in a begging position with their hands up and thugs behind them with guns, and then we talk like it's OK. It's not OK. It's lack of respect. We can't let that happen to this country. It's lack of respect.”

Donald J. Trump

2010s, 2016, January, Speech at (18 January 2016)

People , Country

“The fundamental question of our time is whether the West has the will to survive. Do we have the confidence in our values to defend them at any cost? Do we have enough respect for our citizens to protect our borders? Do we have the desire and the courage to preserve our civilization in the face of those who would subvert and destroy it?”

Donald J. Trump

Remarks by President Trump to the People of Poland https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/07/06/remarks-president-trump-people-poland-july-6-2017 (6 July 2017)
2010s, 2017, July

Confidence , Courage , Question , Time

“There is no global anthem, no global currency, no certificate of global citizenship, we pledge allegiance to one flag and that flag is the American Flag!”

Donald J. Trump

Thank You Tour - Cincinnati, Ohio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBqIUF-cdgY#t=15m38s (01 December 2016)
2010s, 2016, December

“So many young, beautiful, innocent people living and enjoying their lives murdered by evil losers in life, I won't call them monsters because they would like that term. They would think that's a great name. I will call them from now on losers because that's what they are. They're losers. And we'll have more of them. But they're losers—just remember that.”

Donald J. Trump

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/05/trump-manchester-losers/527745/
2010s, 2017, May

Life , People , Beauty , Thinking

“My experience is that if you're fighting for something you believe in—even if it means alienating some people along the way—things usually work out for the best in the end.”

Donald J. Trump

Source: 1980s, Trump: The Art of the Deal (1987), p. 59

People , Way , Fight

“Bye bye. Look, see? He's smiling. See, he's having a good time. Oh, I love the old days, you know? You know what I hate? There's a guy, totally disruptive, throwing punches, we're not allowed to punch back anymore. I love the old days. You know what they used to do to guys like that when they were in a place like this? They'd be carried out on a stretcher, folks. You know, I love our police, and I really respect our police, and they're not getting enough. They're not. Honestly, I hate to see that. Here's a guy, throwing punches, nasty as hell, screaming at everything else when we're talking, and he's walking out, and we're not allowed -- you know, the guards are very gentle with him, he's walking out, like, big high fives, smiling, laughing -- I'd like to punch him in the face, I'll tell you.”

Donald J. Trump

At a rally in Las Vegas http://www.weeklystandard.com/protester-would-be-carried-out-on-a-stretcher-in-the-old-days-trump-reminisces/article/2001211 (22 February 2016)
2010s, 2016, February

Love , Hate , Smile , Guy

“"I want five children, like in my own family, because with five, then I will know that one will be guaranteed to turn out like me," Donald told a close friend.”

Donald J. Trump

'After the Gold Rush', in Vanity Fair, by Marie Brenner, September 1, 1990
1990s

Children , Family

“Racism is evil -- and those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other hate groups are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans. Those who spread violence in the name of bigotry strike at the very core of America. As a candidate I promised to restore law and order to our country and our federal law enforcement agencies are following through on that pledge. We will spare no resource in fighting so that every American child can grow up free from violence and fear. We will defend and protect the sacred rights of all Americans and we will work together so that every citizen in this blessed land is free to follow their dreams, in their hearts, and to express the love and joy in our souls.”

Donald J. Trump

Subsequent statement regarding the violence at a far-right Charlottesville, VA rally held on August 11-12, 2017; Trump calls KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists 'repugnant' http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/14/politics/trump-condemns-charlottesville-attackers/index.html (14 August 2017)
2010s, 2017, August

Love , Hate , Fear , Law

“The immigration laws of the United States give the president powers to suspend entry into the country of any class of persons. Now, any class — it really is determined and to be determined by the president for the interests of the United States. And it's as he or she deems appropriate. Hopefully it's he in this case.”

Donald J. Trump

2010s, 2016, June, Speech about the Orlando Shooting (June 13, 2016)

Law , Personality , Country

“So when you [Hillary Clinton] tried to act holier than thou, it really doesn't work. It really doesn't.”

Donald J. Trump

2010s, 2016, September, First presidential debate (September 26, 2016)

“Our country's really in bad, big trouble. We have a lot of trouble. A lot of problems. And one of the big problems, I talk about, divisiveness. I think that a lot of people will appreciate … I'm not doing it for that reason. I'm doing it because it's time to go in a different direction.”

Donald J. Trump

2010s, 2016, November, New York Times Interview (November 23, 2016)

People , Problem , Thinking , Time

“I would certainly implement that. Absolutely… There should be a lot of systems, beyond databases. We should have a lot of systems… They have to be. They have to be… It's all about management.”

Donald J. Trump

As quoted in "Donald Trump Says He Supports a Database and ID Cards to Track Muslims in the U.S.: 'We're Going to Have to Look at the Mosques'" http://www.people.com/article/donald-trump-muslim-database-syrian-refugees (20 November 2015), by Char Adams, People.
2010s, 2015

“Martha Raddatz: …you, Secretary Clinton, purportedly say you need both a public and private position on certain issues….
Clinton: As I recall, that was something I said about Abraham Lincoln after having seen the wonderful Steven Spielberg movie …
Trump: Now she's blaming the lie on the late, great Abraham Lincoln. That's one that I haven't… OK, Honest Abe, Honest Abe never lied. That's the good thing. That's the big difference between Abraham Lincoln and you. That's a big, big difference. We're talking about some difference.”

Donald J. Trump

2010s, 2016, October, Second presidential debate (October 9, 2016)

Lie

“Hillary Clinton: …it's just awfully good that someone with the temperament of Donald Trump is not in charge of the law in our country.
Donald Trump: Because you'd be in jail.”

Donald J. Trump

2010s, 2016, October, Second presidential debate (October 9, 2016)

Law , Country

“We must break free from the petty politics of the past.”

Donald J. Trump

2010s, 2016, July, (21 July 2016)

Past

“Some people have an ability to negotiate. It's an art you're basically born with. You either have it or you don't.”

Donald J. Trump

1980s

People , Art

“Our enemies probably know every single one [of Clinton's deleted emails]. So they probably now have a blackmail file.. . . We can't hand over our government to someone whose deepest, darkest secrets may be in the hands of our enemies. Can't do it.”

Donald J. Trump

June 22, 2016, speech, quoted in Nobody brings the crazy quite like Trump http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/nobody-brings-the-crazy-quite-like-trump/2016/06/22/74ba5692-38bd-11e6-9ccd-d6005beac8b3_story.html?utm_term=.8ca4d5443e7b Dana Milbank, Washington Post, June 22, 2016
2010s, 2016, June

Secret

“The only people who are not interested in being the V. P. pick are the people who have not been asked!”

Donald J. Trump

Tweet on Twitter (4 July 2016)
2010s, 2016, July

People

“Corporate inversion, they're leaving the United States, we have almost $5 trillion sitting out there, where they can't get the money back, they can't bring it in because there's no mechanism to bring it back in and the tax is so high. I'm going to bring tremendous amounts of money, tremendous amounts of jobs, tremendous numbers of companies, and yes the tax is going to be cut from the highest tax nation anywhere in the world to a fairly low tax. Not the lowest in the world, but to a fairly low tax.”

Donald J. Trump

2010s, 2016, June

Money , World

“So the Reform Party now includes a Klansman, Mr. Duke, a neo-Nazi, Mr. Buchanan, and a communist, Ms. Fulani. This is not company I wish to keep.”

Donald J. Trump

As quoted in [14 February 2000, QUOTATION OF THE DAY, http://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/14/nyregion/quotation-of-the-day-815233.html, The New York Times]
2000s

“The job of a public official is to serve and protect the citizens of the United States. Not illegal immigrants, not foreign nationals seeking entry, but the people living here lawfully today — including millions of African-American and Hispanic citizens.”

Donald J. Trump

2010s, 2016, August, Speech in Jackson, Mississippi (August 24, 2016)

People

“But you look at the nuclear deal, the thing that really bothers me—it would have been so easy, and it's not as important as these lives are (nuclear is powerful; my uncle explained that to me many, many years ago, the power and that was 35 years ago; he would explain the power of what's going to happen and he was right—who would have thought?), but when you look at what's going on with the four prisoners—now it used to be three, now it's four—but when it was three and even now, I would have said it's all in the messenger; fellas, and it is fellas because, you know, they don't, they haven't figured that the women are smarter right now than the men, so, you know, it's gonna take them about another 150 years—but the Persians are great negotiators, the Iranians are great negotiators, so, and they, they just killed, they just killed us.”

Donald J. Trump

2015-07-21
Speech in Sun City, South Carolina
Slate
http://www.slate.com/blogs/lexicon_valley/2015/07/31/donald_trump_this_run_on_sentence_from_a_speech_in_sun_city_south_carolina.html
2010s, 2015

Women , Men

“Reporter: Would a reasonable observer say that you are potentially vulnerable to blackmail by Russia or by its intelligence agencies?
Trump: Lemme just tell you what I do. When I leave our country, I’m a very high-profile person, would you say? I am extremely careful. I’m surrounded by bodyguards. I’m surrounded by people. And I always tell them — anywhere, but I always tell them if I’m leaving this country, “Be very careful, because in your hotel rooms and no matter where you go, you’re gonna probably have cameras.” I’m not referring just to Russia, but I would certainly put them in that category. And number one, “I hope you’re gonna be good anyway. But in those rooms, you have cameras in the strangest places. Cameras that are so small with modern technology, you can’t see them and you won’t know. You better be careful, or you’ll be watching yourself on nightly television.” I tell this to people all the time. I was in Russia years ago, with the Miss Universe contest, which did very well — Moscow, the Moscow area did very, very well. And I told many people, “Be careful, because you don’t wanna see yourself on television. Cameras all over the place.”
And again, not just Russia, all over. Does anyone really believe that story? I’m also very much of a germaphobe, by the way, believe me.”

Donald J. Trump

Trump Press Conference at Trump Tower https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/11/us/politics/trump-press-conference-transcript.html,Donald (11 January 2017)
2010s, 2017, January

People , Hope , Way , Intelligence

“Hillary and President Obama refused to use the term radical Islamic terrorism. Big problem. Big problem. Hillary wants to release violent criminals and criminal offenders from prison, that's wonderful, enjoy yourselves. I want to work with our police. Our police are so incredible, they're not getting the respect they deserve.”

Donald J. Trump

2010s, 2016, August, Speech at rally in Wilmington, North Carolina (August 9, 2016)

Problem

“I'm on the conservative side, but [Pat] Buchanan is Attila the Hun.”

Donald J. Trump

As quoted in Selected Quotes from Newsweek Magazine, 1999 — Richard Watanabe - Newsweek Quotes, 1999, Sph.umich.edu, 2010-06-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20001015150910/http://www.sph.umich.edu/~rwatt/old_nw3.htm,
1990s

“Donald Trump (clip): I have people that actually have been studying it and they cannot believe what they're finding.
Meredith Vieira (clip): You have people now, down there searching—
Trump (clip): Absolutely.
Vieira (clip): I mean, in Hawaii?
Trump (clip): Absolutely. And they cannot believe what they're finding.
Wolf Blitzer: All right, tell us what your people who were investigating in Hawaii, what they found.
Trump: Oh, we don't have to go into old news. That's old news.
Blitzer: Well, what did they find?
Trump: There's been plenty found. You can call many people. You can read many, many articles on the authenticity of the certificate. You can read many articles from just recently as to what the publisher printed in a brochure as to what Obama told him, as to where his place of birth is. And that's fine, Wolf.
Now, it's appropriate, I think, that we get to the subject of hand, which is — at hand, which is jobs, which is the economy, which is how our country is not doing well at all under this leadership, which is how are we going to do something about energy, which is really that things that I wanted to talk to you about, but you like to keep going back to the place of birth.”

Donald J. Trump

The Situation Room
CNN
2012-05-29, quoted in * 2012-05-29
Wolf Blitzer Spars With Donald Trump Over Obama's Birth Certificate
Elizabeth Flock
US News & World Report
http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2012/05/29/wolf-blitzer-spars-with-donald-trump-over-obamas-birth-certificate
Referring to a 1991 promotional booklet by literary agency Acton & Dystel with bios of 89 authors, that erroneously described Barack Obama as "born in Kenya". http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/birthers/booklet.asp
2010s, 2012

People , Search , Birth , Thinking

“The fact is all lives matter. That includes black, and it includes white, and it includes everybody else. And we have… Democrats that are afraid to even say that.”

Donald J. Trump

As quoted in * 2015-09-09
Donald Trump trashes Black Lives Matter: 'I think they're trouble'
Colin Campbell
Business Insider
http://uk.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-black-lives-matter-2015-9?r=US&IR=T
2010s, 2015

“All of the people telling you that you can't have the country you want, are the same people telling you that I wouldn't be standing here tonight. No longer can we rely on those elites in media, and politics, who will say anything to keep a rigged system in place.”

Donald J. Trump

2010s, 2016, July, 2016 Republican National Convention (21 July 2016)

People , Country

“I'm in first place. I said when you're in first place, you discuss polls.”

Donald J. Trump

2010s, 2016, January, Speech at (18 January 2016)

“North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the “Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.” Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!”

Donald J. Trump

Tweet by @realDonaldTrump https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/948355557022420992 (2 January 2018)
2010s, 2018, January

Food , Time

“Last quarter, it was just announced our gross domestic product — a sign of strength, right? But not for us. It was below zero. Whoever heard of this? It's never below zero.”

Donald J. Trump

2010s, 2015, Presidential Bid Announcement (June 16, 2015)