Donald Trump is the 45th and 47th president of the United States. Before entering national politics, he worked in real estate development and entertainment.
DI has documented statements by Donald Trump on 2026 Midterm Elections, Antisemitism, and Artificial Intelligence, among other topics. Read the quotations, original sources and related cases below.
The Republican midterm convention in Dallas lowered Paxton's poll numbers and those of other Republicans.
“But I can tell you that the convention was amazing, as you probably know.”
Open source (opens in a new tab)Trump deflects on leaked audio of Ken Paxton calling Texas midterm convention a drag on his poll numbers · CBS NewsFull article
Why we used this label
The reference point is Paxton's recorded remark that the Dallas midterm convention "dropped our numbers." Trump says he "hadn't heard that" and describes the convention as "amazing" and helpful to other candidates, so we labeled it Challenged characterization. The closest competing label is Denied; it loses because he does not say Paxton's numbers did not drop.
A contemporaneous pool report records Trump defending self-regulation and saying the DOJ and FBI already provide regulation.
“Well, there's a belief that there should be tremendous self-regulation. And we automatically have regulation with the Department of Justice, the FBI, and all of that. But the self-regulation is very important.”
The case examines Washington's current approach to frontier-AI safeguards. Trump defends reliance on company self-regulation and existing federal authorities. Support for the present approach is the defense being recorded.
Role at the time: President of the United States, speaking to reporters outside the White House
Defended or excused
Statement summary
Asked by MS NOW's Akayla Gardner whether he only wanted outlets that support him in the White House press pool and whether he wanted tough questions, Trump said he wanted "real news, not fake news," told her to "be quiet," and called her network fake news.
“No, no, no. I want real news, not fake news — like you. I want- Listen. I want real news. I love an open, free press. What I don't like is the fake… Wait, wait, be quiet. What I don't like is fake news. And they're fake news.”
Open source (opens in a new tab)MEAWW: Trump tells MS NOW reporter to 'be quiet' amid questions over press pool banParagraphs quoting Trump's exchange with MS NOW's Akayla Gardner
Why we used this label
Relative to Trump's decision to exclude CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House access because of their coverage, he responds to a question about that policy by saying he wants only "real news" and calling MS NOW fake news, defending the basis for the exclusion. We labeled it Defended or excused.
Trump administration officials discussed or considered affixing Donald Trump's name, in some unspecified way, to Ford's Theatre or the Ford's Theatre National Historic Site.
“want to affix my name to Ford's Theatre, in Washington, D.C., where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, is a ridiculous lie.”
Read the official statement (opens in a new tab)Donald Trump denies Ford's Theatre naming report · Donald TrumpTruth Social post 117323155721195611, published September 23, 2026 at 8:21 p.m. EDT
Why we used this label
The case reference point is the reported occurrence of an internal Ford's Theatre naming discussion. Trump calls the report a lie and denies that he or the White House wants his name attached to the theater. This is a denial, although Cheung's statement more directly addresses whether a discussion occurred.
Role at the time: President of the United States, posting on Truth Social
Defended or excused
Statement summary
Hours after confronting CNN's Kaitlan Collins at the United Nations and telling her "You shouldn't be here," Trump posted on Truth Social calling her a "SLEAZEBAG" and a "Third Rate 'Reporter,'" saying she and CNN have a "TRUMP" addiction, and calling them "sick, treasonous, and demented." In the same post he described the judge set to hear the outlets' case the next day as "totally disloyal."
“All of the SLEAZEBAGS, like Third Rate "Reporter," Kaitlan Collins, of Fake News CNN, a truly unhappy person, said they weren't going to be covering me. Then why were they ranting and raving like Lunatics, in the Press Area, at the United Nations? Why was she there? She's got a "TRUMP" addiction, and so does CNN and MSDNC. They're all sick, treasonous, and demented!”
Read the original text (opens in a new tab)Donald J. Trump Truth Social post calling Kaitlan Collins and other reporters "SLEAZEBAGS" · Donald TrumpTruth Social, @realDonaldTrump, Sept. 22, 2026, 11:53 PM ET
Why we used this label
Trump continues to justify excluding CNN by attacking Collins's conduct and CNN's coverage directly, treating her presence and questions at the United Nations as further proof the outlets deserve exclusion, consistent with his earlier defenses of the ban rather than any softening or denial of the underlying dispute.
Role at the time: President of the United States, addressing the U.N. General Assembly
Defended or excused
Statement summary
Trump told the U.N. General Assembly that cartels are "enemies at war with civilization" who "should be killed, exiled, or detained as enemy combatants" and that the United States "has carried out dozens of strikes on cartel drug boats".
“The cartels are the ISIS of the Western Hemisphere, not good people. They're enemies at war with civilization, using murder, rape, torture, and extortion as instruments of terror.
…
they should be killed, exiled, or detained as enemy combatants without the possibility of release, which is what we're doing. To that end, the United States has carried out dozens of strikes on cartel drug boats, destroying 97% of the drugs coming into the ocean and sea.”
Read the original post (opens in a new tab)President Trump remarks on cartels and drug boats at the U.N. General Assembly, September 22, 2026 (Rapid Response 47 clip)86-second clip of the passage on cartels and drug boats
Why we used this label
Measured against the strikes and their stated basis, Trump treats the cartels as enemies at war with the United States and presents the boat strikes as part of that approach and as effective, which defends them.
Role at the time: President of the United States, addressing the 81st UN General Assembly
Defended or excused
Statement summary
President Trump told the UN General Assembly that his administration is seeking a fundamental change in Cuba, called Cuba an absolutely failed state, and said its government will fall. He said Secretary of State Marco Rubio is deep into negotiations with Cuba and that the United States will not allow a haven for foreign adversaries on its doorstep.
“My administration is also seeking a fundamental change in the situation in Cuba, where the communist regime is under great pressure, the biggest pressure they've ever been under. It's an absolutely failed state. It's failing like never before, and it will fall.”
Role at the time: President of the United States, speaking to reporters at the United Nations
Defended or excused
Statement summary
Before addressing the UN General Assembly, President Trump told CNN's Kaitlan Collins he was surprised CNN was covering him and that she should not be there covering him, saying CNN had said it would not cover him. Collins replied that the United Nations allowed CNN in, and later said CNN never said it would stop covering the president.
“You should not be here covering me. You said you weren't going to cover me.”
Open source (opens in a new tab)Trump snaps at CNN at United Nations: 'You should not be here covering me' · CNBCParagraphs quoting Trump's exchange with Kaitlan Collins at the United Nations, Sept. 22, 2026
Why we used this label
Relative to Trump's decision to exclude CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House access because of their coverage, Trump tells CNN's correspondent she should not be covering him, which defends treating the outlet as one that should not have access to him. We labeled it Defended or excused.
The White House says waiving the Graham Act's Russia measures preserves room for peace negotiations. Lawmakers from both parties and Volodymyr Zelenskyy say relief weakens pressure on Russia. Thomas Massie welcomes Trump's use of the authority Congress granted.
Musk says Washington controls Starshield limits. Dixon argues SpaceX still bears responsibility. Ukrainian officials and U.S. lawmakers criticize the October restrictions and seek answers about who authorized them.
Two groups asked the Office of Special Counsel to investigate whether Brendan Carr, Doug Burgum and Howard Lutnick violated the Hatch Act by discussing their agencies' work at an October 13 rally for Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska.
A watchdog seeks a California bar investigation into Katie Zacharia's public lawyer claims and work for Fix California. Zacharia defends her credentials. The complaint asks regulators to investigate; it does not establish a violation.
Omar calls the search of her home an attempt to target political enemies. The Justice Department says agents executed a judicially authorized warrant in an ongoing criminal investigation. A watchdog group asked the Office of Special Counsel to examine the timing under the Hatch Act.
After Trump announced an energy truce, Ukraine resumed strikes on Russian refineries, saying Moscow ignored it. Steve Cortes said Zelenskyy appears intent on raising U.S. fuel prices to help Democrats; Rep. Don Bacon called Cortes a Putin stooge.
Trump told reporters on October 10 that it was time for Ukraine to get a new president, saying Zelenskyy could have settled the war many times. Kyiv's foreign minister said Ukrainians will decide; Elon Musk and the Kremlin's spokesman sided with Trump.
Trump said Russia would supply millions of tons of diesel after a call with Putin, and Treasury authorized Russian diesel imports until April 2027. Zelenskyy and lawmakers in both parties objected.
The Park Service cut about 430 trees at East Potomac Golf Course after a late Friday notice. Judge Ana Reyes barred further removal and refused a government request that she step aside. Trump attacked the judge and said work would begin.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised Navi Pillay's work for international justice. UN Watch condemned the award, alleging that her record on Israel and antisemitism disqualified her.
Pete Hegseth confirms plans to livestream Nidal Hasan's execution. Betty McCollum calls for stopping the public spectacle, while Alyssa Farah Griffin opposes the broadcast despite supporting capital punishment.
An ICE officer shot a man in a car in Marble Hill on October 8. DHS calls it a targeted arrest and had not said by October 9 why the officer fired. Mamdani says early reports indicate agents surrounded the man and child before firing.
