The Ever-Growing List of Trump’s Most Racist Rants

The president’s remarks about Black protesters and coronavirus during a campaign rally in Tulsa are just the latest examples

President Donald Trump answers questions before boarding Marine One while departing the White House on October 10, 2019 in Washington, DC. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Donald Trump has claimed he is the “least racist person there is anywhere in the world.” Like many things the president says, nothing could be further from the truth. Trump regularly makes racist comments and deploys bigotry as a divisive political weapon.

Trump’s racism long predates his foray into politics. Before he ever launched a presidential bid, Trump had exhibited a pattern of discrimination toward his Black tenants, called for draconian punitive measures in the Central Park Five case, and made a public show of questioning Barack Obama’s citizenship.

But the political spotlight — and a rabid base — has only made Trump’s incendiary rhetoric grow worse. Ahead, we look at the most racist things he’s said since he officially began his political career in the summer of 2015.

(Editor’s Note: This list will be updated as Trump makes other bigoted remarks.)

On immigrants

July 2015: Trump falsely claimed that migrants bring diseases into the United States. “Tremendous infectious disease is pouring across the border,” Trump said in a statement. “The United States has become a dumping ground for Mexico and, in fact, for many other parts of the world.”

June 2017: During a meeting to talk about U.S. visas, Trump said that people from Haiti “all have AIDS” and that Nigerian immigrants would never “go back to their huts” after experiencing the United States.

January 2018: At a bipartisan meeting discussing protections for immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador, and African countries, Trump asked: “Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” He then suggested the United States should accept more immigrants from countries such as Norway.

May 2018: Trump called undocumented immigrants “animals” at a meeting with reporters in the White House. “You wouldn’t believe how bad these people are,” he said. “These aren’t people, these are animals.”