3:50
- ABC News
- Donald Trump
- January 20, 2021
How Trump weaponized mistruths
Trump has riddled his presidency with false and misleading statements.
Video by Jessie DiMartino
3:50
Trump also repeatedly spread misinformation about coronavirus testing, masks, unproven treatments -- once claiming that injecting bleach might treat the virus before saying later he was being \"sarcastic\" -- while attacking public health experts along the way who disputed his view that the virus wasn't just going to \"disappear.\"
\"I think Trump understands the facts about how bad COVID is and probably knows masks work, but he is always appealing to his base,\" said Erikson. \"What Trump always does -- and what ordinary politicians do to not do -- is always appealing to his base rather than expanding his base, and the virus didn't fall in line with them.\"
A year into the crisis, more than 400,000 Americans have died from COVID-19.
TRUMP: 'We had the biggest audience in the history of inaugural speeches.'
TRUTH: Photos from previous inaugurations tell a different story.
The Trump administration kicked off with the lie mocked around the world when Trump used his first full day in office in 2017 to excoriate a media report that estimated the crowd size of his inauguration at 250,000 attendees as a \"lie\" and instead, to insist he saw at least one million people.
\"We had a massive field of people, you saw that. Packed,\" Trump said in a speech at the Central Intelligence Agency. \"I get up this morning, I turn on one of the networks and they show ... an empty field. I said, wait a minute, I made a speech! I looked out, the field was ... it looked like a million, a million-and-a-half people.\"
Later that day, he dispatched White House press secretary Sean Spicer, in Spicer's first briefing room appearance, to claim \"the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration -- period -- both in person and around the globe.\"
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/Politics/trump-inauuration-02-ap-iwb-210119_1611083020701_hpEmbed_3x2_384.jpg\")
Spicer did not provide evidence and acknowledged the National Park Service in 1995 stopped tallying crowd size on the National Mall. He instead offered varied explanations for why photos made it appear as if the crowd was smaller than the \"massive\" one Trump pushed. (This was described by then-senior counselor Kellyanne Conway as providing the media with \"alternative facts.\")
PolitiFact, a nonprofit project operated by the Poynter Institute, estimates Trump's inauguration saw between 250,000 and 600,000 attendees. Nielsen, which records the U.S. live television viewing figures, said an estimated 31 million people tuned in to watch the 2017 inauguration, about 19% lower than the number who watched Obama's 2009 inauguration.
But the lie, made apparent by photos and footage, set the tone for a White House which would come to often contradict fact.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/Politics/GTY-RT-obama-trump-inauguration-jef-170120_4x3t_384.jpg\")
In Trump's first interview as president, presented with his priorities in his first days of office, told ABC News he \"won't allow\" anyone to \"demean me unfairly, because we had a massive crowd of people.\"
\"I looked over that sea of people, and I said to myself, 'wow', and I've seen crowds before. Big, big crowds. That was some crowd,\" Trump said. \"We had the biggest audience in the history of inaugural speeches.\"
Pres. Trump 'won't allow' anyone to demean people in Inauguration crowd. \"We had the biggest audience in the history of inaugural speeches.\" pic.twitter.com/Rt1c2f4Y9U
— ABC News (@ABC) January 26, 2017
\"They were showing pictures that were very unflattering, as unflattering -- from certain angles -- that were taken early and lots of other things,\" he added, maintaining his position, despite having no clear-cut evidence.
TRUMP: Alabama 'will most likely be hit' from Hurricane Dorian.
TRUTH: Alabama was not in the storm's line, federal officials said.
In Sept. 2019, as Hurricane Dorian barreled toward Florida and Georgia, Trump tweeted that Alabama was one of the states at great risk from the storm's wrath, saying it \"will most likely be hit (much) harder than anticipated.\"
After Alabamians, and beyond, on Twitter went into a frenzy, the National Weather Service office in Birmingham soon tweeted that Alabama was not in the line of the storm.
Alabama will NOT see any impacts from #Dorian. We repeat, no impacts from Hurricane #Dorian will be felt across Alabama. The system will remain too far east. #alwx
— NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) September 1, 2019
But Trump, unwilling to admit the error, attempted to prove that his incorrect Alabama tweet was actually correct. After drawing widespread criticism for his inaccurate warning, Trump held up a map in an Oval Office briefing on Dorian that appeared to have a line drawn on it in black making it seem as if he had been right all along.
The event would later be known on social media as \"Sharpiegate.\"
The map Trump displayed had one addition not on the one disseminated by the National Hurricane Center: what appeared to be a drawn-on semicircle appended to the \"cone of uncertainty\" showing the hurricane's potential projected impact -- extending the cone into Alabama.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/donald-trump-dorian-01-rtr-jc-190904_hpEmbed_3x2_384.jpg\")
Hours after the Wednesday Dorian briefing, Trump denied knowing how or why the map had been altered when asked if he could explain how the change was made, saying. \"No, I just know, yeah. I know that Alabama was in the original forecast.\" White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley tweeted Wednesday night that the line was, in fact, from a black Sharpie, and he criticized the media for focusing on it.
Almost a week later, the National Weather Service's parent organization, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also weighed in, disputing the earlier tweet and siding with Trump in an unsigned statement.
But many experts, including a former director of the National Hurricane Center, took the side of Birmingham forecasters on social media and called the parent statement was \"so disappointing,\" -- illustrating how Trump's falsehoods eroded the credibility of the institutions around him, too.
\"Either NOAA Leadership truly agrees with what they posted or they were ordered to do it,\" Bill Read wrote on Facebook. \"If it is the former, the statement shows a lack of understanding of how to use probabilistic forecasts in conjunction with other forecast information. Embarrassing. If it is the latter, the statement shows a lack of courage on their part by not supporting the people in the field who are actually doing the work. Heartbreaking.\"
As with most of Trump's false or misleading statements, enabled by the power of the presidency and his allies, \"Sharpiegate,\" too, appeared to blow over.
ABC News' Ben Gittleson, Jordyn Phelps and Meg Cunningham contributed to this report.
","canonicalUrl":"https://abcnews.com/Politics/legacy-lies-trump-weaponized-mistruths-presidency/story?id=75335019","legacySlug":"/news/story/legacy-lies-trump-weaponized-mistruths-presidency-75335019","noIndexNoFollow":false},"publishTime":"10:14","publishDate":"01-20-2021","updatedTime":"10:21","updatedDate":"01-20-2021","socialImage":{"alt":"President Donald Trump speaks at \"Save America March\" rally in Washington D.C., Jan. 06, 2021.","credit":"Anadolu Agency via Getty Images, FILE","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Politics/president-donald-trump-washington-riot-01-gty-llr-210119_1611103647738_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg","width":992,"height":558},"datePublished":"1/20/2021 10:14:57 GMT","video":{"live":false,"id":75335019,"headline":"How Trump weaponized mistruths","mediaAssetTitle":"TRUMP HISTORY OF FALSEHOODS","description":"Trump has riddled his presidency with false and misleading statements. ","duration":"3:50","posterImg":{"url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","width":608,"height":342},"video":{"feed":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2021/01/210117_vod_trumplegacy3_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"},"playlist":["132055565","131830882","130993584"]},"relatedItems":[{"contentType":"video","date":"April 15, 2026","headline":"American influencer found dead in Tanzania","section":"News","slug":"/video/132055565","id":"132055565","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: American influencer found dead in Tanzania","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: American influencer found dead in Tanzania","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"April 8, 2026","headline":"Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","section":"News","slug":"/video/131830882","id":"131830882","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"March 12, 2026","headline":"Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","section":"News","slug":"/video/130993584","id":"130993584","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}}],"relatedContentSection":"news","schemaContent":{"name":"How Trump weaponized mistruths","description":"Trump has riddled his presidency with false and misleading statements. ","duration":"3:50","uploadDate":"01-20-2021","publication":"01-20-2021","images":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","url":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2021/01/210117_vod_trumplegacy3_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","contentUrl":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2021/01/210117_vod_trumplegacy3_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","link":"https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/legacy-lies-trump-weaponized-mistruths-presidency-75335019"}},"playlist":[{"id":"132054443","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132054798","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132033010","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131912713","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131830583","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131834976","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554765","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554815","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131543053","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131432442","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131121474","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131247079","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131228784","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131178806","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131142257","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131046664","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131048076","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131033212","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"130999943","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"130971027","contentType":"story","section":"news"}],"kvps":{"pgtyp":"article","lang":"en","sp":"goodmorningamerica","programmatic":"true","bundleId":"com.abcnews"}},"analytics":{"accountID":"wdgnewwdgnewgmaweb","ns":"gma","pageName":"gma:news:video","pageType":"video","globalSpecVersion":"v1.08","siteDifferentiator":"gma:site","tagID":"g_page01","userABCookie":"0","section":"news","title":"How Trump weaponized mistruths","pubTime":"05:14","pubDate":"01-20-2021","modTime":"05:21","modDate":"01-20-2021","taxonomyTags":"none","id":75335019,"editorialOtherSubjects":"","wordCount":"none","columns":"none","authors":"Jessie DiMartino ","authorsUnit":"none","authorsBureau":"none","subBrand":"Good Morning America","provider":"Good Morning America","videoName":"How Trump weaponized mistruths","mediaAssetTitle":"TRUMP HISTORY OF FALSEHOODS","videoId":75335019,"mediaOnPage":"video","legacySlug":"/news/story/legacy-lies-trump-weaponized-mistruths-presidency-75335019"},"taboola":{}},"request":{"headers":{},"httpVersion":"1.1","method":"GET","url":"/video/75335019","vary":{"host":"www.goodmorningamerica.com","cached":true,"path":"/video/75335019","forwarded-proto":"https","device":"desktop","userab":"0"}},"viewport":{"width":1260,"height":0},"user":{}};