After calling the Duchess of Sussex “nasty” days before his first state visit to the United Kingdom, President Donald Trump lied on Sunday by claiming he never used the word, a denial that was quickly and easily refuted by an audio recording.
Not only did he call Meghan Markle “nasty,” he has used the same insult before and since to attack dozens of other rivals — and even a popular lingerie company.
I never called Meghan Markle “nasty.” Made up by the Fake News Media, and they got caught cold! Will @CNN, @nytimes and others apologize? Doubt it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 2, 2019
Mere hours after denying he used the word, Trump attacked the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, calling him “nasty,” with the word in quotes.
.@SadiqKhan, who by all accounts has done a terrible job as Mayor of London, has been foolishly “nasty” to the visiting President of the United States, by far the most important ally of the United Kingdom. He is a stone cold loser who should focus on crime in London, not me……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2019
Trump most famously used the insult to dismiss his 2016 presidential election opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, in their final debate. After she joked about his record of tax avoidance, he interrupted her to say, “such a nasty woman.”
But he has hardly reserved the term for Democrats. Indeed, since he joined Twitter in March 2009, he has used the line at least 17 other times to dismiss those he disagreed with.
1. The Media
Those that worked with me in this incredible Midterm Election, embracing certain policies and principles, did very well. Those that did not, say goodbye! Yesterday was such a very Big Win, and all under the pressure of a Nasty and Hostile Media!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2018
2. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Crooked H is nasty to Sanders supporters behind closed doors. Owned by Wall St and Politicians, HRC is not with you. https://t.co/WN1lyCDXla
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 1, 2016
3. Special counsel Robert Mueller
Is Robert Mueller ever going to release his conflicts of interest with respect to President Trump, including the fact that we had a very nasty & contentious business relationship, I turned him down to head the FBI (one day before appointment as S.C.) & Comey is his close friend..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2018
4. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Pocahontas is at it again! Goofy Elizabeth Warren, one of the least productive U.S. Senators, has a nasty mouth. Hope she is V.P. choice.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 10, 2016
5. San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz
The Mayor of San Juan, who was very complimentary only a few days ago, has now been told by the Democrats that you must be nasty to Trump.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2017
6. CNN’s David Gregory
.@DavidGregory got thrown off of TV by NBC, fired like a dog! Now he is on @CNN being nasty to me. Not nice!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 30, 2016
7. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Lindsey Graham is all over T.V., much like failed 47% candidate Mitt Romney. These nasty, angry, jealous failures have ZERO credibility!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 7, 2016
Failed presidential candidate Lindsey Graham should respect me. I destroyed his run, brought him from 7% to 0% when he got out. Now nasty!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 7, 2016
8. The Club for Growth
Phony Club For Growth tried to shake me down for one million dollars, & is now putting out nasty negative ads on me. They are total losers!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 9, 2016
When I intelligently turned down The Club For Growth crazy request for $1,000,000, they got nasty.What a waste of money that would have been
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 2, 2015
9. His own handpicked director of communications for the Office of Public Liaison, Omarosa Manigault Newman
Wacky Omarosa, who got fired 3 times on the Apprentice, now got fired for the last time. She never made it, never will. She begged me for a job, tears in her eyes, I said Ok. People in the White House hated her. She was vicious, but not smart. I would rarely see her but heard….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 13, 2018
…really bad things. Nasty to people & would constantly miss meetings & work. When Gen. Kelly came on board he told me she was a loser & nothing but problems. I told him to try working it out, if possible, because she only said GREAT things about me – until she got fired!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 13, 2018
10. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Have a good chance to win Texas on Tuesday. Cruz is a nasty guy, not one Senate endorsement and, despite talk, gets nothing done. Loser!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 26, 2016
Nasty Ted Cruz is at it again- same dirty tricks he used w/ @RealBenCarson– saying I may not be on ballot & I hold liberal positions. LIES!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 14, 2016
11. The late conservative pundit Charles Krauthammer
All polls have me winning debate big- Drudge, TIME, etc. Dopey Charles Krauthammer still nasty. He has zero cred- totally dishonest!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 14, 2016
12. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)
.@CNN poll just hit 49% for Trump. Interesting how my numbers have gone so far up since lightweight Marco Rubio has turned nasty. Love it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 2, 2016
13. Former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-FL)
I know the "Governors" and Jeb Bush, who has gone nasty with lies, is by far the weakest of the lot. His family used private eminent domain!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 9, 2016
14. Former Jeb Bush staffer Lauren Batchelder
The arrogant young woman who questioned me in such a nasty fashion at No Labels yesterday was a Jeb staffer! HOW CAN HE BEAT RUSSIA & CHINA?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 13, 2015
15. The Southern Baptist Convention’s Russell Moore
.@drmoore Russell Moore is truly a terrible representative of Evangelicals and all of the good they stand for. A nasty guy with no heart!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 9, 2016
16. Spy Magazine and Charlie Hebdo
Charlie Hebdo reminds me of the "satirical" rag magazine Spy that was very dishonest and nasty and went bankrupt. Charlie was also broke!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2015
17. Victoria’s Secret
Victoria's Secret reps were nasty to @KateUpton and now she is doing great.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 4, 2013
Depending on his mood, it is not always entirely clear whether Trump thinks being “nasty” is a bad thing or a good thing. In September 2017, he claimed that he had “made more progress in the last nine months against ISIS than the Obama administration has made in 8 years,” because he had been “proactive & nasty.”
But it is clear that his claim that he never used the term to describe Queen Elizabeth II’s granddaughter-in-law is one of his more than 10,000 presidential lies.