In his second year in office, President Trump — to the delight of his fans and perpetual outrage of his critics — stayed true to his “unpresidential” Twitter persona: almost daily blasting out tweets aimed at his opponents and frequently making comments that had both political insiders and legal analysts issuing apocalyptic responses.
While it’s arguable that about every other tweet posted by Trump was notable in some way, below are some of the most memorable of Trump’s 2018 tweets.
Trump Starts Off Year By Shaming Obama
Trump kicked off 2018 by shaming his predecessor for his “terrible deal” with Iran. “Iran is failing at every level despite the terrible deal made with them by the Obama Administration,” Trump wrote on New Year’s Day. “The great Iranian people have been repressed for many years. They are hungry for food & for freedom. Along with human rights, the wealth of Iran is being looted. TIME FOR CHANGE!”
“Much Bigger & More Powerful”
Shortly after that comment, Trump dropped one of his most famous presidential tweets, mocking North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and touting his “much bigger & more powerful” nuclear button.
“North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the ‘Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times,'” Trump wrote. “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!”
The response to that one from Trump critics was pure hysteria.
A Message To Anthem Protesters
A few days later, Trump returned to one of his favorite pastimes: upbraiding American flag-protesting NFL players:
“Very Stable Genius”
Then there was his “very stable genius” tweetstorm that slammed attempts to present him as mentally unfit for office.
“Now that Russian collusion, after one year of intense study, has proven to be a total hoax on the American public, the Democrats and their lapdogs, the Fake News Mainstream Media, are taking out the old Ronald Reagan playbook and screaming mental stability and intelligence,” Trump wrote in a series of tweets. “Actually, throughout my life, my two greatest assets have been mental stability and being, like, really smart. Crooked Hillary Clinton also played these cards very hard and, as everyone knows, went down in flames. I went from VERY successful businessman, to top T.V. Star to President of the United States (on my first try). I think that would qualify as not smart, but genius….and a very stable genius at that!”
Trump vs. Jay-Z
After Jay-Z (real name is Shawn Carter) appeared on “The Van Jones Show” to slam Trump’s “sh*thole” comment as “disappointing” and “hurtful” — lamenting, “This is the leader of the free world speaking like this” — Trump responded: “Somebody please inform Jay-Z that because of my policies, Black Unemployment has just been reported to be at the LOWEST RATE EVER RECORDED!”
Trump Urges On Oprah
Amid rumors/hopes that Oprah Winfrey would run against Trump in 2020, the president said he hoped she would: “Just watched a very insecure Oprah Winfrey, who at one point I knew very well, interview a panel of people on 60 Minutes. The questions were biased and slanted, the facts incorrect. Hope Oprah runs so she can be exposed and defeated just like all of the others!”
Using Obama’s Own Words Against Him
In mid-February, Trump offered up a past quote from Obama to blow up one of the Left’s favorite talking points about the election.
“‘There is no serious person out there who would suggest somehow that you could even rig America’s elections, there’s no evidence that that has happened in the past or that it will happen this time, and so I’d invite Mr. Trump to stop whining and make his case to get votes.’…The President Obama quote just before election,” Trump wrote. “That’s because he thought Crooked Hillary was going to win and he didn’t want to ‘rock the boat.’ When I easily won the Electoral College, the whole game changed and the Russian excuse became the narrative of the Dems.”
Comey’s a “Proven LEAKER & LIAR”!
In April, Trump unloaded on the former FBI director he unceremoniously fired.
“James Comey is a proven LEAKER & LIAR,” Trump wrote in a pair of tweets. “Virtually everyone in Washington thought he should be fired for the terrible job he did-until he was, in fact, fired. He leaked CLASSIFIED information, for which he should be prosecuted. He lied to Congress under OATH. He is a weak and untruthful slime ball who was, as time has proven, a terrible Director of the FBI. His handling of the Crooked Hillary Clinton case, and the events surrounding it, will go down as one of the worst “botch jobs” of history. It was my great honor to fire James Comey!”
Trump’s Stormy Tweet Prompts Lawsuit, Earns Trump Over $300,000
In April, Trump tweeted a response to the big reveal by porn star Stormy Daniels and her celebrity lawyer Michael Avenatti that ended up triggering an ill-fated defamation lawsuit. “A sketch years later about a nonexistent man. A total con job, playing the Fake News Media for Fools (but they know it)!” he wrote.
“This Is Bigger Than Watergate”
In response to reports about the FBI spying on the Trump campaign, the president tweeted: “Wow, word seems to be coming out that the Obama FBI ‘SPIED ON THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN WITH AN EMBEDDED INFORMANT.’ Andrew McCarthy says, ‘There’s probably no doubt that they had at least one confidential informant in the campaign.’ If so, this is bigger than Watergate!”
“I Have The Absolute Right To Pardon Myself”
In June, Trump famously tweeted that he has the “absolute right” to pardon himself for whatever crimes the Democrats and Mueller are able to cook up.
“As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong? In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms!” he wrote.
Trump Smacks “Very Dishonest & Weak” Canadian Prime Minister
Trump’s public feud with liberal Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau exploded in June, with Trump ripping him as “very dishonest & weak” for how he handled their G7 meeting.
“PM Justin Trudeau of Canada acted so meek and mild during our @G7 meetings only to give a news conference after I left saying that, ‘US Tariffs were kind of insulting” and he ‘will not be pushed around.’ Very dishonest & weak. Our Tariffs are in response to his of 270% on dairy!”
Trump Defends Melania’s Jacket
Amid outrage over Melania Trump wearing a jacket that read “I really don’t care, do u?” as she boarded a plane to go visit migrant children at a detention center in Texas, Trump tweeted a defense citing the “Fake News Media” that prompted more outrage.
Trump Tells Jimmy Fallon To “Be A Man”
After late-night host Jimmy Fallon apologized for inviting then-candidate Trump onto his show in 2016, Trump urged him to man up: “jimmyfallon is now whimpering to all that he did the famous ‘hair show’ with me (where he seriously messed up my hair), & that he would have now done it differently because it is said to have ‘humanized’ me-he is taking heat. He called & said ‘monster ratings.’ Be a man Jimmy!”
Trump Eggs On “Crazy Maxine Waters” & Nancy Pelosi
In July, the president expressed hope that Water and Pelosi would indeed continue to be the faces of the Democratic Party: “Crazy Maxine Waters, said by some to be one of the most corrupt people in politics, is rapidly becoming, together with Nancy Pelosi, the FACE of the Democrat Party. Her ranting and raving, even referring to herself as a wounded animal, will make people flee the Democrats!”
“Looking For A Good Lawyer”?
After Michael Cohen’s initial guilty plea when it became clear that he’d flipped on Trump, the president joked, “If anyone is looking for a good lawyer, I would strongly suggest that you don’t retain the services of Michael Cohen!”
Trump Reminds Hillary About “Deplorables”
On the anniversary of her infamous campaign comment, Trump reminded Hillary about how she inadvertently energized a bunch of Americans.
Trump Stands By Kavanaugh
Amid the flood of uncorroborated accusations against then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Trump stood by him and praised his powerful statement at his famous hearing with accuser Christine Blasey Ford.
“Judge Kavanaugh showed America exactly why I nominated him. His testimony was powerful, honest, and riveting. Democrats’ search and destroy strategy is disgraceful and this process has been a total sham and effort to delay, obstruct, and resist. The Senate must vote!” Trump wrote.
While we’ve in no way exhausted all the memorable 2018 tweets, it’s time to wrap things up, so here’s one final one:
Trump Closes Out 2018 By Trolling Obama
On the day before New Year’s Eve, Trump offered an Obama-trolling response to the anti-wall Democrats: “President and Mrs. Obama built/has a ten foot Wall around their D.C. mansion/compound. I agree, totally necessary for their safety and security. The U.S. needs the same thing, slightly larger version!”
While the Obamas do not have a “ten foot wall” around their 8,200 square foot “compound,” The Washington Post reports, they do have a fence and “several security features.”