Trump’s Most Outrageous Lies (Ranked)

Lie Date Description
🥇 1. The Big Lie Nov 2020 – present Claim that the 2020 election was stolen.

The central false claim that the 2020 election was rigged and stolen, used to undermine confidence in U.S. elections and justify efforts to overturn the results, including the events of Jan. 6, 2021. [1]
🥈 2. “Immigrants Are Eating the Dogs” Sept 10, 2024 Claim that immigrants in Springfield were eating people’s pets.

A lurid, unsubstantiated claim that immigrants were eating dogs and cats in Springfield, Ohio, inflaming anti-immigrant sentiment despite the lack of evidence beyond a distorted local story. [2]
🥉 3. “I Won the Popular Vote” Late Nov 2016 onward Claim that he won the 2016 popular vote if “millions” of illegal votes were deducted.

A repeated assertion that he actually won the popular vote in 2016 because millions supposedly voted illegally, despite no credible evidence and multiple investigations finding no such fraud. [3]
4. Birtherism 2011 – 2016 False claim that Barack Obama was not born in the U.S.

Years-long promotion of conspiracy theories questioning Obama’s birthplace and eligibility to be president, even after the release of Obama’s long-form birth certificate. [4]
5. MS-13 “Tattoo” Claim Apr 30, 2025 Claim that a deported man had “MS-13” tattooed on his knuckles, based on a photoshopped image.

Trump pointed to an image with “MS-13” typed over a hand in a computer font as proof of gang tattoos and repeatedly insisted it was real, even when told on air it was photoshopped. [5]
6. Sharpiegate Sept 1–6, 2019 Claim that Hurricane Dorian was going to hit Alabama, backed by an altered NOAA map.

After incorrectly warning Alabama about Hurricane Dorian, Trump displayed a forecast map altered with a Sharpie to support his claim, prompting internal NOAA turmoil and watchdog criticism. [6]