Top 10 Trump Scandals You Forgot About

Top 10 Trump Scandals You Forgot About

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Trump Administration scandals that may have gotten lost in the firehose of news over the last 8 years.

#10: The Helsinki Summit with Vladimir Putin (2018)

After the 2016 election, tensions grew between the U.S. and Russia, leading to the Justice Department appointing the Republican former FBI director Robert Mueller to investigate Russian interference. In July 2018, President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki. It was a summit meant to address many topics, including the election. Trump sought to improve relations between rival countries, a goal received with deep skepticism by western experts. During a press conference after the meet - standing side by side with Putin - Trump controversially sided with Putin over U.S. intelligence agencies. There was bipartisan outrage; critics accused Trump of undermining U.S. security and emboldening an adversary. The fallout included widespread media condemnation, congressional backlash, and questions about Trump's motivations. It remains a lasting stain on his foreign policy record.

#9: Abandoning an Ally at the Request of a Strongman Leader (2018)

The Kurds are a large ethnic minority on lands that traverse the borders of Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Iran. Despite being stateless, they've been a critical U.S. ally in the region for decades. Kurdish Peshmerga forces were instrumental in toppling Saddam Hussein and, later, fighting ISIS. In Syria, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces also played a key role in reclaiming territory from ISIS. However, in 2018, President Trump abruptly announced the withdrawal of U.S. troops from northern Syria. At the urging of Turkish president and aspiring dictator Recep Erdoğan, he effectively abandoned the Kurds overnight. This decision left them vulnerable to Turkish military attacks and was widely condemned as a betrayal. Trump's Defense Secretary James Mattis resigned in protest, highlighting deep divisions within the U.S. administration.

#8: Sharpiegate and Nuking Hurricanes (2019)

Trump has long had a reputation for being loose with facts. As president, it got him - and America - in trouble. On one such occasion, in September 2019, he inaccurately claimed that Hurricane Dorian would hit Alabama. This caused consternation in the state and triggered widespread fear as Alabamans hurriedly prepared for the storm. The National Weather Service contradicted him, though, leading Trump to publicly display a tracking map altered with a Sharpie to include Alabama in the storm's path. NOAA - an independent scientific agency - was then forced to issue a controversial statement supporting Trump, leading to concerns about political interference in scientific agencies. Compounding this, it was later reported that Trump had also suggested (in multiple briefings) the use of nuclear bombs to disrupt hurricanes - an idea so insane that it thankfully was never seriously tested.

#7: The Bible Photo Op & Gassing Peaceful Protests (2020)

In June 2020, Trump waded into the nationwide protests against police brutality. At his direction, peaceful demonstrators were forcibly removed from Lafayette Square near the White House, with officers using tear gas and rubber bullets. This violence was seemingly employed only to enable a photo op at nearby St. John’s Church, however. Trump's critics responded with widespread condemnation of the act as an abuse of power. General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, later apologized for his presence during the incident. He acknowledged that it gave the impression of military involvement in domestic politics. The controversy only deepened, though. Trump deployed unmarked federal agents to tackle protests in Portland a few weeks later, as well. They abducted protesters off the streets without identifying themselves, eroding democratic norms and violating their civil rights.

#6: Blurting Out Top Secret Intelligence (2017)

In an unusual move, President Trump invited Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov to a mostly private Oval Office meeting, in May 2017. There, he sparked a major controversy by revealing highly sensitive intelligence to Russia. The information, provided by Israel, reportedly concerned an ISIS plot. By sharing it without the ally's consent, Trump risked compromising sources and methods. Intelligence agencies around the world were terrified that this could threaten vital relationships between western allies. Ultimately, Israel was furious. In the intelligence sharing game, discretion is everything, and the casual revelation of classified intelligence made it clear that the U.S. could no longer necessarily be trusted with critical information. In the aftermath, nations all over had to re-examine their own national security vis-à-vis their relationships with America.

#5: Hurricane Maria & The Towel Toss (2017-2018)

President Trump’s handling of Hurricane Maria was roundly condemned by his critics as an abject failure. The federal response was widely described as being marked by incompetence, bigotry, and corruption. Federal resources came to Puerto Rico with insufficient speed or volume, leaving thousands without basic necessities for months. Trump downplayed the crisis, disputing the official death toll and appearing to blame Puerto Ricans for their own misfortune. The administration’s response was then seen as neglectful, especially compared to the aid provided to mainland states. Corruption allegations further hampered the recovery efforts, with reports of misallocated funds and cronyism. When President Trump finally visited the island, his 'towel toss' moment only led to more outrage. It was seen as a perfect encapsulation of his tone-deaf approach and lack of empathy.

#4: The Muslim Ban (2017)

One of Donald Trump's first acts as president was his 2017 executive order banning people from a list of Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S.. Advocacy groups called the ban blatantly discriminatory and inherently un-American. The rollout was a chaotic and poorly planned disaster. There was virtually no notice, either to travelers or the agencies responsible for enforcement. The order sparked confusion and protests at essentially every international airport in the country. Amidst accusations of bigotry, immigration lawyers had to step up. They volunteered across the country to help travelers navigate the legal mayhem. Challenges quickly arose, with courts blocking the ban and questioning its constitutionality. The administration’s defiance of judicial orders then nearly triggered a constitutional crisis, testing the limits of executive power.

#3: Withdrawing the U.S, from the Paris Climate Accords (2017)

As a pro-fossil fuel candidate, Donald Trump repeatedly called climate change a Chinese Hoax. And, as president, one of his first acts was to pull out of the Paris Climate Accords. The decision, while inevitable based on his campaign, was still received with shock and anger around the world. Critics argued that abandoning the agreement showed a complete disregard for science and a shirking of America's responsibility for its emissions. The withdrawal weakened America's standing abroad. It was one of a number of Trump’s choices that isolated the U.S. from its allies, and America’s climate leadership was severely curtailed. The decision sparked controversy over the future of international cooperation on climate change, deepening divides between the U.S. and developing nations.

#2: Profiting From the Presidency (2017-2021)

After winning in 2016, Donald Trump threw a number of political norms out the window. Arguably the biggest was his decision not to divest from his business interests. Critics pointed out that all presidents do this; Jimmy Carter famously gave up the reins of his peanut farm to avoid conflicts of interest. And so, by retaining ownership of the Trump Organization, Trump opened the door for private and foreign interests to profit him personally. Businesses and foreign powers patronized his properties, and by doing so gained access, effectively bribing him and his family. Trump's financial entanglements blurred the line between his personal and public interests. An example: it was revealed in 2024 that the government of Egypt may have funneled $10 million to Trump.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few dishonorable mentions.

In 2019, Trump Wanted to Buy Greenland; Denmark Slammed the Story as Absurd.

Citing Abortion, Trump Defunded the UN Population Fund, Cutting Maternal and Child Healthcare.

Thanks to Trump’s COVID Misinformation and Mismanagement, Thousands Died Unnecessarily.

Trump Sought to Ban Transgender People in the Military, and Announced it on Twitter.

Trump’s Cabinet - Through Incompetence, Malice, & Corruption - Gutted Federal Agencies.

#1: Family Separation (2018-2021)

Trump's family separation policy was part of his "zero tolerance" approach to illegal immigration. The government forcibly separated thousands of children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border. They were forced into detention centers - often under horrific conditions. Reports soon emerged of children held in cages, lacking basic necessities, and suffering severe emotional trauma. The policy was condemned as inhumane. Critics called it state-sponsored child abuse. Further scandal arose from the involvement of for-profit contractors. Evidence emerged detailing both corruption and gross ineptitude. Children were often shunted around the country with little-to-no tracking. Although the policy was ended and dismantled by Joe Biden, its lingering effects remain. Many families are still not reunited.

What’s your verdict about the Trump Administration controversies on this list? Or about others that perhaps aren’t in this video? Let us know - respectfully - in the comments below.