It has been a little over three years since Donald Trump, now President of the United States, announced that he would run for the White House in the 2016 US presidential election.
In his short time in the world of politics, Trump has amassed a long listed of foes, from his fellow frontrunner Hilary Clinton, to his former campaign CEO, Steve Bannon.
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It’s easy to know when somebody has made an enemy of the Donald, as it usually comes with a mocking nickname to boot. Take Dumb as a Rock Mika, for example, otherwise known as Mika Brzezinski of the Morning Joe talk show. Or Dopey Prince, otherwise known as Saudi prince Al-Waleed bin Talal.
Verdict looks back at the many nicknames that Trump has given to his fellow politicians, media personalities and foreign leaders over the years.
Former presidents
George H. W. Bush., otherwise known as Bush Original. Trump used this name to distinguish between George Bush, the 41st President of the United States, and George Bush, the 43rd President of the United States.
Bill Clinton, otherwise known as Wild Bill. We’re not exactly sure why, but it’s probably a reference to Clinton’s alleged history of drug-fuelled partying and promiscuity.
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By GlobalDataBarack Obama, otherwise known as Cheatin’ Obama. Again, it’s not really clear why or how Obama’s been cheatin’, but in Trump’s eyes he certainly has.
Foreign leaders
Animal Assad, otherwise known as Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian President earned his nickname earlier this year following a suspected chemical attack on Syrian citizens, which resulted in at least 70 deaths and over 500 injuries. Trump also referred to him as a “Gas Killing Animal”.
Little Rocket Man, otherwise known as Kim Jong-un. Trump dished this one out in response to North Korea’s continued efforts to develop nuclear weapons. Kim Jong-un swiftly followed up by calling Trump a dotard.
Juan Trump, otherwise known as Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Trump reportedly refers to Mexico’s incoming president as “Juan Trump”, essentially saying that Obrador is like him, but Mexican. It’s supposed to be a compliment, but it comes across a little offensive.
Justin from Canada, otherwise known as Justin Trudeau. This one is less of a nickname, more of a very casual reference to the Prime Minister of his North American neighbour Canada. He did call him “great” in the same breath though.
Presidential race rivals
America’s Angela Merkel, aka Crooked Hillary, aka Lyin’ Hillary, aka Heartless Hillary, otherwise known as Hillary Clinton. Trump got particularly creative when it came to naming his biggest rival throughout the 2016 presidential run. Crooked Hillary was a particular favourite for the press.
Low Energy Jeb, otherwise known as Jeb Bush. Trump criticised the 2016 Republican presidential candidate for lacking energy during his campaign. He later told Business Insider that he had no reason for the nickname, but Bush just seemed like the kind of person that lacked energy.
Weak Ben Carson, otherwise known as Ben Carson. Another 2016 presidential candidate that Trump branded weak. Carson insisted that he was simply just a nice guy.
Lyin’ Ted, otherwise known as Ted Cruz. Trump and Cruz are now friends, but before Trump took the White House Cruz was one of the harshest critics of the future president. Of course, Trump claimed that everything Cruz said was all a lie, hence the nickname.
1 for 38, otherwise known as John Kasich. Trump’s nickname for Kasich refers to the fact that Kasich won just one state out of 38 in the Republican Party primary vote.
McMuffin, otherwise known as Evan McMullin. McMullin ran as an independent candidate in the 2016 presidential election. His second name also sounds like the McMuffin, an item on the McDonald’s breakfast menu.
Little Marco, otherwise known as Marco Rubio. Fellow Republican contender Rubio criticised Trump’s small hands. Trump responded by calling him Little Marco, seemingly because Rubio is shorter than he is.
Crazy Bernie, otherwise known as Bernie Sanders. Trump took to Twitter to claim that Crazy Bernie was making Crooked Hillary look bad. The nickname possibly refers to his progressive views on issues like healthcare, education and marijuana.
The media
Dope Frank Bruni, otherwise known as Frank Bruni. Trump referred to New York Times writer Bruni as a “dope” on Twitter for reporting that he had called entertainer Howard Stern a loser, a claim that Trump denies.
Dopey CNN Flunky, otherwise known as Paul Begala. Again, Trunk called Begala a dopey CNN flunky in a Twitter rant. Trump claimed Begala had committed fraud against him.
Grubby Graydon Carter, otherwise known as Graydon Carter. Twitter. Again. Carter, the former editor of Vanity Fair, has reportedly been feuding with Trump since the 1980s.
Wacky Maureen Dowd, otherwise known as Maureen Dowd. Trump criticised the New York Times journalist for pretending she knows him well.
Crooked H Flunkie, otherwise known as Maggie Haberman. Trump accused the New York Times journalist of trying to damage his relationship with Trump Organization lawyer Michael Cohen.
Failed Writer Harry Hurt, otherwise known as Harry Hurt III. Trump branded journalist and author Hurt a “failed writer” after he published an unofficial biography on the president.
Crazy Megyn, otherwise known as Megyn Kelly. Trump criticised the former Fox News anchor for downplaying his success in the presidential race.
Sour Lemon, otherwise known as Don Lemon. White House communications director Anthony Scarmucci revealed on Twitter that Trump refers to CNN news anchor Lemon as “sour lemon”. However, this is unconfirmed by Trump.
Little George, otherwise known as George Stephanopoulos. Trump attacked ABC news anchor Stephanopoulos following an interview with US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley. Again, this is a reference to Stephanopoulos’s height.
Little Katy, otherwise known as Katy Tur. Trump took a disliking to Tur during a one on one interview with the NBC News correspondent during the presidential campaign. You probably know why he went for little by this point.
Little Jeff Zucker, otherwise known as Jeff Zucker. Trump went after Zucker, president of CNN News, for the channel’s unfavourable coverage.
Dopey Mort Zuckerman, otherwise known as Mortimer Zuckerman. Zuckerman, owner of the New York Daily News, was branded a dope by Trump due to, unsurprisingly, unfavourable coverage.
Could he add a few more Trump nicknames to the list in the coming days?
Having set off on his European tour earlier this week, Trump has been quick to make enemies of everyone that he has come across so far.
He has clashed with German Chancellor Angela Merkel over defence spending, criticised Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Theresa May’s Brexit plans and blasted London Mayor Sadiq Khan for the city’s rising crime rates. Could they be next to receive the honour of a Trump nickname?
Putting ourselves in Trump’s shoes, Verdict has come up with some possible ideas of our own to inspire the President of the United States.
Sadiq Khan
Both Trump and Khan have made little attempt to hide their dislike for each other. Trump has previously blamed the London Mayor for last year’s terror attacks in the city, as well as the capital’s rise in knife crime this year.
Trump has previously branded Nancy Pelosi, San Francisco, California’s representative in the House of Representatives, as “MS-13 Lover Nancy Pelosi”. MS-13 is a criminal gang that originated in Los Angeles and has since spread around the US. The president was angered by her claim that “we are all God’s children” after he branded the gang as “animals”.
Therefore, it doesn’t seem unlikely that any nickname that Khan earns will have some connection to the wild claims that Trump has made about the British politician. Mob boss Sadiq, maybe? It’s malicious, unfounded, and undeniably Trumpian.
Theresa May
In his diplomacy-damaging interview with The Sun, Trump denied referring to May as a “bossy schoolteacher”. Regardless of whether he did or he didn’t, his choice of adjective has probably changed since then.
Trump slammed May for under-delivering on the Brexit that the majority of the British public voted for. Judging by his views on May’s Brexit plans, the POTUS probably feels that she has been anything but bossy with her European Union counterparts.
We’ll stick with the schoolteacher part because, well, he has a point, but a new adjective is needed. Weak, Little and Failing are a few of his favourites that would probably apply – just take your pick.
Boris Johnson
Having branded the former Foreign Secretary as a “very talented guy” who “would be a great Prime Minister”, there’s no doubting how the President feels about the divisive politician.
This is an easy one. A simple adjective followed by a first name with a sprinkle of alliteration is Trump’s go-to when coming up with new nicknames for his fellow politicians. We’ve had Heartless Hilary, Sloppy Steve and Cryin’ Chuck, could Brilliant Boris be next?
Angela Merkel
Having clashed with the German Chancellor at the NATO summit earlier this week, Trump likely had a few choice words to say about Merkel on his flight over to London.
The US President criticised Europe for allowing millions of migrants to enter the continent following widespread war and terrorism in the Middle East and Africa in recent years. According to Trump, this has “changed the fabric of Europe”.
Given Merkel’s willingness to accept migrants into German during the height of the crisis in 2015 and 2016, this seems like a great area for Trump to attack. Migrant-loving Merkel could work.
Vladimir Putin
Few countries would be willing to mess with the military might of the United States, but Putin will have little fear when he meets Trump for talks this week in Helsinki.
We’ve had the Little Rocket Man, Kim Jong-un, but Putin’s rockets are significantly bigger. Big Rocket Man is far more flattering, and exactly the kind of compliment that you would give to somebody who might have helped to put you in one of the most powerful positions in the world.
Read more: Breaking down the myths around Donald Trump’s fortune
