President Donald Trump used to be requested all through a press convention on April 30, 2025, in regards to the conceivable have an effect on of his tariff insurance policies and business conflict with China.
Trump responded that American youngsters will have to get ready to make sacrifices at Christmas.
“Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, you know,” he stated, “and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally.”
The New York Instances reported that Trump gave the impression to be telling children they must arrange with fewer toys this yr for the sake of his financial schedule.
Jane Mayer, a reporter with The New Yorker, referred to as it “Trump’s Marie Antoinette moment.”
This used to be no longer the primary − or closing − time Trump stated one thing that left many American citizens with mouths open and heads shaking.
“I don’t really believe I’ve made any mistakes,” Trump spoke back.
The target audience, representing a move segment of American citizens, burst out giggling.
Trump’s gaffes aren’t simply a part of his presidency; gaffes are a part of the storied custom of the American presidency. A few of the ones feedback have clung to presidents or even affected historical past.
Listed below are examples from every president over the last 50 years or so of statements that a minimum of a few of them had been embarrassed via or got here to be apologetic about. Each and every used to be made when the president used to be serving within the White Space. The quotes are arranged chronologically.
Donald Trump auditions for Grinch-who-stole-Christmas function.
Richard Nixon is a law-abiding man
On Nov. 17, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, in the middle of the Watergate scandal that might finish his presidency, defended himself in opposition to fees of corruption.
“People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook,” Nixon stated. “Well, I’m not a crook. I’ve earned everything I’ve got.”
As an alternative of quelling the scandal, as Nixon was hoping, his phrases produced the other response. He resigned from the presidency 9 months later in August 1974.
Gerald Ford forgets the Chilly Battle
Gerald Ford, Nixon’s vp who turned into president after Nixon’s resignation, due to this fact ran for election in 1976.
All through one in all his televised debates in opposition to Democratic nominee Jimmy Carter, Ford inexplicably claimed the Soviet Union didn’t regulate Jap Europe.
“There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe,” Ford stated, “and there never will be under a Ford administration.”
To which the moderator, New York Instances editor Would possibly Frankel, stated, “I’m sorry, what?”
Ford’s commentary used to be so outrageously improper that it’s going to have contributed to his defeat within the tight presidential election.
Gerald Ford says it’s truly a Heat, no longer Chilly, Battle.
Jimmy Carter will get recommendation from his teenager
Carter defeated Ford and used to be elected in 1976. He ran for reelection in opposition to Republican nominee Ronald Reagan in 1980. All through one in all their debates, Carter stated he sought the recommendation of his 13-year-old daughter, Amy, on what used to be an important factor dealing with The usa.
“She said she thought it was nuclear weaponry,” Carter stated, “and the control of nuclear arms.”
Carter attempted to turn that palms regulate used to be a subject matter that had nice resonance to even 13-year-olds. As an alternative, it left audience at a loss for words why he had inserted his daughter into the controversy. A twine provider tale on the time summarized the reaction via pronouncing that newshounds overlaying the controversy winced and others groaned.
Jimmy Carter has a wise 13-year-old daughter.
Ronald Reagan assaults Russia
Reagan, a former tv and picture actor who defeated Carter within the 1980 presidential election, used to be referred to as “the Great Communicator” for his eloquence.
A well known anti-Communist, Reagan used to be no longer at all times cautious about what he stated.
Prior to a speech on Aug. 11, 1984, Reagan joked all through a legitimate take a look at, “I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.”
The comic story at the open mic, which used to be no longer broadcast are living however leaked later, led to a Soviet crimson alert − and briefly moved the U.S. and Soviet Union towards conflict.
George H.W. Bush eats phrase salad
Reagan’s successor, his vp, George H.W. Bush, via comparability used to be no nice communicator. His phrases got here out of his mouth and looked as if it would move in separate techniques.
“I have opinions of my own, strong opinions,” Bush stated, “but I don’t always agree with them.”
Invoice Clinton is or isn’t, possibly
Democrat Invoice Clinton defeated George H.W. Bush within the 1992 presidential election.
Clinton’s presidency used to be dogged with accusations of unethical habits and extramarital affairs. Clinton, in testimony earlier than a grand jury investigating his affair with White Space intern Monica Lewinsky, used to be requested whether or not he used to be mendacity when he informed aides that “there’s nothing going on” between him and Lewinsky.
“It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is,” Clinton answered. “If the − if he − if ‘is’ means is and never has been, that is not − that is one thing.”
Slate mag stated that this reaction can have been the “defining moment” of his presidency and, in doing so, captured his contribution to semantics. As Time mag identified,
“Until then, America hadn’t been sure there was more than one definition of ‘is.’”
George W. Bush’s disgrace
George W. Bush, the son of George H.W. Bush, succeeded Clinton within the White Space. American citizens realized that Bush had extra in not unusual along with his father than simply the similar closing identify.
“There’s an old saying in Tennessee − I know it’s in Texas,” Bush stated, “probably in Tennessee, that says, fool me once, shame on − shame on you. Fool me − you can’t get fooled again.”
Barack Obama moves out
Barack Obama, like Reagan, used to be identified for his humorousness. And prefer Reagan, Obama realized that no longer the entirety used to be a joking topic.
Whilst showing on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno in 2009, Obama stated he had stepped forward his bowling via working towards on the White Space bowling alley. He informed Leno he had bowled a pedestrian rating of 129, scary a sarcastic reaction from Leno.
Obama then made the next comic story: “It’s like the Special Olympics or something.”
Obama briefly apologized to the Particular Olympics, the athletic pageant for folks with highbrow disabilities.
Obama made a nasty comic story in regards to the Particular Olympics all through an interview with Jay Leno; he briefly apologized for it.
Mandel Ngan / AFP/Getty Photographs
Joe Biden’s dangerous day
Trump used to be first elected president in 2016 however used to be defeated via Joe Biden within the 2020 election. Trump and Biden confronted every different once more in 2024.
All through a tv debate on June 27, 2024, CNN anchor Jake Tapper requested Biden why citizens will have to accept as true with him to unravel the immigration disaster. Biden stated he modified a regulation that allowed Trump and his management to split immigrant households and put youngsters in cages.
Biden’s teach of concept then jumped the tracks.
“And I’m going to continue to move until we get the total ban on the − the total initiative relative to what we’re going to do with more Border Patrol and more asylum officers,” Biden stated.
“I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence,” Trump stated, “and I don’t think he did, either.”
The similar may well be stated for far of what Biden stated all through the controversy.
Biden withdrew from the presidential race 3 weeks after his deficient debate efficiency.
