According to fact checkers at the Washington Post, Donald Trump tells 4.9 lies per day.
So, our 45th president tells almost five whoppers per day, a pace which would amount to more than 1,800 false statements over the span of a calendar year, or more than 7,000 over the course of a full four-year term.
And yet Donald Trump believes he is a very truthful person. He keeps reminding us that the only lies told to the American public are courtesy of the “fake news” media (all news outlets except Fox News, to be exact.)
In his 1987 book, The Art Of The Deal, Trump does admit he sometimes stretches the truth.
“The final key to the way I promote is bravado. I play to people’s fantasies. People may not always think big themselves, but they can still get very excited by those who do. That’s why a little hyperbole never hurts. People want to believe that something is the biggest and the greatest and the most spectacular. I call it truthful hyperbole. It’s an innocent form of exaggeration—and a very effective form of promotion.”
In other words Trump is not lying if he is just telling people what they want to hear. And boy how works!
I guess one way to describe Trump’s method of communicating, especially with his base, is that he only tells little “white” lies.
Remember some of these “exaggerations”?
“I will be the greatest jobs president that God ever created.”
“I’m really really rich!”
“I’m the most militaristic person.”
“I will build a great wall . . . and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me.”
“Hillary Clinton was the worst secretary of state in the history of the United States.”
“I would use the greatest minds. I know the best negotiators.”
“I would hit [ISIS] so hard your head would spin.”
“We’re going to have insurance for everybody… healthcare that is far less expensive and far better.”
“I went to the Wharton School of Business. I’m, like, a really smart person.”
“We’re going to win so much, you’re going to be so sick and tired of winning.”
Photos | businessinsider.com, timeline.com