POLICY WIRE FACT CHECK: Did Trump say Republicans are ‘dumbest group of voters’ in 1998?

The Claim

A viral claim circulating online in 2024 and earlier in 2023 and 2020 alleged that former U.S. President Donald Trump made a derogatory comment about Republicans, calling them the dumbest group of voters in the country, in a 1998 interview with *People* magazine. The quote, which was attributed to Trump, stated: If I were to run, I’d run as a Republican. They’re the dumbest group of voters in the country. They believe anything on Fox News. I could lie and they’d still eat it up. I bet my numbers would be terrific.

The statement resurfaced across multiple platforms, including Reddit, Threads, X (formerly Twitter), Imgur, and TikTok. It was often shared in the context of discussions about Trump’s political strategy or his relationship with conservative voters. The claim gained traction despite its lack of verifiable origin, raising concerns about the spread of unverified information and potential disinformation campaigns.

The Details & Investigation

Extensive research conducted by Snopes and other fact-checking organizations has found no evidence that Donald Trump ever made the quoted statement in 1998. According to a 2015 article from *FactCheck.org*, *People* magazine had no record of publishing any such interview or exchange with Trump during that time. A follow-up article from Snopes in 2020 reiterated this finding, confirming that the quote was not documented in any known publication or archive.

Historical records and media coverage from 1998 show that *People* magazine primarily covered Trump in relation to his personal life, particularly his relationships with his first and second wives, Ivana Trump and Marla Maples. There is no credible documentation of a 1998 interview in which Trump made the specific remarks attributed to him. Furthermore, while Trump was known to express interest in politics during the late 1990s, there is no evidence he publicly criticized Republicans or referred to them as “dumb” in any formal or recorded setting.

Multiple attempts to verify the quote have been unsuccessful. In 2015, *People* magazine thoroughly reviewed its archives and confirmed that it had no record of the quote. This conclusion was reaffirmed in 2020 when Snopes cross-referenced the claim with historical records, official transcripts, and published interviews. Additionally, the quote does not appear in any known transcripts of Trump’s public appearances or interviews from the period. Given the absence of any primary source or credible documentation, the claim is considered to be without foundation.

While the claim may have originated as a misattributed or fabricated statement, its repeated circulation across social media platforms suggests a pattern of deliberate dissemination. The statement fits the criteria for disinformation due to its intentional misleading nature and the coordinated effort to spread it. However, since no clear source or orchestrator has been identified, the claim remains an example of viral misinformation rather than a fully orchestrated disinformation campaign.

The Verdict

The claim that Donald Trump called Republicans “the dumbest group of voters” in 1998 is FALSE. Extensive verification by fact-checking organizations such as Snopes and *FactCheck.org* has confirmed that no such quote exists in any verified historical record, transcript, or publication from that time. The statement appears to be a fabrication or misattribution that has been circulated repeatedly on social media platforms over the years.

Although the claim lacks a clear source, its persistence and repetition suggest elements of both misinformation and disinformation. It was likely initially spread as a false or exaggerated statement, but its continued circulation may also reflect efforts to distort public perception of Trump or his relationship with the Republican Party. Regardless of intent, the lack of verifiable evidence means the claim cannot be substantiated and must be rejected as false.

Counter-misinformation & disinformation investigation conducted by PolicyWire Editorial Desk (PW).