Six months in, President Trump’s favorite Twitter topics include fake news, Russia, Obamacare
Twitter has been President Trump’s bully pulpit since before and after he took office. Six months into his term, it’s still his favorite way to communicate his policy priorities – and give his unfiltered commentary about the controversies surrounding his office.
Here are his six favorite topics to tweet about – not including retweets – from his inauguration on Jan. 20 through July 18, per a USA TODAY analysis.Â
1. Fake news
Trump’s attacks on the press have escalated since he took office and experienced the media scrutiny that comes with being president. He’s called major media outlets including the New York Times and CNN the “enemy of the people.” He’s accused reporters of making up sources and “distorting democracy” – and refusing to cover his accomplishments.Â
He has tweeted 61Â times about the “fake news” media.
2. Russia
Trump may not like the multiple investigations into Russia’s meddling in the presidential election, but that hasn’t kept him from tweeting about the country or investigations. He’s used the word “Russia” in his tweets around 35 times. In the beginning, it was to counter allegations about his campaign colluding with Russia:
I don’t know Putin, have no deals in Russia, and the haters are going crazy – yet Obama can make a deal with Iran, #1 in terror, no problem!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 7, 2017
The Russia-Trump collusion story is a total hoax, when will this taxpayer funded charade end?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 8, 2017
He later used Twitter to denounce his Justice Department’s selection of a special counsel to investigate Russia’s meddling as part of a “witch hunt” and even appeared to confirm the special counsel was investigating him for obstruction of justice.Â
But after famously meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the G-20 summit in Hamburg earlier this month, his tweets have taken on a more positive tone about broader relations with the country.
…We negotiated a ceasefire in parts of Syria which will save lives. Now it is time to move forward in working constructively with Russia!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2017
3. Obamacare and health care
If there’s one thing we know about the president, it’s how much he dislikes Obamacare. He’s referenced former president Barack Obama’s signature health care law 43Â times on Twitter, calling it a “disaster,” “failed,” “expensive” and “dangerous.”
ObamaCare is imploding. It is a disaster and 2017 will be the worst year yet, by far! Republicans will come together and save the day.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 13, 2017
He’s also talked about health care (or “healthcare,” as he often spells it) on Twitter about 44 times, mostly focusing on the legislative proposals from both the House and Senate to repeal and replace Obamacare.
While the House passed such legislation, the Senate bill failed to garner enough support and GOP leaders are now looking at ways to repeal the Affordable Care Act without a replacement. Meanwhile, Trump tweeted he would rather see Obamacare fall apart to force a compromise.
4. Jobs
“JOBS, JOBS, JOBS!” the president tweeted on July 12. That sums up his general commentary on jobs, which he has tweeted about 43 times.Â
The president enjoys pointing out the number of jobs added to the economy, as well as pointing to policies that he says will boost job numbers, such as having the federal government buy American products.
5. Democrats
Even after taking office, Trump has not stopped criticizing Democrats (42 times, to be specific) for what he sees as obstruction – whether its over failing to immediately confirm nominees or trying to block several of his priorities such as replacing Obamacare.
The Democrats have become nothing but OBSTRUCTIONISTS, they have no policies or ideas. All they do is delay and complain.They own ObamaCare!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 26, 2017
As for particular Democrats, Trump seems to look the most toward those who no longer hold office. He’s often mentioning (and usually knocking) his predecessor Barack Obama and the previous administration, tweeting about them 31 times since taking office.
Since the Obama Administration was told way before the 2016 Election that the Russians were meddling, why no action? Focus on them, not T!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 24, 2017
And the campaign may be long over, but Hillary Clinton remains a favorite target, with 14 Twitter mentions.
Did Hillary Clinton ever apologize for receiving the answers to the debate? Just asking!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 3, 2017
6. James Comey
The number of tweets the president sent about his former FBI director are a bit low compared to his other favorite topics, but considering that Trump didn’t tweet about Comey from November until May, we thought the uptick over the last couple months was notable.
He’s tweeted about Comey 14 times since May 2, the day before Comey gave testimony on Capitol Hill that it made him “mildly nauseous” that he may have affected the 2016 presidential election by announcing the reopening of a probe into Hillary Clinton’s private email server.
During his testimony, he also incorrectly described how Huma Abedin, a Clinton aide and wife of former congressman Anthony Weiner, handled Clinton’s emails.
The White House said Comey’s general handling of the Clinton probe was why Trump fired Comey a week later, though Trump told NBC News days later that the Russia investigation was indeed on his mind when he fired his FBI director.Â
Comey lost the confidence of almost everyone in Washington, Republican and Democrat alike. When things calm down, they will be thanking me!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 10, 2017
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