Donald Trump has maintained a prominent presence since resuming his role in the White House last January.
Throughout the year following his second inauguration, the President has made numerous statements that have quickly thrust him back into the spotlight of controversy.
From criticizing political adversaries and reiterating baseless claims to making bold remarks about foreign leaders, conflicts, and even renaming regions, Trump has been swift in his efforts to fulfill his vision of making ‘America great again.’
While his devoted supporters continue to rally behind him, opponents criticize Trump’s rhetoric as reckless and frequently misleading.
Regardless of the perspective, his comments have consistently captured media attention, whether he was criticizing tech magnate Elon Musk, affecting Prince Harry’s immigration status, or criticizing late-night TV hosts.
Here are some of Trump’s most contentious remarks since his return to the Oval Office on January 20.
The respected filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, a photographer and producer, were discovered deceased at their Los Angeles residence on December 14.
Their son, Nick, faces charges of first-degree murder.
While tributes poured in for the couple, Trump took to Truth Social with an unusual statement that was criticized as ‘disgusting and shameful.’
In his tribute, Trump referred to Reiner as ‘a tortured and struggling, but once very talented movie director and comedy star.’
He speculated on the motive for the murder: “…Reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, sometimes referred to as TDS.”
The President further alleged that Reiner was known to have ‘driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession of President Donald J. Trump,’ noting that the director’s ‘obvious paranoia’ had ‘reached new heights’ as his administration ‘surpassed all goals and expectations of greatness.’
“May Rob and Michele rest in peace!” Trump concluded.
Trump involved Elon Musk in his administration as a key figure on the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) advisory body last year, tasked with reducing federal expenditures. Their relationship soured by mid-2025 after Musk criticized Trump’s One Big Beautiful spending bill and posted – then removed – allegations that Trump appeared in unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files, suggesting this was why they had not been disclosed, according to ABC.
Trump retaliated, labeling Musk as ‘crazy,’ threatening to revoke government contracts from his businesses, and accusing him of opposing the administration for personal motives.
It seems the two have reconciled, with Musk tweeting a picture of himself with Trump and Melania on January 4.
“Had a lovely dinner last night with @POTUS and @FLOTUS,” Musk stated. “2026 is going to be amazing!”
Following Joe Biden’s announcement of his diagnosis with an aggressive, stage-four prostate cancer, Donald Trump initially responded with kind words, expressing that he and Melania were ‘saddened’ and wishing Biden a ‘fast and successful recovery.’
However, the goodwill dissipated quickly. Days later, Trump utilized a Memorial Day post to criticize Biden and his tenure in office, incorporating his former rival into a broader attack on what he termed the ‘scum’ who had led the nation for the past four years.
He then fueled conspiracy theories, without evidence, suggesting that Biden had concealed the diagnosis during his presidency and falsely claiming that it would have taken ‘a long time’ to reach such an advanced stage, as reported by the Guardian.
Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey became the subject of a viral Trump outburst on November 14 aboard Air Force One.
Trump was en route to his Mar-A-Lago estate in Florida for the weekend when Lucey, performing her duty, inquired if there was anything ‘incriminating’ in the Epstein emails he had been associated with earlier that week.
Trump reacted negatively to the question, retorting by pointing at her and exclaiming: “Quiet! Quiet, piggy!”
He went on: “You are the worst! You’re with Bloomberg, right? You are the worst!”, adding: “I don’t know why they even have you.”
Lucey did not publicly respond to the unsettling encounter.
Trump frequently referred to Canada as America’s ’51st state,’ sometimes humorously but at other times while addressing rising US-Canada trade tensions.
He even jested about inviting Canada to ‘become a state’ to abolish tariffs.
During a bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney last year, Trump suggested that Canada might be ‘better off as part of the US,’ adding ‘never say never’ after Carney emphasized that Canada would not join Trump’s nation.
Beyond Canada, Trump has set his sights on another territory; Greenland.
The president has consistently stated he is ‘very serious’ about acquiring the world’s largest island, which is owned by Denmark.
Why? He asserts that the US ‘needs’ Greenland for national security reasons, emphasizing its strategic location in the Arctic as vital for deterring both Russia and China.
He proposed that the US might pursue control – or acquisition – of the country ‘whether they like it or not,’ through ‘easy’ means or ‘hard’ means. He has also threatened to impose tariffs on key NATO and European allies opposing his bid.
Trump announced that imports from eight countries into the US – Denmark, the UK, France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, and Finland – would face a 10 percent tariff starting in February.
The rate could escalate to 25 percent by June if an agreement isn’t reached for the ‘complete and total purchase of Greenland.’
Several European countries – including Denmark and the UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer – have condemned the decision.
Trump expressed anger after the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader MarĂa Corina Machado, with the White House accusing the Nobel Committee of prioritizing ‘politics over peace.’
Trump, who has frequently claimed he deserves the prize and labeled himself the ‘peace president,’ had touted his success in negotiating a Gaza ceasefire and concluding multiple conflicts.
In a Truth Social post, he lamented: “I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize, no matter what I do.”
While Trump publicly congratulated Machado, she went further – dedicating the prize to him and later personally presenting him with the award at the White House, prompting Trump to declare it would be ‘a great honour.’
Trump also reshared comments from Russian President Vladimir Putin stating the Nobel Prize had ‘lost credibility.’
The Nobel Committee subsequently reminded that the prize ‘cannot be revoked, shared or transferred,’ closing the door on Trump’s aspirations.
Trump made a bold statement indicating that the US would ‘run’ Venezuela following the successful capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores, in early January.
He stated that the takeover would continue until a ‘safe, proper and judicious transition’ is established, according to the BBC.
Trump also pledged that US oil companies would repair Venezuela’s ‘broken infrastructure’ and ‘begin generating revenue for the country.’
The remarks, unsurprisingly, faced widespread criticism.
Venezuela’s vice-president, Delcy RodrĂguez, a prominent figure in Maduro’s inner circle, has since been sworn in by the Supreme Court and currently serves as the nation’s interim leader.
Upon his return to office, Trump reiterated his intention to rename the Gulf of Mexico, eventually making it a reality.