Gaffes

foreign interests Mar. 28, 2022

Did Biden’s Gaffe About Putin Contain a Kernel of Truth?The president insists he isn’t pushing for regime change in Russia. But it’s not clear what endgame he is aiming for.

By Eric Levitz

gaffes Nov. 12, 2020

Incoming GOP Senator Apparently Doesn’t Know Basics of World War IITommy Tuberville said his father deployed to France to liberate Paris “from socialism and communism,” forgetting perhaps that Nazis were fascist.

By Matt Stieb

gaffes Feb. 3, 2020

President Trump Congratulates Wrong State After Super Bowl WinThe president congratulated the state of Kansas, though the Chiefs play in Kansas City, Missouri.

By Matt Stieb

democratic debates Nov. 20, 2019

Biden Campaign Sends Post-Debate Email Prior to Debate: ‘Did I Make You Proud?’The gaffe-heavy candidate’s campaign started with an early gaffe, sending a post-debate fundraiser — “Did I make you proud? — hours before the debate.

By Matt Stieb

hurricane dorian Sept. 7, 2019

Trump Won’t Rest Until We Accept His Sharpie-Doctored Hurricane MapThe president suggested on Saturday that we wants to put down the Sharpie, but the media won’t let him.

By Matt Stieb, Margaret Hartmann, and Chas Danner

gaffes Sept. 6, 2019

Amy McGrath Is Wasting Her Chance to Beat Mitch McConnellThe former fighter pilot and Kentucky Democrat wants to take down Mitch McConnell. But she can’t stop getting into her own way.

By Sarah Jones

vision 2020 Aug. 27, 2019

Should We Cover Biden’s Gaffes? Trump’s Lies Are So Much Worse!Yes, there’s a risk of false equivalency, but Democrats need the opportunity to compare candidates to each other, and not just to Trump.

By Ed Kilgore

vision 2020 Aug. 11, 2019

Note to Biden Backers: A Senescent Gaffe Machine Might Not Be the Safest BetIf Democrats just want someone who can beat Trump, they have safer options than an Iraq War supporter who seems to be losing a step.

By Eric Levitz

gaffes May 21, 2019

Ben Carson Confuses a Cookie for a Real-Estate Term He Should KnowIn a tense appearance before the House Financial Services Committee, Carson confused “an REO” for “an Oreo.”

By Matt Stieb

select all May 5, 2017

By Brian Feldman

Sept. 29, 2016

Presidential Candidate Touts Inability to Name a Foreign Leader He RespectsAt an MSNBC town hall, Gary Johnson revealed that he cannot, off the top of his head, name a single foreign leader. Now he’s bragging about it.

By Eric Levitz

Sept. 12, 2016

In Shocking Act of Political Competence, Trump Doesn’t Mock Clinton’s PneumoniaOn Monday, Trump said he hopes Clinton gets well soon, while directing the media’s attention back to her “deplorables” remark.

By Eric Levitz

abortion Apr. 2, 2016

Trump Says Abortion Laws Shouldn’t Be ChangedHis campaign later clarified that he meant abortion laws should remain in place — until he becomes president.

By Chas Danner

early and often July 2, 2015

A Brief History of Presidential Food ControversiesWith a new election cycle well under way, here’s a look at past political flare-ups over food and drink.

By Chas Danner

gaffes June 25, 2015

Before ‘Undo Send’: 11 New Yorkers on Their Biggest Email Gaffes“I meant to let my old friend N. know that I was intending to go to Brooklyn to break up with the guy I’d been dating, whose name was also N. Sadly, that’s the N. that I emailed.”

By Tim Murphy

gaffes Feb. 16, 2015