The more than dozen recipients of potentially explosive packages in recent days have all been outspoken critics of President Trump. And in almost all cases, Trump has punched back at them on Twitter, one of his favorite means of communication.
James R. Clapper Jr.
In April, after the former director of national intelligence became a contributor to CNN, a network that Trump repeatedly derides, Trump referred to Clapper as “a lying machine.”
“Clapper lied about (fraudulent) Dossier leaks to CNN” @foxandfriends FoxNews He is a lying machine who now works for Fake News CNN.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 28, 2018
Cory Booker
The Democratic senator from New Jersey has not been a frequent target of Trump, but he tweeted this put-down during the 2016 campaign: “If Cory Booker is the future of the Democratic Party, they have no future!”
If Cory Booker is the future of the Democratic Party, they have no future! I know more about Cory than he knows about himself.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2016
Joe Biden
In March, after the former vice president said he would “beat the hell” out of Trump for disrespecting women, the president responded on Twitter, saying Biden was “weak, both mentally and physically” and “would go down fast and hard” in a fight.
Crazy Joe Biden is trying to act like a tough guy. Actually, he is weak, both mentally and physically, and yet he threatens me, for the second time, with physical assault. He doesn’t know me, but he would go down fast and hard, crying all the way. Don’t threaten people Joe!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 22, 2018
Robert De Niro
After the acclaimed actor profanely described Trump at the Tony Awards in June, Trump called De Niro “a very Low IQ individual.”
Robert De Niro, a very Low IQ individual, has received too many shots to the head by real boxers in movies. I watched him last night and truly believe he may be “punch-drunk.” I guess he doesn’t...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 13, 2018
Maxine Waters
Trump has repeated called the Democratic congresswoman from California a “low IQ person” and tried to hold her up as the “face of the Democratic Party.”
Congresswoman Maxine Waters, an extraordinarily low IQ person, has become, together with Nancy Pelosi, the Face of the Democrat Party. She has just called for harm to supporters, of which there are many, of the Make America Great Again movement. Be careful what you wish for Max!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 25, 2018
Eric Holder
The former attorney general and possible 2020 Democratic presidential candidate has not been a regular target of Trump on Twitter, but his name was included in a tweet last month that was intended as criticism of current Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Trump quoted Fox Business host Lou Dobbs suggesting the Justice Department was as biased against Republicans under Sessions as it was under Holder.
“ERIC Holder could be running the Justice Department right now and it would be behaving no differently than it is.” @LouDobbs
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 11, 2018
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
During the 2016 elections, Trump referred to the Democratic congresswoman from Florida as “neurotic.” At the time, she was serving as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee.
The highly neurotic Debbie Wasserman Schultz is angry that, after stealing and cheating her way to a Crooked Hillary victory, she's out!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 24, 2016
John Brennan
In an August tweet, Trump said the former CIA director was “easily the WORST in history” and said he is now “nothing less than a loudmouth, partisan, political hack who cannot be trusted with the secrets to our country!” Trump has since revoked Brennan’s security clearance.
Has anyone looked at the mistakes that John Brennan made while serving as CIA Director? He will go down as easily the WORST in history & since getting out, he has become nothing less than a loudmouth, partisan, political hack who cannot be trusted with the secrets to our country!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 18, 2018
Barack Obama
The former president has been a frequent target, including in March 2017 when Trump, without evidence, accused Obama of wiretapping his phones in Trump Tower during the 2016 election. “Bad (or sick) guy!” Trump said.
How low has President Obama gone to tapp my phones during the very sacred election process. This is Nixon/Watergate. Bad (or sick) guy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 4, 2017
Hillary Clinton
The 2016 Democratic presidential nominee and former secretary of state has faced Trump’s ire many times, including in May, when Trump questioned why special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s team wasn’t focused on “Crooked Hillary Clinton” for her “many crimes.”
Why didn’t the 13 Angry Democrats investigate the campaign of Crooked Hillary Clinton, many crimes, much Collusion with Russia? Why didn’t the FBI take the Server from the DNC? Rigged Investigation!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 27, 2018
George Soros
Trump most recently made mention of the prominent Democratic donor during the Senate confirmation process of Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh. Trump, without evidence, accused Soros of paying protesters who came to the Capitol.
The very rude elevator screamers are paid professionals only looking to make Senators look bad. Don’t fall for it! Also, look at all of the professionally made identical signs. Paid for by Soros and others. These are not signs made in the basement from love! #Troublemakers
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2018
Tom Steyer
A year ago, Trump targeted the environmental activist who has called for his impeachment, saying he is “Wacky & totally unhinged,” and questioning his ability to influence elections.
Wacky & totally unhinged Tom Steyer, who has been fighting me and my Make America Great Again agenda from beginning, never wins elections!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 27, 2017
Kamala D. Harris
Trump has not lashed out at the Democratic senator from California from his personal Twitter account, but in July, the official White House account was used to accuse her of being weak on immigration issues.
“.@SenKamalaHarris, why are you supporting the animals of MS-13? You must not know what ICE really does,” the White House said in a tweet, with a link to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement release about the removal of a Salvadoran MS-13 gang affiliate.
.@SenKamalaHarris, why are you supporting the animals of MS-13? You must not know what ICE really does. Here is a link to help you out: https://t.co/kcrNj4aVMU
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 2, 2018
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s home state. She is from Florida.