The 79-year-old made headlines last year with AI images, military parades, bizarre sayings and threats to allies. Nobody knows what comes next.
Jan 20, 2026, 10:02 p.mJan 20, 2026, 10:02 p.m
Natasha Hähni / ch media
If Donald Trump can do one thing, it’s saying slogans. Already during the election campaign he caused a stir with statements like “they’re eating the dogs.” The saying refers to the long-debunked allegation that illegal migrants from Haiti stole and ate pets in Ohio.
Donald Trump celebrates himself at the end of the year with the medal he received from FIFA.Image: Evan Vucci
With his inauguration on January 20, 2025, Trump’s statements gained significantly more weight. That didn’t stop the Republican from sharing his thoughts with the world on social media, at press conferences and in meetings with world leaders.
From impossible price cuts to ugly warships to career aspirations – a look back at a year of Trump in his own words:
“The Gulf of America, what a beautiful name!”
The Gulf of Mexico is now renamed in the USA.image: epa
As soon as he took office, Donald Trump passed a series of decrees. Among other things, he decided to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, in line with his “America First” agenda. Internationally, however, the old name remains.
During his first round of decrees, Trump also declared a state of emergency on the border with Mexico, ordered the use of the military to monitor the border and – as in his first term in office – initiated the withdrawal of the USA from the Paris climate agreement. He also pardoned all 1,500 convicted participants in the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
“The Middle Eastern Riviera could be something great.”
In February, Donald Trump laid out his vision for the Gaza Strip. He called his plan the “Riviera of the Middle East.” The war-torn coastal strip is to be converted into a luxury resort. A short time later, the president shared an AI-generated video in which this “Riviera” can be seen; with skyscrapers, a golden Trump statue and a scene in which the Republican drinks a cocktail with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“You have to be grateful, you don’t have the cards.”
Trump and Zelensky are engaged in a war of words in the White House.image: epa
At the end of February, Donald Trump invited the Ukrainian president to the White House to sign a raw materials agreement. Instead of a friendly exchange for the cameras, the media conference turned into a verbal exchange of blows between Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Donald Trump and his deputy, JD Vance. The Americans accused Selenski, among other things, of not being grateful enough for the help from the USA.
“I don’t think he needs to apologize.”
In a chat with other senior US officials, Trump’s Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared US attack plans against Iran. The news became public because Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, accidentally added the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine to the group chat on the news app Signal. The “Signal Gate” caused an international stir. Trump called the whole story a gaffe.
“Make America Prosperous Again”
The tariffs against Switzerland were initially set at 31 percent, then they were increased to 39 percent before they were paused in return for a gold Rolex.image: epa
On April 2nd, Donald Trump declared “Liberation Day”. In the Rose Garden of the White House, which was not yet paved over at the time, the President announced tariffs on goods from 185 countries. He listed one country after another on a cardboard board. It is the start of the “golden age” that Trump had promised his voters. Most tariffs were paused or reduced after negotiations, including those against Switzerland.
“I would like to be Pope.”
After the death of Pope Francis, Trump was asked about his favorite successor. His answer: himself. The answer was probably a joke, but he didn’t let go of it and later published an AI-generated picture of himself as pope on social media.
“Every other country celebrates victories. It’s time we did the same.”
Donald Trump held a military parade in Washington to mark the 250th birthday of the US Army. Around 6,600 soldiers, 150 vehicles and over 50 aircraft took part. The event cost around $30 million. On the same day, which is also Trump’s birthday, anti-regime protests took place across the country under the slogan “No Kings”.
Such an amazing parade honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States Army.
God bless all of our young men and women in the armed forces. pic.twitter.com/r0zmLqh7US— Kari Lake (@KariLake) June 15, 2025
Trump also has plans for his 80th birthday, or the 250th birthday of the United States: Among other things, he has announced a cage fight on the lawn in front of the White House.
“We will reduce drug prices by 1,000 percent, 600 percent, 500 percent, 1,500 percent.”
For months, Trump has said he would cut drug prices by hundreds or even thousands of percent. The fact that the products are free with a 100 percent discount doesn’t seem to bother him.
Trump: We’re bringing down drug prices by 1000%, 1200%, 1300%, 1400%. A drug that sells for $10 in London is costing $130 in New York. We are bringing it down to $20. You can do your own math. pic.twitter.com/1j7290ETtP
— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) December 28, 2025
“I think the meeting was a 10 – we got along really well.”
Proud of his friendship with Vladimir Putin: Donald Trump.image: epa
On August 15, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin met in Alaska for the first time since Trump’s return to the White House. The topic was the Ukraine war. There were no concrete breakthroughs, but Trump described the meeting in an interview as a “10” because he got along very well with the Russian ruler. The US President literally rolled out the red carpet for Putin. There was also a formation flight to celebrate the day. Critics described the meeting primarily as a successful PR appearance for Vladimir Putin.
“People who haven’t gone out in Washington before are now doing it again.”
Since he sent the National Guard to Washington, the security situation has improved so much that people in the capital “finally” dared to go into restaurants again. Trump claimed this in September. Although crime in Washington is high compared to other US cities, official statistics show it is declining. The connection between the deployment of the National Guard and the increase in restaurant reservations cannot be proven.
“There’s no need for an ugly ship.”
In October, all US generals from around the world were called to a meeting at short notice. Defense Minister Pete Hegseth railed against diversity initiatives, “fat troops, generals and admirals” and beards. Trump focused, among other things, on warships. He is a “very aesthetic person”. “Ugly ships,” said the president, are not necessary for protection.
During a flight, US President Donald Trump insulted Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey with the words “Quiet, piggy” when she asked him a question about the Epstein files. Trump’s previous contacts with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died while in prison, have haunted him for years. This, despite repeated attempts to downplay the affair.
“We were able to end so many different wars”
Donald Trump sees himself as a peacemaker. Although the committee denied him his dream of the Nobel Peace Prize, Fifa boss and Trump friend Gianni Infantino awarded the US President the newly created “Fifa Peace Prize”. In his acceptance speech, Trump described the honor as “one of the greatest honors of my life” and pointed out that he and his administration had “saved millions of lives,” for example through the ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
“This is truly one of the great honors of my life…we’ve saved millions and millions of lives.”
– Trump receiving a made-up peace prize from corrupt FIFApic.twitter.com/JzBkkZN6wa— Molly Ploofkins (@Mollyploofkins) December 5, 2025
«We need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defense.”
Just a few days after Donald Trump had Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro kidnapped from Caracas and taken to court in New York, the US President turned to his next target. Greenland must absolutely become part of the USA. The largest island in the world currently belongs to the Danish kingdom. A military attack would therefore be tantamount to a declaration of war on a NATO partner. At the same time, Trump is currently not ruling out actions in Cuba, Mexico, Colombia and Canada.