You’ve seen it. That grainy, sepia-toned meme of a young Donald Trump with a quote so perfectly cynical it almost has to be true. It’s been floating around Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Reddit for over a decade. The text claims that back in 1998, Trump told People magazine: "If I were to run, I’d run as a Republican. They’re the dumbest group of voters in the country."
It’s a "zombie claim." No matter how many times fact-checkers drive a stake through its heart, it just keeps getting shared.
The quote goes on to say that Republican voters believe anything on Fox News and that he could lie and they’d "still eat it up." It’s juicy. It fits a specific narrative. But honestly? It never happened. There is zero record of Donald Trump ever saying those words to People, or anyone else for that matter.
The Anatomy of a Viral Hoax
When you look at the meme, it looks official. It has the People magazine logo or a caption citing "People Magazine, 1998." But here’s the kicker: People actually went back and searched their entire archive. They found nothing. No interview in 1998. No quote about "dumb" Republicans.
Julie Farin, a spokesperson for the magazine, has gone on record multiple times stating they have no record of anything "remotely like this quote."
The photo used in the most famous version of this meme isn't even from 1998. It’s actually a still from a 1988 appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. If you watch that interview—which is easily found on YouTube—you’ll see a much different Trump. He’s talking about trade, Japan, and how the U.S. is being "ripped off." When Oprah asks him about running for president, he says, "Probably not."
He doesn't call anyone stupid. In fact, he’s almost soft-spoken compared to his modern rallies.
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Why the Fox News Mention is the "Smoking Gun"
If you’re a bit of a media nerd, you’ll notice a huge flaw in the fake quote. The text claims Trump said Republicans "believe anything on Fox News."
In 1998, Fox News was barely two years old. It wasn't the political behemoth it is today. It certainly wasn't the primary news source for the average Republican voter yet. Most people were still watching CNN or the big three networks. The idea that someone in 1998 would frame the entire GOP voter base around Fox News is a massive anachronism. It’s like a "quote" from 1995 mentioning an iPhone.
What Trump Actually Said About the Parties
While he didn't call them "the dumbest group of voters," Trump’s relationship with the Republican party has been, well, complicated. He’s changed his party affiliation five times since 1987.
In a 1999 interview with Larry King, Trump discussed his potential run with the Reform Party. He was a registered Republican at the time but expressed frustration. He told King that the Republicans were "too far right" and the Democrats were "too far left." He basically pitched himself as the only guy hitting the "chord" for the average person.
Then there’s the 2004 CNN interview with Wolf Blitzer. Trump famously said, "In many cases, I probably identify more as Democrat," noting that the economy tends to do better under Democratic administrations.
- 1987: Registers as a Republican.
- 1999: Switches to the Reform Party.
- 2001: Registers as a Democrat.
- 2009: Returns to the GOP.
- 2011: Becomes an Independent.
- 2012: Back to Republican.
Basically, he’s been all over the map. But "dumb"? He usually saves that word for his political opponents, not the people he's trying to get to vote for him.
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Why Do We Keep Believing It?
Psychology plays a huge role here. It’s called confirmation bias. If you already dislike Trump, a quote about him calling his own supporters "dumb" feels right. It confirms what you already suspect about his character—that he’s a cynical opportunist.
On the flip side, some people share it because they genuinely think they are "warning" others. The meme has been debunked by the Associated Press, Snopes, FactCheck.org, and Full Fact. Yet, every election cycle, it gets a fresh coat of paint and a new set of shares.
In 2019, even celebrities like Bette Midler shared it. She later deleted it and apologized, but the damage was done. Once a lie like that hits the "Big Viral" stage, the truth usually spends the next decade trying to put its shoes on.
The Real Evolution of the GOP Under Trump
Instead of calling them stupid, Trump actually did something much more effective: he reshaped what it meant to be a Republican.
Before 2016, the GOP was the party of free trade and interventionist foreign policy (think Mitt Romney or the Bush family). Trump flipped that. He turned the party into a populist, protectionist movement. He didn't win by insulting the intelligence of his base; he won by speaking to their grievances.
He didn't need to call them "the dumbest group" because he realized he could just change what the group stood for. He took the "Country Club" out of the Republican Party and replaced it with the "Blue Collar" aesthetic of the Rust Belt.
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Historical Context: The 1990s
In the late 90s, Trump was a New York City tabloid fixture. He was dealing with his divorce from Marla Maples and focused on The Art of the Comeback. Political analysts at the time didn't see him as a serious contender. If he had called the GOP dumb in a major magazine like People, it would have been front-page news across every paper in the country. It wouldn't have just disappeared only to resurface as a low-res meme twenty years later.
How to Spot a Fake Political Quote
Next time you see a shocking quote from a politician, do a quick "sniff test" before you hit share.
- Check the Source: Does it just say "People Magazine" or does it give a date and an issue?
- Look for the Video: In the age of the internet, almost every major interview from the 80s and 90s is on YouTube or C-SPAN.
- Scan for Anachronisms: Like the Fox News mention, look for words or brands that didn't exist or weren't popular at the time.
- Search the Archive: Most major publications have digital archives you can search for free.
The Bottom Line
Donald Trump has said a lot of controversial things. He’s called people names, he’s used colorful language, and he’s broken almost every rule in the political playbook. But he didn't call Republicans "the dumbest group of voters" in 1998.
Spreading this specific hoax actually makes it harder to have real conversations about politics. When you use fake evidence to make a point, it gives the other side a reason to ignore the real evidence you might have.
Next Steps for Verifying Political Claims:
- Bookmark Fact-Checking Sites: Keep Snopes or FactCheck.org handy for the next time a viral meme hits your feed.
- Verify Before Sharing: If a quote seems too "perfectly" suited to your political views, that is usually the first sign it might be fabricated.
- Check Primary Sources: If a quote claims to be from a specific TV show or magazine, try to find the original transcript or video clip rather than relying on a screenshot.
- Report Misinformation: On platforms like Facebook or X, you can report posts as "False Information" to help slow the spread of debunked claims.