A clear sign that Trump just made up a number? It's 10,000.


President Trump has a very obvious tell.
It's no secret that Trump is a huge fan of exaggeration, often pulling election results and disaster relief funding totals out of seemingly thin air. But there's one number he leans toward when talking about stocks, jobs, crowd sizes and more: 10,000, Bloomberg reports.
Take, for example, the numerous times Trump has tried to blame his trade war with China for a slumping stock market. "If I wanted to do nothing with China, my stock market — our stock market — would be 10,000 points higher than it is right now," he told reporters Wednesday. That kind of jump would drive the Dow Jones Industrial Average up an unprecedented 38 percent. Trump slung the same number in a June interview with ABC News, saying if the Federal Reserve had rejected rate increases last year, the stock market would also be "10,000 points higher than already a very high number."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Bloomberg is sure to point out that sometimes, 10,000 is the number Trump should actually be saying. For example, if he'd like to describe the number of false or misleading claims he'd made by late April of this year, 10,000 would be right on point.
Find out why Trump might be stuck on 10,000 at Bloomberg.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
July 5 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday’s political cartoons include an extrajudicial detainment camp, 'alligator Alcatraz', and tax cuts for billionaires.
-
5 explosively funny cartoons about the 4th of July
Cartoons Artists take on liberty and justice for all, a terrifying firework, and more
-
Jeff in Venice: a "triumph of tackiness"?
In the Spotlight Locals protest as Bezos uses the city as a 'private amusement park' for his wedding celebrations
-
How will Trump's megabill affect you?
Today's Big Question Republicans have passed the 'big, beautiful bill' through Congress
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
How successful would Elon Musk's third party be?
Today's Big Question Musk has vowed to start a third party after falling out with Trump
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
How would the Trump administration denaturalize immigrant citizens?
Today's Big Question Using civil courts lowers the burden of proof
-
'Trucking is a dangerous business'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities