KAKISTOCRACY (noun) — Government by the worst, least qualified, or most unscrupulous people.
In Their Own Words

Quotes

A searchable collection of documented public statements from people covered by the Kakistocracy Files.

5,728Total Quotes in the Archive
AllAlex JonesAlina HabbaAndrew ClydeAnn CoulterAnthony ScaramucciBill BarrBrendan CarrByron DonaldsCharlie KirkChristine O’DonnellChuck GrassleyCorey LewandowskiDan BonginoDonald TrumpDonald Trump Jr.Doug BurgumElise StefanikElon MuskEnrique TarrioEric TrumpGeorge SantosGreg GutfeldHerschel WalkerHillary ClintonHope HicksHoward LutnickIvanka TrumpJack PosobiecJacob ChansleyJames ComerJames ComeyJD VanceJeanine PirroJenna EllisJesse WattersJim JordanJohn EastmanJosh HawleyKari LakeKaroline LeavittKash PatelKayleigh McEnanyKellyanne ConwayKimberly GuilfoyleKristi NoemLaura LoomerLauren BoebertLindsey GrahamLouie GohmertMadison CawthornMarco RubioMarjorie Taylor GreeneMark RobinsonMatt GaetzMehmet OzMichael CohenMichael FlynnMike JohnsonMike LindellMike PenceMo BrooksNancy MaceNewt GingrichPam BondiPaul GosarPete HegsethPeter NavarroRick ScottRobert F. Kennedy Jr.Roger StoneRon DeSantisRon JohnsonRonna McDanielRoy MooreRudy GiulianiRussell VoughtSarah Huckabee SandersSean HannitySean SpicerSebastian GorkaSharron AngleSidney PowellStephanie GrishamStephen MillerSteve BannonSteve KingSteve ScaliseTed NugentTim ScottTom HomanTommy TubervilleTucker CarlsonTulsi GabbardVivek Ramaswamy
101 quotes from Michael Cohen
“In essence, becoming an autocrat, which is what he wants to be.”
— Michael Cohen
September 1, 2020   •   Cohen's characterization of Trump's political ambitions.
Late Night with Seth Meyers
“I was that person.”
— Michael Cohen
October 1, 2022   •   Cohen describing himself as someone willing to go to extreme lengths to carry out Trump's requests.
Washington Post interview
“They were all accurate.”
— Michael Cohen
October 1, 2022   •   Cohen describing statements he provided investigators; Cohen separately acknowledged previous lies to Congress and other false statements.
Washington Post interview
“I would immediately take them into Mr. Trump's office.”
— Michael Cohen
September 1, 2020   •   Cohen describing allegations or rumors he said were supplied by National Enquirer publisher David Pecker.
MSNBC Rachel Maddow interview
“My credibility is an issue because that's what Donald wanted it to be.”
— Michael Cohen
October 1, 2022   •   Cohen discussing attacks on his credibility. Cohen has acknowledged making false statements in the past.
Washington Post interview
“I may not be able to change the past.”
— Michael Cohen
February 27, 2019
House Committee on Oversight and Reform
“That's not how he operates.”
— Michael Cohen
February 27, 2019   •   Cohen explaining his claim that Trump communicated indirectly.
House Committee on Oversight and Reform
“He approved it.”
— Michael Cohen
May 13, 2024   •   Cohen testifying that Trump approved the reimbursement arrangement described by Allen Weisselberg. Trump denied wrongdoing.
People v. Trump trial testimony
“We all seem to be pointing to the same thing.”
— Michael Cohen
September 1, 2020   •   Cohen discussing several contemporaneous books critical of Trump.
MSNBC Rachel Maddow interview
“Donald Trump doesn't care about anyone or anything.”
— Michael Cohen
October 1, 2022   •   Cohen's personal characterization of Trump.
Washington Post interview
“I was mesmerized by Donald Trump.”
— Michael Cohen
October 3, 2026   •   Cohen describing his relationship with Trump.
Public interview
“I am not a perfect man.”
— Michael Cohen
February 27, 2019
House Committee on Oversight and Reform
“I fear that if he loses the election in 2020, there will never be a peaceful transition of power.”
— Michael Cohen
February 27, 2019   •   Shorter version of Cohen's widely cited warning during congressional testimony.
House Committee on Oversight and Reform
“He is capable of being loyal, but he is fundamentally disloyal.”
— Michael Cohen
February 27, 2019   •   Cohen's personal assessment of Trump.
House Committee on Oversight and Reform
“I caused my family harm, unhappiness.”
— Michael Cohen
October 1, 2022
Washington Post interview
“The campaign for him was always a marketing opportunity.”
— Michael Cohen
February 27, 2019   •   Cohen's characterization of Trump's 2016 campaign.
House Committee on Oversight and Reform
“Sure. I'll say it's a lie.”
— Michael Cohen
May 14, 2024   •   Cohen acknowledging under cross-examination that a prior statement was a lie.
People v. Trump trial testimony
“I did things and I acted improperly.”
— Michael Cohen
February 27, 2019
House Committee on Oversight and Reform
“The entire campaign originated from a desire to increase the visibility of the brand.”
— Michael Cohen
October 1, 2022   •   Cohen's characterization of Trump's original motivation for running for president.
Washington Post interview
“He had no desire or intention to lead this nation.”
— Michael Cohen
February 27, 2019   •   Cohen's claim regarding Trump's motives during the 2016 campaign.
House Committee on Oversight and Reform