Wikimedia Commons/Michael Vadon

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is considered to be an extreme candidate by many Americans, including some of his supporters. His policy proposals, debate style, and Twitter feed have provided endless entertainment for the masses and seemingly useless fodder for his opponents.

Trump established a political reputation as a “birther” several years ago when he claimed that President Barack Obama was not born in the U.S. Early in his presidential campaign, Trump began to advocate building a large border wall between the U.S. and Mexico – and somehow making Mexico pay for the wall. He also famously accused Mexican immigrants of being drug smugglers, criminals and rapists. In fact, he has made such interesting statements and proposed such extreme policies that there have been many lists made to demonstrate Trump’s extremism.

Extreme Political Candidates

Wikimedia Commons/Michael Vadon

Trump is not the only extreme candidate we have seen though. Here are a few more to round out the extreme candidate list.

Michelle Bachman

Michelle Bachman was one of the Republican candidates for president in the 2012 election. Some of Bachman’s controversial statements include saying God caused a recent hurricane and earthquake to wake up American’s to government spending issues and claiming that Hillary Clinton’s aide Huma Abedin had connections to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Ralph Nader

Wikimedia Commons/David Shankbone

Ralph Nader ran for president in 1996 and 2000 on a Green Party ticket. A long-time consumer advocate, Nader often elicits strong responses from those who love or hate him. He received about 700,000 votes in 1996 and about three million in 2000.

John G. Schmitz

John G. Schmitz ran for president in 1972 as a Republican. Schmitz was even too radical for the John Birch Society, which expelled him. He was also famous for calling the Watts Riots a “Communist operation.” Schmitz managed to secure about 1.4 percent of the vote.

Homer Aubrey Tomlinson

Homer Aubrey Tomlinson was a preacher from New York City who was apparently determined to also be president. Tomlinson ran for five straight election cycles between 1952 and 1968 when he died. Not content to run on an established platform, Tomlinson created the Theocratic Party. His platform included some rather interesting proposals like creating a new cabinet position (Secretary of Righteousness) and abolishing taxes and replacing them with tithes. He started a world crusade where he described himself as “King of the World” after losing his fifth election.

Earl Browder

Earl Browder was nominated for president by the Communist Party USA in 1936 and 1940. A World War I draft dodger and Communist Party General Secretary, Browder received about 80,000 votes in 1936 and about 40,000 in 1940.

William Jennings Bryan

William Jennings Bryan succeeded in being nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate three times. His policy positions included “free silver” to boost the economy, supporting Prohibition, and opposing Darwinism on religious grounds.

What do you think about Donald Trump as president? Is he extreme, or can you think or presidential candidates who were more extreme that Trump?

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