[161][162][163] The Los Angeles Times wrote, "Never in modern presidential politics has a major candidate made false statements as routinely as Trump has."[164][165] Trump said he disdained political correctness and frequently made claims of media bias.[166][167]

Trump campaigning in Arizona, March 2016
Trump announced his candidacy in June 2015.[168][169] His campaign was initially not taken seriously by political analysts, but he quickly rose to the top of opinion polls.[170] He became the front-runner in March 2016[171] and was declared the presumptive Republican nominee in May.[172]
Hillary Clinton led Trump in national polling averages throughout the campaign, but in early July her lead narrowed.[173][174] In mid-July Trump selected Indiana governor Mike Pence as his vice presidential running mate,[175] and the two were officially nominated at the 2016 Republican National Convention.[176]
Trump and Clinton faced off in three presidential debates in September and October 2016. Trump twice refused to say whether he would accept the result of the election.