As a primer for the 2024 election, here’s our guide to the top 10 falsehoods and distortions — so far — in terms of Trump’s and Biden’s propensity to repeat them.
Familiar Claims in a Familiar Presidential Race
Stories by Robert Farley
Deputy Managing Editor, FactCheck.org
Trump’s Misleading Chart on Illegal Immigration
During a speech in Green Bay, Wisconsin, former President Donald Trump pointed to a chart on apprehensions of people trying to enter the U.S. illegally at the southwest border. “See the arrow on the bottom? That was my last week in office,” he said. “That was the lowest number in history.” But Trump was wrong on both points.
Elon Musk Overstates Partisan Impact of Illegal Immigration on House Apportionment
In claiming that illegal immigration benefits Democrats, entrepreneur Elon Musk vastly overstated its impact on the apportionment of House seats and Electoral College votes.
Trump’s ‘Bloodbath’ Comment
While speaking about the potential loss of U.S. auto manufacturing jobs to foreign countries, former President Donald Trump said if he isn’t elected, “it’s going to be a bloodbath for the country.”
Trump’s Comments About ‘Cutting’ Entitlements in Context
President Joe Biden said he has caught former President Donald Trump admitting that he wants to cut Social Security and Medicare. The Trump campaign said, in context, Trump was talking about cutting waste and fraud in those programs – not benefits.
FactChecking Trump’s ‘Fact Check’ of the State of the Union
Former President Donald Trump promised to provide a live “play by play” via Truth Social to “correct, in rapid response, any and all inaccurate Statements” made by President Joe Biden during his State of the Union address. But we found many of Trump’s alleged corrections were … factually incorrect.
MAGA Inc. Ad’s Biden Clip in Context
The ad attacking Biden shows him appearing to fumble and grasp for words, but a fuller clip may give a different impression.
FactChecking Biden’s State of the Union
His speech included misleading claims on inflation, crime, clean energy investments, wages and other subjects.
Hunter Biden’s Testimony in Context
During a lengthy interview with House investigators on Feb. 28, Hunter Biden repeatedly insisted that his father was never involved in any of his businesses. We lay out how Hunter Biden’s testimony matched up against GOP talking points.
Trump Repeats Many Claims in Fox News Town Hall
In a Feb. 20 town hall in South Carolina that aired on Fox News, days before the state’s Republican primary, former President Donald Trump repeated several false and misleading claims we’ve fact-checked before.