We answer some of the questions raised by former President Donald Trump’s conviction in New York.
Q&A on Trump’s Criminal Conviction
Person: Donald Trump
Trump’s Repeated Claims on His New York Hush Money Trial
Former President Donald Trump has been found guilty by a jury in New York on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in an effort to conceal election law violations after buying the silence of porn star Stormy Daniels, shortly before the 2016 election. Trump repeatedly has made false and misleading statements about the case and trial.
Trump, Allies Misrepresent FBI Order on Document Search at Mar-a-Lago
FBI agents who searched for classified documents held by former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in 2022 followed standard protocol. But Trump supporters and social media posts now falsely claim the raid was an “attempted assassination” of Trump. The claim is based on a misquote of FBI policy in a legal motion — and Trump wasn’t in Florida during the search.
Trump’s Wrong: Gun Owners More Likely to Vote
In a speech at a National Rifle Association convention, former President Donald Trump deceptively stoked fears that if President Joe Biden is reelected, the government will be “coming for your guns.” Biden has advocated a ban on so-called assault weapons, but he has not proposed confiscating ones currently owned. Trump followed it up by claiming that gun owners don’t vote as often as non-gun owners. That’s wrong.
Trump Distorts New Regulation Extending ‘Obamacare’ to DACA Recipients
A new Biden administration rule will make recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals eligible to obtain health insurance plans established by the Affordable Care Act. But former President Donald Trump has mischaracterized the regulation, claiming that it is “giving Obamacare and all free government health care to illegal aliens.”
Social Media Posts Circulate Altered Image of Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels
Adult film star Stormy Daniels recently testified at the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump, who is charged with falsifying records during his 2016 campaign to conceal an affair with Daniels. Social media posts falsely claim to show evidence of the affair by sharing a fake, digitally altered photo of Donald and Melania Trump with Daniels.
Biden Twists Trump’s Comments on Tracking Pregnancies and Punishing Women Who Get Abortions
In an interview with Time, former President Donald Trump was asked if states should monitor women’s pregnancies and/or prosecute women who get an abortion in violation of state law. Trump said “they might,” but that’s for each state to decide. President Joe Biden, however, has twisted Trump’s words.
Unsupported Claim About Biden Paying Rent for ‘Illegal Immigrants’
Michigan officials have said that only people who the federal government has determined are in the U.S. legally are eligible for a state program that temporarily pays rent for refugees and other qualifying immigrants. But a super PAC supporting former President Donald Trump claims that President Joe Biden “is paying rent for illegals.”
FactChecking Biden on Inflation, Other Claims
When President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, the U.S. annual rate of inflation was 1.4% — far from the 9% inflation Biden falsely said in a May 8 interview that he inherited. Inflation rose quickly in Biden’s first year, but it didn’t hit 9% until 17 months into his presidency.
Trump Plans to Attend Son’s Graduation and GOP Fundraiser, Contrary to Online Claim
While his criminal fraud trial is not in session on May 17, former President Donald Trump plans to attend the high school graduation of his son Barron in Florida as well as a campaign event in Minnesota. A post on Threads misleadingly claims he will “miss his son’s graduation for fundraiser.” The graduation is in the morning and the fundraising dinner in the evening.