With Donald Trump's move into the White House, American media is returning to an era of intensive fact-checking. After taking the presidential oath, Trump delivered two speeches on January 20, 2025. His first was at the Capitol Rotunda immediately post-inauguration, and the second addressed his supporters at Emancipation Hall. During these addresses, 20 false statements emerged, raising questions about whether Trump will improve upon his record for falsehoods from his first term during his second.
The Washington Post report suggested that in his initial term as President, Donald Trump made 30,573 false or misleading claims. Experts and media outlets report that Trump's first two speeches post-inauguration contained numerous factually incorrect statements. CNN highlighted 20 false facts in these speeches.
CNN reported that Trump's claims regarding various subjects such as the economy, immigration, foreign affairs, electric vehicles, and the 2020 U.S. presidential election were misleading or false. During his first term from 2016-2020, numerous media outlets employed Lie-Meters or Truth-o-Meters to count misrepresentations every time Trump made public statements.
In a January 2021 report, the Washington Post documented 492 questionable statements made by Trump in just the first 100 days of his presidency. Here's a closer look at the false claims made during his speeches as America's 47th President.
President Trump stated he would issue an executive order to end the 'Catch and Release' policy. However, according to the Associated Press, 'Catch and Release' doesn't refer to any specific U.S. law or policy and lacks clear documentation.
Trump claimed record inflation during Biden's administration due to soaring energy prices. Reports indicate that inflation hit a 40-year high of 9.1% in 2022 and fell to 2.9% by December 2024, with the highest inflation rate being 23.7% in 1920.
Trump expressed a desire for the U.S. to reclaim the Panama Canal. While he claimed China managed the canal, administrator Ricaurte Vásquez countered, confirming China's non-involvement in canal operations.
Trump pledged to rescind an electric vehicle mandate, though no such mandate exists. In April 2023, measures were set to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, encouraging but not mandating electric car sales.
Trump alleged complete fraud in the 2020 election during his inaugural speech. However, investigations found the election process fair, with Biden winning by over 7 million votes and reaffirmed through recounts.
Trump falsely claimed the U.S. gained billions from China via tariffs. Fact-checking reveals tariffs were primarily paid by U.S. importers, indicating Trump’s statements were misleading.
Trump said the EU barely trades with the U.S. Despite EU trade barriers, reports show the U.S. exported over $639 billion in goods and services to the EU in 2023, contradicting Trump's claims.
Trump claimed dangerous criminals enter the U.S. illegally, yet reports indicate most immigrants enter legally and await court proceedings on their status.
Trump proposed an External Revenue Service for tariff collection, claiming it would bolster U.S. revenue. However, economists warn tariffs often shift the financial burden to American consumers.
Reports indicate Trump made an average of 6 false claims per day in his first year, escalating to 39 per day by his fourth year. His inaugural day included 20 false statements, suggesting a continuation of his record-setting pace.
