“You know, numbers just came out for her [Hillary Clinton] where she raised like $50 or $60 million and 20 people gave it. I think it was — let’s see, 20 people gave her $60 million in her fund. $60 million from 20 people. I want to get a list of those 20 people. Oh, […]
Trump’s false claim that Clinton ‘started the talks’ to give $400 million to Iran
“Our incompetent secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, was the one who started talks to give 400 million dollars, in cash, to Iran. Scandal!” — tweet by Donald Trump, Aug. 3 The GOP presidential nominee jumped on an interesting report in the Wall Street Journal that the Obama administration shipped $400 million in cash to Iran […]
A guide to all of Donald Trump’s flip-flops on the minimum wage
The folly of fact-checking Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s stances on policy proposals is that he believes “you need flexibility” and “everything is negotiable.” Of course policymakers make compromises, but Trump’s “flexibility” has left him contradicting himself on several policy issues on the campaign trail. One such issue is the federal minimum wage. During last […]
Donald Trump’s revisionist history of mocking a disabled reporter
“I said, ‘dancing, rooftops, street, whatever.’ And we couldn’t find too much stuff confirming what I said. And all of suddenly someone comes up with an article and the article is written by this guy who said he met me many, many years ago. And the article is a great article for me. It talked […]
What we know about Donald Trump and his taxes so far
“And as far as the tax returns, as soon as the audits complete, like any lawyer would tell you — Greta Van Susteren, she was going over it a while ago, she’s a lawyer. She said, well, no lawyer would let somebody release a tax return when they’re under audit. It’s a routine audit. I’ve […]
Clinton’s claim that the FBI director said her email answers were ‘truthful’
“Director Comey said my answers were truthful, and what I’ve said is consistent with what I have told the American people, that there were decisions discussed and made to classify retroactively certain of the emails.” —Hillary Clinton, interview on “Fox News Sunday,” July 31, 2016 Clinton made these remarks after Chris Wallace played a video […]
Here are the facts about the debate over the debates
“Well, I tell you what I don’t like, it’s against two NFL games….And I don’t think we should be against the NFL. I don’t know how the dates were picked. I don’t know why those particular dates….you know, Hillary Clinton wants to be against the NFL. She doesn’t maybe like she did with Bernie Sanders […]
Fact-checking Hillary Clinton’s acceptance speech at the 2016 DNC
Hillary Clinton’s acceptance speech was the highlight of the Democratic National Convention, but it was relatively sparse in terms of facts and figures that could be checked. (We don’t fact check opinions.) Here’s a roundup of some of the most noteworthy claims that were made. As is our practice, we do not award Pinocchios for […]
Fact checking the third day of the 2016 Democratic National Convention
The highlight of the third day of the Democratic National Convention were speeches by President Obama, Vice President Biden and vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine. Here’s a roundup of some of the most noteworthy claims that were made. As is our practice, we do not award Pinocchios for a roundup of claims made in convention […]
Trump’s claim that ‘I have nothing to do with Russia’
“I have nothing to with Russia. I have nothing to do with Russia — for anything.” — Donald Trump, news conference, July 27, 2016 In a news conference responding to evidence suggesting Russian agencies hacked the email accounts of the Democratic National Committee, the GOP presidential nominee insisted that he had no business dealings in Russia […]
Fact-checking the second day of the 2016 Democratic National Convention
The highlight of the second day of the Democratic National Convention was a sentimental and anecdotal speech by former President Bill Clinton. In contrast to many of his speeches, such as his address to the DNC in 2012, there were not many facts to check. Here’s a roundup of some of the most noteworthy claims […]
Fact-checking the first night of the 2016 Democratic National Convention
The opening night of the Democratic National Convention was designed to help foster unity between the Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton camps — and attack GOP nominee Donald Trump. Here’s a roundup of some of the most noteworthy claims that were made. As is our practice, we do not award Pinocchios for a roundup of claims […]
Did Donald Trump really say those things?
Donald Trump’s long history of making controversial statements is catnip for opposition researchers, because an attack ad can simply use the GOP presidential nominee’s voice. In an ad released by a super PAC affiliated with Emily’s List, ordinary Americans are asked to read Trump’s statements. Many refuse, although they later show the cards with the quotes […]
Fact checking Donald Trump’s acceptance speech at the 2016 RNC
The dark portrait of America that Donald J. Trump sketched in his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention is a compendium of doomsday stats that fall apart upon close scrutiny. Numbers are taken out of context, data is manipulated, and sometimes the facts are wrong. When facts are inconveniently positive — such as rising […]
New study: Far fewer juveniles engaged in sex trade than previously estimated
Regular readers of The Fact Checker know that we have looked skeptically at various estimates of the number of youths involved in the sex trade. All too often, the estimates were based on flimsy or out-of-date data, leading to estimates that strained credulity. Among the claims that fell apart under scrutiny: that 300,000 children are “at […]
Fact checking the third day of the 2016 Republican National Convention
On the third night of the Republican National Convention, GOP vice presidential nominee Mike Pence gave his acceptance address. Here’s a roundup of 11 of the most noteworthy claims that were made at the RNC, focused mostly on Pence’s remarks. As is our practice, we do not award Pinocchios for a roundup of claims made in convention […]
Fact checking the second day of the 2016 Republican National Convention
Hillary Clinton was often attacked, sometimes unfairly or out of context, on the second night of the republican National Convention. Here’s a roundup of some of the most noteworthy claims that were made. As is our practice, we do not award Pinocchios for a roundup of claims made in convention events. “You viciously attacked the character of […]
Pence vs. Clinton on the Iraq war vote ‘mistake’
DONALD TRUMP: But I was against the war in Iraq from the beginning LESLEY STAHL: Yeah, but you’ve used that vote of Hillary’s that was the same as Governor Pence . . . as the example of her bad judgment. TRUMP: Many people have, and, frankly, I’m one of the few that was right on Iraq. STAHL: […]
Fact-checking the first day of the 2016 Republican National Convention
The opening night of the Republican National Convention had a heavy law-and-order theme, with a particular focus on the 2012 Benghazi attacks. Here’s a round-up of some of most noteworthy claims that were made. As is our practice, we do not award Pinocchios for a roundup of claims made in convention events. “We were ready to go. But […]
Warren’s claim that advisory committees ‘formed’ during drafting of Trans-Pacific Partnership
“During the top-secret drafting process, 28 trade advisory committees were formed to whisper in the ear of our trade negotiators. Who sat on those committees? Eighty-five percent were senior corporation executives or industry lobbyists.” — Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), video message, July 7, 2016 Warren, an outspoken critic of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, criticized […]
Trump versus Clinton: The Pinocchio count so far
Both major-party candidates have unusually high disapproval ratings. But how do they compare on The Pinocchio Test? With the Republican and Democratic national conventions unfolding over the next two weeks, it seems an appropriate time to take stock of more than a year of fact checks of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. All told, The Washington Post […]
Obama’s strange claim that it is easier for teens to buy a Glock than get a book
“We flood communities with so many guns that it is easier for a teenager to buy a Glock than get his hands on a computer or even a book.” –President Obama, remarks at memorial service in Dallas, July 12, 2016 We received numerous reader requests for a fact-check into this claim, almost immediately after Obama said it […]
Trump correctly uses new statistic that there are 20 veteran suicides a day
“Veterans’ health care must also include the best mental health care. A shocking 20 veterans are committing suicide each and every day, especially our older veterans. This is a national tragedy that’s not talked about. The evidence shows that of veterans in the system receiving care, they are much less likely to take their own […]
Are most job-related deaths of police caused by traffic incidents?
“The majority of job related deaths for police officers is due to traffic accidents.” — claim circulating on Twitter Amid the heightened national focus on deaths by and of police officers, this particular claim circulating on Twitter caught our attention. It was accompanied by claims that other occupations — such as farmers, construction workers and truck […]
Huckabee’s claim that more white people were shot by police in 2015 than minorities
“More white people have been shot by police officers this past year than minorities.” –Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee (R), interview on Fox News Channel, July 9 On July 7, sniper fire from a lone gunman during a peaceful protest in Dallas killed five police officers and injured seven others. The gunman said that he was […]
Democrats’ still-misleading claim comparing Clinton emails to her predecessors’
“I’ve seen the authorities in my career in the House and Senate, I’ve seen federal authorities do their jobs regardless of political machinations and political pressure sometimes. I fully expect them to. And I think there won’t be an indictment. And I think that means she did what many secretaries of state have done in […]
Trump’s false claim that Saddam Hussein was ‘so good’ at ‘killing terrorists’
“We shouldn’t have destabilized — Saddam Hussein was a bad guy. Right? He was a bad guy. Really bad guy. But you know what, he did well. He killed terrorists. He did that so good.” — Donald Trump, speech in North Carolina, July 5, 2016 “Saddam Hussein, who’s a bad guy and all of that, but […]
Everything you wanted to know about Trump and the six-pointed star
Controversy over Trump’s tweet carrying the image of a six-pointed star similar to the Jewish Star of David became the subject of much scrutiny over the Fourth of July weekend. And Trump continues to face criticism. For readers who may have tuned in sporadically or missed it entirely, here’s a complete timeline of the facts of exactly […]
Recidivism Watch: Clinton’s claim about ‘marked classified’ material in her emails
“I never received nor sent any material that was marked classified.” — Hillary Clinton, interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” July 3 In her first TV appearance after voluntarily being interviewed by the FBI about her private email server, Clinton repeated one of her go-to lines saying that she did not send material that was “marked […]
Recidivism Watch: Trump’s misleading comparison of Clinton and Petraeus
“The system is rigged. General Petraeus got in trouble for far less. Very very unfair! As usual, bad judgment.” — Donald Trump, on Twitter, July 5 Trump repeated a Two-Pinocchio claim comparing the Hillary Clinton private email case with that of Gen. David Petraeus, the former CIA director who pleaded guilty last year to mishandling classified information he […]
Revisiting Clinton’s claim she used personal email out of ‘convenience,’ and it ‘was allowed’ by State Department
“First, when I got to work as Secretary of State, I opted for convenience to use my personal email account, which was allowed by the State Department, because I thought it would be easier to carry just one device for my work and for my personal emails instead of two.” –Hillary Clinton, news conference addressing […]
The most popular fact checks of June
June was a banner month for The Fact Checker, so we wanted to take a look at our five most-read columns of the month. We published several roundups of various claims in speeches by Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump last month, as both candidates entered general-election mode. We did not include speech roundups in this list, […]
Donald Trump’s claim that China ‘will enter’ the Trans-Pacific Partnership ‘at a later date’
“China will enter the TPP through the back door at a later date. They are watching, they are studying. They are not in it now, but are going to be in it. If it is good, they will be there. By the way, if it is no good, they’ll pass. It’s the same way, always […]
Pro-Trump group’s ad misrepresents Hillary Clinton’s comments about women
“So who is all for women until she isn’t? When Bill Cosby was accused of sexual assault, Mrs. Clinton tweeted, ‘Every survivor of sexual assault deserves to be believed.’ But when another Bill [Clinton] was accused of sexual assault? Not so much. … She savaged their dignity and shamed them. [Shows a video clip of Clinton […]
Why Donald Trump calls Elizabeth Warren ‘Pocahontas’
“Crooked Hillary is wheeling out one of the least productive senators in the U.S. Senate, goofy Elizabeth Warren, who lied on heritage.” — Donald Trump, post on Twitter, June 27, 2016 “Pocahontas is not happy, she’s not happy. She’s the worst. You know, Pocahontas — I’m doing such a disservice to Pocahontas, it’s so unfair to […]
Recidivism Watch: Hillary Clinton’s claim about her role in creating a child health program
“I know Democrats and Republicans can work together. I know it, because I have done it. I worked with Republicans and Democrats to create the Children’s Health Insurance program, which today insures eight million kids.” –Hillary Clinton, campaign rally in Cincinnati, Ohio, June 27, 2016 “I helped create the Children’s Health Insurance Program when I […]
Trump campaign’s claim that State Department gave $55.2 million to Laureate Education after hiring Bill Clinton
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