FactCheck: Unpacking Trump’s Bold Claims at the GOP Convention

In a highly anticipated speech, former President Donald Trump addressed an audience, recounting the details of an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania on July 13. For the initial half-hour, he emphasized the need for national unity. However, he subsequently shifted to a series of familiar, yet discredited claims that have been prominent in his narratives over the years.

During his address, Trump attributed his survival to glancing at a chart on illegal immigration at the critical moment. This chart, he claimed, epitomized the success of his immigration policies, although it misleadingly marked April 2020 as the end of his term—a low point due to the pandemic, rather than a reflection of his last week in office.

The former president once more asserted that fraud and cheating were responsible for his 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden. This assertion has repeatedly been debunked by multiple court rulings and election officials, who have cited the 2020 election as the “most secure in American history.” Trump’s aides had also advised him that these fraud allegations were baseless.

Trump’s son, Eric Trump, inaccurately described the U.S. economy as struggling in 2016, suggesting jobs were scarce before his father’s presidency. Statistics, however, indicate 76 consecutive months of job growth under the Obama administration, with job openings surging to record levels.

The former president further claimed that 107% of U.S. jobs were now taken by illegal aliens, with Black and Hispanic Americans allegedly suffering the most. Yet, data shows an increase in employment for both demographics since Biden took office. Moreover, the employment of foreign-born workers, encompassing legal immigrants, has increased, contradicting Trump’s assertion.

Trump also reiterated that Democrats would destroy Social Security and Medicare due to illegal immigration. Contrary to this claim, unauthorized workers contribute to these programs’ finances without benefiting from them. Additionally, Trump accused Biden of causing unprecedented inflation. Historical data, however, identifies the largest spike in inflation in 1919-1920, with inflation under Biden peaking at 9.1% in June 2022.

Another frequent claim by Trump is that foreign countries are emptying their prisons and mental institutions and sending these individuals to the U.S. Experts have consistently found no evidence supporting this narrative.

Echoing Trump’s remarks, former wrestler Hulk Hogan and Eric Trump falsely asserted a crime surge under Biden’s administration. In reality, violent crime has declined during Biden’s tenure. Overdose deaths were another focal point, with Eric Trump criticizing the administration’s efforts. Nonetheless, data indicate that drug overdose deaths have stabilized recently, with the Biden administration allocating significant funding to combat the crisis.

Trump’s allegations of Biden planning to quadruple taxes were also unfounded. Biden’s tax proposals predominantly target high-income earners and corporations, aiming to increase investments in child tax credits and other social programs. Additionally, Trump misleadingly claimed that his administration executed the largest tax cut, whereas historical comparisons reveal more significant reductions in previous decades.

On the topic of IRS staffing, Trump claimed 88,000 agents were hired to target middle-income Americans. Most hires, however, aim to replace retiring employees and enhance customer service, not to increase enforcement on lower-income individuals.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo inaccurately stated that Biden had not addressed American hostages held by Hamas. Biden has publicly discussed ongoing efforts to secure their release multiple times.

Trump also repeated well-worn points about electric vehicles, the defeat of ISIS, and the withdrawal from Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. Many of these assertions exaggerate his administration’s accomplishments while negating factual timelines and contributions from previous administrations.

In summary, Trump’s speech revisited numerous debunked claims and hyperbolic assertions, reinforcing narratives inconsistent with verified data and historical records.