In his first broadcast interview since winning re-election last month, President-elect Donald Trump made several misleading and inaccurate claims on a variety of topics, many of which were central to his 2024 campaign.
The interview, which aired on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, saw Trump misrepresent several key issues. He exaggerated the impact of tariffs, overstated the number of unauthorized immigrants released under the Biden administration, falsely claimed that crime was at an “all-time high,” and made misleading statements about military spending and his own poll numbers.
Trade and the Economy
Trump made several inaccurate statements regarding the economy and trade during his interview. He falsely claimed that there was “no inflation” during his first term and that inflation only began to rise a year and a half into President Biden’s administration. In reality, inflation remained relatively low—between 1 and 2 percent—during Trump’s time in office, but it increased to 4.7 percent in 2021.
Trump also exaggerated the U.S. trade deficits with Canada and Mexico, claiming they were $100 billion and $300 billion, respectively. In fact, the trade deficit in goods and services with Canada was $41 billion, and with Mexico, it was $162 billion. A trade deficit means that consumers in one country are buying more from the other, not that money is being “given away.”
The President-elect also claimed that European nations do not import U.S. goods, including cars and food. However, Europe is the second-largest market for U.S. car exports, and in 2023, American exports to Europe totaled nearly $415 billion. He also stated that tariffs “cost Americans nothing,” despite widespread consensus among economists that tariffs are typically paid by consumers through higher prices.
Immigration
Trump made several false statements about immigration. He inaccurately claimed that over 13,000 immigrants who had committed murder were “released into our country over the last three years.” This number actually refers to immigrants who were not detained by immigration authorities, but they may still be in custody in local jails or prisons. The figure also includes immigrants who entered the U.S. over the past 40 years.
He also made an inaccurate claim about Venezuela’s prisons, saying they were at their “lowest point in terms of emptiness.” In reality, Venezuela’s prisons are severely overcrowded, with inmate populations remaining high.
Trump also overstated the situation in a Colorado town, claiming unauthorized immigrants were “literally taking over apartment complexes and doing it with impunity.” Local officials in Colorado denied these claims. Additionally, Trump falsely asserted that the U.S. was the only country that grants citizenship to any child born within its borders, though more than 30 other countries have similar policies.
Other Claims
In addition to false statements about crime and immigration, Trump also made several inaccurate claims on other topics. He falsely stated that crime was at an “all-time high,” despite crime rates not reaching such levels.
He claimed to have secured “hundreds of billions of dollars” for NATO through a “tough attitude.” While he did push NATO countries to meet military spending targets, those goals were set in 2014, before Trump took office.
Lastly, Trump claimed that just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, his approval ratings were the highest they had ever been. In reality, his approval rating in late February 2020 was 48 percent, lower than all but three of his predecessors at the same point in their presidencies.
This interview showcased the continued use of misleading claims by the President-elect, many of which were central to his campaign rhetoric.
Related topics:
- Trump’s Mass Deportation Plans Target Immigrants Who Came to the U.S. Legally
- Boston City Council Votes to Uphold Sanctuary Status, Gears Up for Trump’s Immigration Policies
- Trump Appoints New ICE Chief and Unveils Latest Immigration Plans
