A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center
The president revises history, exaggerates accomplishments and makes false claims.
President Trump answered critics who said he waited too long to condemn the white nationalists who staged a protest in Charlottesville, Virginia that turned violent. We put into context some of his statements.
Democratic TV ads warn seniors that “right now, your Medicare coverage is in danger” of “deep, automatic cuts” by “unelected Washington bureaucrats.” But those cuts, according to current estimates, wouldn’t be implemented until 2023, and they would amount to a fraction of Medicare growth that year.
Rep. Lamar Smith said climate change “alarmists” ignore the “positive impacts” of more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, such as increased food production and quality. But the impact of increased CO2 levels on agriculture is more complicated than that — and, on balance, likely negative, particularly in the future.
President Donald Trump said “bailouts for insurance companies” would “end very soon” if Congress didn’t pass a new health care bill. Sen. Susan Collins said the payments aren’t a bailout, “but rather help people who are very low-income afford their out-of-pocket costs.” Trump distorts the facts.
In this fact-checking video, CNN’s Jake Tapper and FactCheck.org examine the comments that President Donald Trump made to supporters in Arizona about the violent rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
A campaign ad attacking Republican Sen. Jeff Flake falsely says that he hasn’t worked with President Donald Trump to “repeal Obamacare.”
Q: Is a Craigslist ad proof that counterprotesters at a white nationalist rally were “paid to make chaos”?
A: No. The ad called for “actors and photographers” in Charlotte, North Carolina, not Charlottesville, Virginia, where the rally took place.
The president revises history, exaggerates accomplishments and makes false claims.
Q: Were the police in Charlottesville, Virginia, told to “stand down” to allow the violent clashes that occurred on Aug. 12?
A: The police chief, mayor and city spokeswoman say there is no truth to that claim. Others have criticized what they describe as slow police action.
Q: Does a video corroborate a belief by Charlottesville police officers that the driver in the fatal car attack at a white nationalist rally “was not acting maliciously”?
A: No. Police have charged James Alex Fields Jr. with multiple offenses, including second-degree murder and “aggravated malicious wounding.”
Q: Did the man who drove his car into a crowd of counterprotesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, meet with former President Obama in the White House?
A: No. A satirical website confuses the driver with the organizer of the rally, who is rumored to have been a past Obama supporter.
This year, SciCheck writer Vanessa Schipani has appeared on NBC10 in Philadelphia several times to discuss some of her stories.
President Donald Trump claimed that his administration is “spending a lot of money on the inner cities.” But there has been little change in spending so far, and his first budget proposes to cut or eliminate funding for some programs that benefit cities.
President Trump answered critics who said he waited too long to condemn the white nationalists who staged a protest in Charlottesville, Virginia that turned violent. We put into context some of his statements.
Donate Now
Because facts matter.
SciCheck
Fact-checking science-based claims.
Health Watch
Fact-checking the health care debate.
Trump Transcripts
Annotated transcripts of Trump’s remarks.
Facebook Initiative
Debunking fake news stories.
State of the Union
Our fact-checking video collaboration.
Sign Up
Get free email alerts.
Ask SciCheck
Answers to your science questions.
Viral Spiral
Don’t get spun by internet rumors.
The Quiz
Test your political knowledge.
On the Air
Our staff on TV and radio.
Party Lines
Misleading political talking points.
Mailbag
Letters from our readers.
FlackCheck.org
Our sister site for political literacy.
