Palm Beach, FL – August 8, 2024 – Former President Donald Trump’s press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday was marked by a series of misleading and false claims, and prompting a wave of fact-checking.
False Claims About Migrants and Global Prisons
Trump reiterated his controversial assertion that migrants are being deliberately sent to the U.S. from global prisons and mental health facilities. “Why is it that millions of people were allowed to come into our country from prisons, from jails, from mental institutions, insane asylums?” he questioned, suggesting that these facilities are being emptied worldwide to inundate the U.S.
Fact Check: There is no evidence supporting Trump’s claim. Investigations by CNN and other fact-checking organizations have found no proof that jails and mental health facilities are being emptied to send migrants to the U.S. This claim has been repeatedly debunked, with no corroborative evidence from either anti-immigration or pro-immigration sources.
Misrepresentation of Harris’s Role
Trump also claimed that Vice President Kamala Harris was a “border czar” under the Biden administration and had “never been to the border,” dismissing her 2021 visit as inadequate.
Fact Check: Trump’s assertion is incorrect on multiple fronts. Harris did visit the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas in mid-2021. Additionally, Harris was not appointed as a “border czar.” Her role was focused on diplomatic efforts with Central American countries to address root causes of migration, not direct border management as Trump suggested.
False Claims About Harris’s Bar Exam
Trump continued to spread falsehoods about Harris’s legal qualifications, claiming she “couldn’t pass her bar exam.”
Fact Check: Harris did fail her bar exam on her first attempt, but she passed on her subsequent try and was admitted to the California bar in 1990. Trump’s comments misrepresent the facts, implying she never passed when she did ultimately succeed.
Inaccurate Statements on January 6
During the press conference, Trump inaccurately stated that “nobody was killed on Jan. 6.”
Fact Check: This claim is false. The January 6 Capitol riot resulted in the death of Ashli Babbitt, who was shot by Capitol Police, and three other individuals who died of medical emergencies. Officer Brian Sicknick, who was attacked during the riot, died of strokes the following day, with his condition exacerbated by the events.
Electric Vehicle Mandates Misconstrued
Trump claimed Democrats would force everyone to buy electric vehicles (EVs) if they win the 2024 election.
Fact Check: This assertion is incorrect. President Joe Biden has not mandated that all Americans must buy EVs. His administration has introduced regulations to promote the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles, but no policy requires universal EV purchases or bans gasoline-powered cars.
Exaggeration of Energy Prices’ Impact on Inflation
Trump suggested that the U.S. wouldn’t have faced inflation without “bad energy problems” during Biden’s administration.
Fact Check: This claim is misleading. While the spike in gas prices due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine contributed to inflation, other factors such as pandemic-related demand and labor shortages also played significant roles. Additionally, domestic oil production in 2022 was higher compared to Trump’s presidency.
Addressing inquiries about his recovery from a recent assassination attempt, Trump reported that his ear has “pretty much recovered.” Remarkably, in just 13 days, the 2cm wound healed so quickly that medical professionals are now questioning the severity of the injury. Trump attributes this swift recovery to his exceptional healing abilities.
“I’m a fast healer,” he declared, emphasizing, “It was a hell of a shot, but I’m a fast healer.”
He also praised the FBI’s handling of the investigation into his assassination attempt, describing their efforts as “very good.”
Trump also downplayed the significance of abortion as an election issue, stating it is “much less of an issue” and reaffirming his support for exceptions in cases of rape, incest, and threats to the mother’s life.
Trump’s press conference reflects a pattern of contentious and factually challenged rhetoric as the 2024 election approaches, continuing to stir debate and scrutiny on multiple fronts.
