Our annual roundup of the worst falsehoods of the year.
Whoppers of 2024
Issues: FEMA
Donald Trump’s Closing Arguments
In his third campaign for the nation’s top office, former President Donald Trump’s closing messages have run the gamut, touching on the economy, immigration, the military, crime, taxes and more. In lengthy speeches, he rattles off a stream of claims. We reviewed Trump’s remarks from Oct. 18 through Oct. 22.
Online Videos Share Fabricated Story About FEMA and Marines on Maui
The Federal Emergency Management Agency operates a Disaster Recovery Center on Maui and has approved $7 million in assistance to thousands of wildfire survivors. Online videos, however, are sharing a fabricated tale about FEMA’s operations, including a “shootout” with U.S. Marines. The bogus story originated on a satirical website.
What Vice President Harris Said — And Didn’t Say — About Hurricane Relief
Vice President Kamala Harris spoke about the need to provide “resources” for climate change mitigation “based on equity.” Republicans misleadingly claimed Harris said the Biden administration would provide federal hurricane relief based on race. We put her remarks in context.
Trump Distorts the Facts on Disaster Relief
President Donald Trump falsely claimed that Democrats “are trying to stop” disaster relief aid from going to several states. This is an old political trick of claiming the other party doesn’t support something, when both parties support it but have pushed different versions of the legislation.
Trump Misleads on Aid to Puerto Rico
President Donald Trump claims that “Puerto Rico got 91 Billion Dollars for the hurricane” and that it received “more money than has ever been gotten for a hurricane before.” Neither of those statements is true.
Were Funds Shifted Away from Hurricane Relief?
As Hurricane Florence continued to threaten the East Coast, Sen. Jeff Merkley released a document that he said shows nearly $10 million that could have been used for hurricane recovery efforts was diverted from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to immigration enforcement. The Department of Homeland Security insisted no relief funding was taken from FEMA. We review the facts.
Puerto Rican Teamsters Stories are Bogus
Q: Did a Teamsters strike hinder aid efforts in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria?
A: No. Stories claiming so misrepresented an actual quote from an Air Force colonel.
Overstating Impact of Funding Stalemate
Some Democrats overstated the potential impacts of a congressional stalemate that threatens to leave the Department of Homeland Security without funding after Feb. 27.