Facebook Twitter Tumblr Close Skip to main content
A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Trump’s Latest False Claim About the U.S.-China Trade Deficit

Trump’s Latest False Claim About the U.S.-China Trade Deficit

The total U.S. trade deficit with China in goods and services in 2023 was about $252 billion, the lowest it has been in 14 years. Former President Donald Trump was way off when he falsely claimed that the U.S.-China trade gap is about four times as high.

Exaggerated Claims Circulate About Judge Merchan’s Family

Exaggerated Claims Circulate About Judge Merchan’s Family

Social media posts seeking to discredit the judge who presided over former President Donald Trump’s criminal case in New York have been circulating online. Contrary to a popular meme, the judge’s wife works for a Republican district attorney, not the Democratic state attorney general, and his daughter was not personally paid by a high-profile Democrat.

Posts Misleadingly Link Town Clerk’s Case to 2020 Presidential Election

Posts Misleadingly Link Town Clerk’s Case to 2020 Presidential Election

A Michigan town clerk pleaded no contest in 2023 to a charge of misconduct in office. Social media posts misleadingly highlight her case to push the false narrative that the 2020 presidential election was “rigged.” The clerk’s case was related to her local primary race, not the presidential election.

Trump Distorts New Regulation Extending ‘Obamacare’ to DACA Recipients

Trump Distorts New Regulation Extending ‘Obamacare’ to DACA Recipients

A new Biden administration rule will make recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals eligible to obtain health insurance plans established by the Affordable Care Act. But former President Donald Trump has mischaracterized the regulation, claiming that it is “giving Obamacare and all free government health care to illegal aliens.”

Partisans Distort Proposed MOMS Act and Website for Pregnancy Resources

Partisans Distort Proposed MOMS Act and Website for Pregnancy Resources

Republican Sen. Katie Britt has introduced a bill that would create a government website to help connect pregnant people with resources, excluding abortion services. Some Democrats and partisan websites have misleadingly claimed the proposed law would create a federal database of pregnant people. The bill doesn’t require users to provide any personal information.

Social Media Posts Circulate Altered Image of Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels

Social Media Posts Circulate Altered Image of Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels

Adult film star Stormy Daniels recently testified at the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump, who is charged with falsifying records during his 2016 campaign to conceal an affair with Daniels. Social media posts falsely claim to show evidence of the affair by sharing a fake, digitally altered photo of Donald and Melania Trump with Daniels.

‘Who Is Bobby Kennedy?’ Video Promotes Debunked Anti-Vaccine Narratives

‘Who Is Bobby Kennedy?’ Video Promotes Debunked Anti-Vaccine Narratives

A recent video promoting independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promises to “start with some irrefutable facts.” The over 30-minute video, narrated by actor Woody Harrelson, begins with some biographical truths about the candidate, but veers into promoting various debunked or unsupported narratives about vaccines.

FactChecking Biden on Inflation, Other Claims

FactChecking Biden on Inflation, Other Claims

When President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, the U.S. annual rate of inflation was 1.4% — far from the 9% inflation Biden falsely said in a May 8 interview that he inherited. Inflation rose quickly in Biden’s first year, but it didn’t hit 9% until 17 months into his presidency.

Posts Misrepresent Unfreezing of $16 Billion in Iranian Funds

Posts Misrepresent Unfreezing of $16 Billion in Iranian Funds

A recent deal involving a prisoner swap and the extension of a Trump-era waiver have freed $16 billion in previously frozen Iranian funds. Social media posts distort the sources of the money to falsely claim “Joe Biden gave 16 billion to Iran.” The Iranian money has been unfrozen with restrictions that it be used for humanitarian purposes.