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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Trump, Musk Exaggerate Scale of Improper Social Security Payments to the Dead

Trump, Musk Exaggerate Scale of Improper Social Security Payments to the Dead

President Donald Trump incorrectly interpreted data shared by Elon Musk when he misleadingly claimed on Feb. 18 that “millions and millions of people over 100 years old” may be receiving improper benefits from Social Security. In fact, only about 89,000 people aged 99 or older received benefits from Social Security last year.

No Basis for Corruption Accusations About USAID Administrator

No Basis for Corruption Accusations About USAID Administrator

President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk have suggested without evidence that officials at the U.S. Agency for International Development may have siphoned off taxpayer money for themselves, echoing false social media claims about the former administrator’s net worth.

Trump’s False and Misleading Ukraine Claims

Trump’s False and Misleading Ukraine Claims

After U.S. and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia to discuss an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, President Donald Trump made several false and misleading statements about the conflict and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Trump Executive Order Targets COVID-19 Vaccines No Longer Required for Most U.S. Students

Trump Executive Order Targets COVID-19 Vaccines No Longer Required for Most U.S. Students

President Donald Trump this month issued an executive order prohibiting discretionary federal funds from going to schools and colleges or universities that require students to get a COVID-19 vaccine. But there currently are no states that require the vaccines for students, and only a few colleges or universities continue to have such a mandate.

Trump Distorts the Facts in Attack on the Courts

Trump Distorts the Facts in Attack on the Courts

In several court cases, federal judges have temporarily blocked the Trump administration from broadly cutting or freezing federal spending. President Donald Trump claimed that the judges “want to try and stop us from looking for corruption” and “hold us back from finding all of this fraud.” But the court orders don’t stop investigations into corruption or fraud.

Trump’s Exaggeration of Federal Work from Home

Trump’s Exaggeration of Federal Work from Home

President Donald Trump made the exaggerated claim that federal office space is “occupied by 4%” of federal workers to bolster his argument for dramatically downsizing the federal workforce and demanding that most workers return to the office full time.

Trump, Online Posts Misrepresent Government Subscriptions to News Services

Trump, Online Posts Misrepresent Government Subscriptions to News Services

Both the Biden and Trump administrations subscribed to Politico and other news services. But President Donald Trump and online posts have misleadingly claimed the media outlets were being funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development. The payments from USAID and other federal departments or agencies were for subscriptions.

Trump on U.S. Imports of Oil and Lumber

Trump on U.S. Imports of Oil and Lumber

Days before he ordered, and then paused, new tariffs on U.S. imports from Canada and Mexico, President Donald Trump argued that the U.S. does not need imported products such as crude oil and lumber from those countries. Experts told us it’s not that simple.

Sorting Out the Facts on ‘Waste and Abuse’ at USAID

Sorting Out the Facts on ‘Waste and Abuse’ at USAID

As President Donald Trump’s administration targets the U.S. Agency for International Development for closure or major downsizing, the White House and social media posts have highlighted four projects as examples of the agency’s “waste and abuse.” But only one was funded by USAID.

Trump Wrong About U.S. Rank in Education Spending and Outcomes

Trump Wrong About U.S. Rank in Education Spending and Outcomes

As justification for dismantling the federal Department of Education, President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that U.S. schools are “ranked 40 out of 40” in educational outcomes compared with other countries, while the U.S. “ranked No. 1 in cost per pupil.” Neither claim is accurate.