Both presidential candidates appeared on Fox News on Oct. 16 — former President Donald Trump in a town hall with women voters in Georgia and Vice President Kamala Harris in an interview with Bret Baier. We fact-checked their remarks.
Person: Donald Trump
Pence Hasn’t Endorsed Harris, Contrary to Edited Video on Social Media
Former Vice President Mike Pence has said he will not endorse former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election, but Pence has also said he “could never” vote for Trump’s opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. An edited video on social media misleadingly purports to show Pence endorsing Harris. He did not.
Trump’s Spin on Tax Cuts Raising Revenues
Misinformation Floods Hurricane Season
Trump’s False Claims of ‘No Help’ or Helicopters Sent for Helene Victims
In his continued attack on the federal response to Hurricane Helene, former President Donald Trump falsely said that no helicopters and no help were sent to the affected areas for days, blaming Vice President Kamala Harris. There’s plenty of evidence that helicopters have been used and that federal, state and local disaster recovery teams have responded to help victims of the storm.
Posts Make Misleading Claims About FEMA’s Future Under Trump
Social media posts misleadingly claim that “Trump’s Project 2025 will end” the Federal Emergency Management Agency and provide “ZERO federal help” to disaster victims. Project 2025 is not former President Donald Trump’s plan, and there is no evidence that he would “end” FEMA. In fact, his administration spent tens of billions on disaster aid when he was president.
Posts Misrepresent Federal Response, Funding for Hurricane Helene Victims
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has provided more than $210 million in immediate assistance to communities affected by Hurricane Helene, which the Department of Homeland Security secretary has described as the start of “a multibillion-dollar, multiyear recovery.” Social media posts make the false claim that storm victims are getting “only $750,” and misleadingly compare that to foreign aid.
Trump’s False Claim of Stolen Disaster Relief Funds
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said that no funds intended for disaster relief have been used to pay for programs that respond to illegal immigration. But former President Donald Trump has falsely claimed that the Biden administration “stole” money for hurricane recovery and spent it on housing for people in the U.S. illegally.
Harris’ Position on Health Care for Transgender Prisoners and Detainees
Update, Oct. 18: Vice President Kamala Harris expanded on her position on gender-affirming care for prisoners during an Oct. 16 Fox News interview, following a question prompted by a Trump television ad on the topic. “I will follow the law, and it’s a law that Donald Trump actually followed,” Harris said, likely referring to legal requirements that the government provide medical care to prisoners, including necessary gender-affirming care. “You’re probably familiar with —
Trump Ad on Taxes Uses Deceptive Political Playbook
In a classic example of how political ads mislead viewers by using out-of-context quotes, a TV ad from former President Donald Trump’s campaign cites the New York Times as saying Vice President Kamala Harris “is seeking to significantly raise taxes.” Period, end of sentence. The rest of that sentence in the Times said: “on the wealthiest Americans and large corporations.”