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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Reagan’s Words on Tariffs

Reagan’s Words on Tariffs

An ad campaign from the government of Ontario featured audio of former President Ronald Reagan denouncing tariffs on foreign goods. The video rearranges what Reagan said in a 1987 radio address, and it ignores some of the context. But it does not alter the former president’s sentiments, contrary to President Donald Trump’s claim that Canada “lied.”

Biden Promise on SCOTUS Nominee Not Unique

Biden Promise on SCOTUS Nominee Not Unique

At a 1980 campaign event, Ronald Reagan promised to appoint a woman to the Supreme Court if elected. President Trump, while running for reelection, announced at a campaign rally that he would appoint a woman. Sen. Susan Collins said President Biden’s campaign promise to appoint a Black woman to the court “isn’t exactly the same.” We review the facts.

Marx, Engels Quote Falsely Attributed to Reagan

Marx, Engels Quote Falsely Attributed to Reagan

A meme circulating on Facebook wrongly attributes a statement about guns to former President Ronald Reagan. The quote is actually from Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, co-authors of The Communist Manifesto.

Trump Retweets Made-up Reagan Quote

Trump Retweets Made-up Reagan Quote

There’s no evidence President Ronald Reagan predicted Donald Trump would be president, as a meme shared by Trump falsely claims.

No Support for Supposed Reagan Quote

No Support for Supposed Reagan Quote

There is no evidence to support social media posts attributing a quote about Nancy Pelosi to former President Ronald Reagan.

Trump Wrong About Wisconsin Election Results

Trump Wrong About Wisconsin Election Results

President Donald Trump got his election history wrong when he said that Ronald Reagan lost Wisconsin, and that before his 2016 win, no GOP presidential candidate had won the state since Dwight Eisenhower in 1952.

Rubio, Cruz on Reagan and Hostages

Rubio, Cruz on Reagan and Hostages

Sens. Rubio and Cruz have implied that Iran released U.S. hostages in 1981 on the day Ronald Reagan was inaugurated because Reagan ushered in a new foreign policy. But several experts on the crisis told us the timing was a final insult to President Jimmy Carter, whom the hostage-takers despised.

Obama’s Actions ‘Same’ as Past Presidents?

Obama’s Actions ‘Same’ as Past Presidents?

President Obama repeatedly claimed that there is presidential precedent for the executive actions he took on immigration. But are the actions Obama announced really the “same kinds of actions” taken by past presidents?

Presidential Vacations

Presidential Vacations

Q: Is it true that George W. Bush took more vacation days than Barack Obama?
A: Yes. Before his two-week trip to Martha’s Vineyard in August, Obama’s count was 125 full or partial days and Bush’s total at the same point in his presidency was 407.

Rand Paul’s Supply-side Distortion

Rand Paul’s Supply-side Distortion

Sen. Paul claimed that 20 million jobs were created after Ronald Reagan’s dramatic tax cuts in the 1980s, and that this was the “last time” such job growth took place. Paul is wrong on both counts.