47The 47 Files
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False & misleading claims

A presidential claim can shape the argument long before it is checked. Here, the statement stays beside the evidence: what Trump asserted, what the record supports and what his account leaves out. Start with a subject or a remembered phrase, then follow the sources behind the assessment.

Explore the claims ↓

121 researched entries. Statements are paraphrased unless explicitly quoted. “False” means contradicted by evidence; “Misleading” means the framing omits material context; “Unsubstantiated / disputed” means the reviewed evidence is insufficient.

30,573Washington Post first-term false / misleading claim instances
≈21 / daypublisher’s first-term average
121dated entries searchable on this site

The scale of repetition

Washington Post · rounded average instances per day by year in office

First year
6
Second year
16
Third year
22
Fourth year
39

The Washington Post recorded 30,573 false or misleading assertions during Trump’s first term, including repeated claims. The chart shows its rounded yearly averages.

Explore the original searchable database ↗︎

Read the publisher’s summary preserved in a congressional exhibit ↗︎

Follow the false claims

Explore statements from both presidencies and the campaigns between them. Each dated entry links to published fact-checks and supporting evidence, making repeated claims easier to trace.

Open at the publisher if playback is unavailable ↗︎

Second term: documented snapshots

Published counts from specific periods and appearances, rather than a running total for the second term.

100separate false claims · first 100 days

CNN selected 100 distinct false claims made after the January 20, 2025, inauguration. Its list is not exhaustive and does not count every repetition.

Read CNN’s fact-checks · April 29, 2025 ↗︎
32false or misleading claims · one TIME interview
Read the Washington Post analysis · April 30, 2025 ↗︎

These counts cover different samples and may overlap. They should not be added together or compared directly with the first-term daily averages.

121 matching claims

Matching claims by assessment

Unsubstantiated / disputed
10
False
76
Misleading
35
Unsubstantiated / disputedHealth · Sep 9, 2026

Americans now paid the world’s lowest prescription-drug prices.

Paraphrased statement · Republican midterm convention · Dallas

Why this assessment

Selected agreements did not establish that universal international comparison.

Context & supporting evidence

Context

Assessment concerns this dated statement, not every version of the argument.

Concise evidence summary; open the linked analysis and its underlying sources for the full reasoning.

Evidence review: Sep 13, 2026
FalseCost of living · Sep 9, 2026

Food and nearly every other price were rapidly falling.

Paraphrased statement · Republican midterm convention · Dallas

Why this assessment

Available price indexes showed overall increases, despite some cheaper items.

Context & supporting evidence

Context

Assessment concerns this dated statement, not every version of the argument.

Concise evidence summary; open the linked analysis and its underlying sources for the full reasoning.

Evidence review: Sep 13, 2026
Unsubstantiated / disputedEconomy · Sep 9, 2026

$20 trillion had already been invested from abroad.

Paraphrased statement · Republican midterm convention · Dallas

Why this assessment

The claim exceeded even the White House’s speculative commitments tally.

Context & supporting evidence

Context

Assessment concerns this dated statement, not every version of the argument.

Concise evidence summary; open the linked analysis and its underlying sources for the full reasoning.

Evidence review: Sep 13, 2026
FalseImmigration · Sep 9, 2026

Zero people entered illegally through the southern border for 15 months.

Paraphrased statement · Republican midterm convention · Dallas

Why this assessment

Low crossing numbers and zero releases do not establish zero unlawful entries.

Context & supporting evidence

Context

Assessment concerns this dated statement, not every version of the argument.

Concise evidence summary; open the linked analysis and its underlying sources for the full reasoning.

Evidence review: Sep 13, 2026
Unsubstantiated / disputedImmigration · Feb 24, 2026

Fentanyl flow fell by a record 56%.

Paraphrased statement · State of the Union · US Capitol

Why this assessment

Seizures measure interceptions, not total trafficking; the claimed flow reduction was unproven.

Context & supporting evidence

Context

Assessment concerns this dated statement, not every version of the argument.

Concise evidence summary; open the linked analysis and its underlying sources for the full reasoning.

Evidence review: Sep 13, 2026
FalseEnergy · Feb 24, 2026

Gasoline averaged below $2.30 in most states.

Paraphrased statement · State of the Union · US Capitol

Why this assessment

No state average was that low at the time.

Context & supporting evidence

Context

Assessment concerns this dated statement, not every version of the argument.

Concise evidence summary; open the linked analysis and its underlying sources for the full reasoning.

Evidence review: Sep 13, 2026
MisleadingCost of living · Feb 24, 2026

Prices overall were plummeting.

Paraphrased statement · State of the Union · US Capitol

Why this assessment

Slower inflation still meant the overall price level was rising.

Context & supporting evidence

Context

Assessment concerns this dated statement, not every version of the argument.

Concise evidence summary; open the linked analysis and its underlying sources for the full reasoning.

Evidence review: Sep 13, 2026
MisleadingTaxes · Feb 24, 2026

Tariff receipts funded the $1,776 military bonus.

Paraphrased statement · State of the Union · US Capitol

Why this assessment

The payment used funds originally allocated to housing allowances.

Context & supporting evidence

Context

Assessment concerns this dated statement, not every version of the argument.

Concise evidence summary; open the linked analysis and its underlying sources for the full reasoning.

Evidence review: Sep 13, 2026
FalseHealth · Dec 17, 2025

Drug prices were cut by 400% to 600%.

Paraphrased statement · Televised address to the nation

Why this assessment

A price reduction cannot exceed 100% without the price becoming negative.

Context & supporting evidence

Context

Assessment concerns this dated statement, not every version of the argument.

Concise evidence summary; open the linked analysis and its underlying sources for the full reasoning.

Evidence review: Sep 13, 2026
MisleadingCost of living · Dec 17, 2025

Egg prices were down 82% from March.

Paraphrased statement · Televised address to the nation

Why this assessment

That figure corresponded to wholesale prices, not the decline consumers saw at retail.

Context & supporting evidence

Context

Assessment concerns this dated statement, not every version of the argument.

Concise evidence summary; open the linked analysis and its underlying sources for the full reasoning.

Evidence review: Sep 13, 2026
FalseEconomy · Dec 17, 2025

Inflation had stopped.

Paraphrased statement · Televised address to the nation

Why this assessment

The subsequent November CPI release recorded a 2.7% annual increase.

Context & supporting evidence

Context

Assessment concerns this dated statement, not every version of the argument.

Concise evidence summary; open the linked analysis and its underlying sources for the full reasoning.

Evidence review: Sep 13, 2026
MisleadingEmployment · Dec 17, 2025

Wages were outpacing inflation for the first time in years.

Paraphrased statement · Televised address to the nation

Why this assessment

Year-over-year real wage gains had resumed in June 2023.

Context & supporting evidence

Context

Assessment concerns this dated statement, not every version of the argument.

Concise evidence summary; open the linked analysis and its underlying sources for the full reasoning.

Evidence review: Sep 13, 2026