A fact check of Trump’s State of the Union finds exaggerations on inflation, gas prices and immigration
PolitiFact examined several of the president’s claims about the economy, immigration and crime during the longest State of the Union on record
In a combative State of the Union speech — the longest in modern history at about 108 minutes — President Donald Trump defended his administration’s economic performance and hardline immigration agenda amid sagging poll numbers ahead of the midterm elections.
Trump boasted that inflation is plummeting and gas prices are lower. He also defended his immigration efforts, which have caused turmoil in Democratic-run cities and resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens shot by immigration agents.
Trump called on legislators to stand and show their support if they agree that the “first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.” That garnered a prolonged standing ovation from Republicans and silence from seated Democrats, prompting Trump to say they should be “ashamed of themselves.”
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