Fact Check: Trump's Claims During Debate on Crime, Immigration and Project 2025: US Presidential Debate 2024 | World News

During the debate, Trump claimed that crime in the United States is out of control, stating that “crime is going way up.”

Fact check: According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), violent crime in the United States has been declining since a peak in 2020. A 2023 FBI report showed a 6 percent decline in violent crime, with another 15 percent decline in early 2024. The increase in crime in 2020 was largely attributed to the instability caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, but recent data suggests a reversal of this trend.

Claim: Abortions take place in the ninth month of pregnancy

Trump repeated the often-refuted claim that abortions are performed late in pregnancy, even as late as the ninth month.

Fact check: Abortions after 21 weeks of pregnancy are rare, accounting for less than 1 percent of all procedures, and are usually performed due to serious medical complications or fetal abnormalities. Moreover, Trump's claim that abortions are performed after birth – a case of infanticide – is not only false, but also illegal in all 50 U.S. states.

Claim: Trump's connections to Project 2025

Project 2025, a right-wing plan for a comprehensive restructuring of the federal government, has raised concerns over its proposals to eliminate key protections for reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights and voting rights. Trump denied any involvement with the project during the debate.

Fact check: Although Trump denies it, evidence suggests that his administration is working closely with Project 2025. The Heritage Foundation, which leads the initiative, has hosted Trump on several occasions. The project's key figures are former Trump administration officials, making it difficult for Trump to credibly distance himself from its goals.

Claim: Immigrants bring violence to US cities

Among Trump's most alarming statements was his claim that immigrants were “taking over the cities” and engaging in violent behavior, adding that immigrants were responsible for the consumption of pets in an Ohio city.

Fact check: There are no credible reports that immigrants have been involved in violent activity in Ohio or elsewhere in the U.S. Studies consistently show that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than native-born U.S. citizens. Local authorities in Springfield, Ohio, where Trump claimed pets were eaten, have also denied those allegations.

Claim: 2020 election lawsuits were not heard by judges

Regarding the controversial 2020 election, Trump claimed that lawsuits challenging the election results were dismissed on technicalities, particularly lack of standing, and that judges never examined the evidence.

Fact check: This is misleading. While some lawsuits have been dismissed for lack of standing, others have been judged on their merits. Judges in several states have concluded that the evidence presented was either speculative or insufficient to prove fraud or irregularities.

Claim: The US had its “best economy” under Trump

Trump boasted that the United States had experienced its strongest economy during his time in office. Harris countered that Trump had left the country with the highest unemployment since the Great Depression.

Fact check: Both claims are exaggerated. While unemployment rose to historic highs during the Covid-19 pandemic, the economy began to recover before Trump left office. Trump's claim that he has the “best economy” under his control is also misleading, as various economic indicators such as gross domestic product and the trade deficit were far from ideal during his time in office. Under his leadership, the U.S. economy experienced significant fluctuations but did not peak.

Claim: The Central Park Five were guilty

Despite their rehabilitation, Trump maintained his stance on the “Central Park Five” – five black teenagers wrongfully convicted of assault and rape in 1989 – and called them guilty.

First published: September 11, 2024 | 10:37 a.m. IS