Trump is deceiving himself regarding the television debate mismatch.
During a televised debate, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump tackled significant societal issues in the United States and their prospective presidencies. They touched upon inflation, environmental concerns, and abortion rights, implying their respective solutions. A fact-check ensues:
Approaching the upcoming U.S. elections, the two leading presidential nominees, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, engaged in a spirited debate in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They criticized each other for mismanaging the country, lacking clear agendas, and disseminating fabrications. Here's a factual analysis:
Economic Situation and Labor Market:
Trump: "Under President Biden and Kamala Harris, the United States has experienced record-breaking inflation."
Rating: Misleading.
The United States has experienced the highest inflation since its inception in 1776, with a 29.78% annual rate in 1778. Defined by the Consumer Price Index, the record-breaking inflation rate occurred in 1917, at 20.49%.
While inflation was lower under Trump's tenure than it is now, it still existed: It amounted to approximately 8% throughout his presidency (compared to 19% under Biden so far) and stood at 1.4% year-on-year in the final month of his term, compared to the current 2.9% (as of July 2024).
Harris: "Trump left the country in a sorry state."
Rating: Lacking sufficient context.
Harris blamed Trump for damaging the nation in 2021, characterized by a state of emergency, the most devastating pandemic in over a century, and an assault on American democracy. "We've remedied Trump's errors," she stated.
The Great Depression resulted in high unemployment, increasing costs, decreasing wages, and bank crises in almost every industrialized nation worldwide in 1933. In April 2020, while Trump was still in office, the unemployment rate hit a peak not experienced since the Great Depression, reaching 14.8%.
However, unemployment decreased to 6.4% when Trump left office in January 2021, as the economy began to recover. This unemployment rate of 6.4% was better than the peak of 10% during the Great Recession in October 2009, contrary to Harris' assertions.
Environmental Concerns:
Harris: "Trump has dismissed climate change as a hoax."
Rating: Validated.
Trump has consistently opposed climate change mitigation measures and had questioned the existence of human-induced climate change entirely. In 2012, he asserted that the concept of global warming was fabricated by China to hinder American industry's competitiveness.
Abortion Rights:
Trump: "The Democrats allow babies in the ninth month to be terminated."
Rating: Untrue.
The murder of a newborn is considered infanticide and is unlawful throughout the United States. Kamala Harris' vice-presidential candidate, Tim Walz, supports maintaining the current legislation allowing abortions up until the fetus's viability, typically until around the 24th week of pregnancy. After this period, abortions are legal only if the mother's life or well-being is at risk.
"The government, and certainly not Trump, has no right to dictate a woman's personal decisions concerning her body," Harris declared. She vowed to enact legislation ensuring abortion rights if elected, while requiring the support of a House majority to accomplish this.
Election History:
Trump: "I received more votes than any Republican ever in history and far more than any president."
Rating: Invalid.
Referring to the "Popular Vote," this refers to the number of votes that an individual receives nationwide. Although Trump emerged victorious in the 2016 presidential race against Hillary Clinton, Clinton still garnered over 2.8 million more votes nationwide. Trump won the election due to the decisive votes he received in the Electoral College.
The President and Vice President of the United States are formally elected by the Electoral College, a group of individuals who are elected through the popular vote in each state. To clinch the presidency, a candidate must acquire a majority of the electoral votes. If no candidate achieves a majority, the President is chosen by the House of Representatives, which may choose from the three highest-polling candidates.
In response to Trump's claim during the debate, Harris stated, "Contrary to your assertions, unemployment was lower when we took office compared to the peak during the Great Recession."
Furthermore, in the discussion on abortion rights, Harris upheld, "We will enact legislation to protect abortion rights, but it requires the support of a House majority, as the government has no right to interfere with a woman's personal decisions regarding her body."
