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Trump, Biden: Truth and Lies

Trump and Biden—who both claim to hold reality's compass—stray from truth and facts. From the border crisis, immigrant crime stats, to food prices and Trump's indictments, their debates skirted the truth.

Published June 29, 2024 at 5:04am by Andre Byik

President Biden and ex-President Trump faced off in a debate, riddled with lies:

Trump: "Everybody wanted Roe v. Wade overturned."

This is false. Polls show most Americans opposed it, including a Pew Research Center survey (57% disapproved) and a PBS/NPR poll (64% opposed). Later polls also confirm this view.

Biden: "Historians voted Trump 'worst' president in history."

Trump was ranked last in a survey of 154 academics late in 2023. Abraham Lincoln topped the list, while Biden landed at 14th.

Biden: "We lowered the cost of an insulin shot from $400 to $15."

This is false. Biden's Inflation Reduction Act capped insulin costs at $35/month for Medicare patients. Eli Lilly and other drug companies also capped costs at $35/month. Prices varied before this, but never hit $400.

Trump: "I had the highest approval rating in the history of the VA."

False. The VA's customer surveys measure trust, not approval ratings. Trump hit 80%; Biden reached 80.4%.

Trump: "Food prices have 'doubled and tripled and quadrupled' under Biden."

An exaggeration. Food prices rose 25% from 2019-2023. Prices spiked due to the pandemic and supply chain issues. They've since stabilized with a 1.2% rise in the last year

Trump: "Biden called African Americans 'super predators.'"

False. Biden never used this term. In 1996, Hillary Clinton linked the term "super predators" to a 1994 crime bill, but not specifically to Black people.

Trump: "Unprecedented murders by immigrants under Biden."

NBC's review of 2024 data suggests crime has fallen in cities with migrants. Crime is down in Chicago, NYC, LA and more. Research also shows immigrants commit fewer crimes than US-born citizens.