President Donald Trump has resumed his role as president this week, swiftly initiating a new agenda. However, throughout his inaugural address and subsequent executive actions, press conferences, and interviews, he has been accused of utilizing various inaccuracies and misleading statements to bolster his claims.
A closer examination reveals several misstatements concerning election results. During an address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump asserted that he won the 2024 election by millions of votes, describing it as giving him “a massive mandate from the American people, like hasn’t been seen in many years.” In terms of the electoral vote, he did secure a victory with 312 votes compared to 226 for his opponent, including success in all seven swing states. However, the popular vote was considerably closer. Trump garnered 49.9% of the vote, translating to 77,303,573 votes, while his opponent received 75,019,257 votes, equating to 48.4%. This amounts to a mere difference of 2,284,316 votes, a stark contrast to the more than 7 million votes by which Joe Biden defeated Trump in 2020.
In a different conversation with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Trump claimed he “won youth by 36 points.” This statement is misleading, as data indicates that Kamala Harris won among voters aged 18 to 29 by 4 percentage points, with a tally of 51% to Trump’s 47%. In fact, Harris also led with voters between 30 and 44, winning that demographic 50% to 47%. While it is true that Trump had the support of voters over 45, with 52% in his favor, various surveys and analyses have yet to substantiate Trump’s claims regarding youth support.
In a separate discussion regarding California’s water policies, Trump suggested that California Governor Gavin Newsom could divert water to combat wildfires in Los Angeles rather than allowing it to flow into the Pacific Ocean. He contended that massive amounts of water were available, specifically from rain and mountain runoff. However, approximately 40% of Los Angeles’ water supply originates from northern California, where environmental regulations exist to protect species such as the Delta smelt. Southern California storage levels are reported to be above average this time of year, which contradicts Trump’s assertion. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California confirmed they have sufficient water supply to meet the demands for the next three years. The actual issue related to hydrants running dry was linked to maintenance of specific reservoirs rather than a lack of water, prompting further scrutiny into the management of water resources by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
When addressing the January 6 Capitol riot, Trump previously noted that he pardoned rioters because they were treated “like the worst criminals in history,” emphasizing their presence as a protest against a supposedly rigged election. However, it is crucial to highlight that the actions of the rioters included violent interactions with law enforcement and the use of various weapons. The chaos resulted in physical confrontations, injuries to officers, and significant damage to Capitol property. Despite his remarks, a large number of rioters have faced serious legal consequences, with many receiving prison sentences in connection to their actions during the breach.
Moreover, Trump stated that it was a “gross miscarriage of common sense” to allow 21 million people to enter the U.S. illegally. However, this figure appears excessively inflated. Data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection indicated around 10.8 million arrests for illegal border crossings between January 2021 and December 2024, which does not directly translate to the number of individuals who illegally entered the nation.
In comments related to FEMA’s assistance for Hurricane Helene survivors, Trump claimed that the federal government had ended temporary housing provisions. Contrary to this assertion, FEMA has clarified that it continues to support survivors through its Transitional Sheltering Assistance program, regularly reviewing recipients’ situations to ensure they qualify. While a number of individuals were assessed and deemed ineligible, the agency maintains that support for those in need will persist for as long as it’s necessary. The necessary steps are also being taken to provide adequate notice for those transitioning out of temporary accommodations.
