FactChecking the 2020 State of the Union

FACTCHECK.ORG ^ | 02/06/2020 | By Eugene Kiely, Brooks Jackson, Lori Robertson, Robert Farley, D'Angelo Gore, Jessica McDonald and

[SeekAndFind]

Summary

In his 2020 address to Congress, President Donald Trump stretched and distorted the facts:

• Trump claimed the economy is “the best it has ever been.” But GDP growth fell to 2.3% last year and economists predict further slowing this year.
• He said he brought about low unemployment by reversing “years of economic decay” and “failed economic policies,” when in fact over 1 million more jobs were added in the 35 months before he took office than in the first 35 months since.
• Trump boasted that the “unemployment rate for women reached the lowest level in almost 70 years.” That’s true, but it had been trending down for several years before he took office.
• The president wrongly said, “After decades of flat and falling incomes, wages are rising fast.” They’ve gone up under Trump, but also have risen under the last several presidents.
• Trump claimed that people’s 401(k)s and pensions have increased “60, 70, 80, 90, and 100% and even more.” Some may have, but that’s far higher than the average.
• He said “real median household income is now at the highest level ever recorded.” However, the Census Bureau noted that was partly due to a change in survey questions in 2014. Based on “adjusted” figures, median household income was slightly higher in 1999 than in 2018.
• Trump claimed the new trade agreement with Canada and Mexico “will create nearly 100,000 … auto jobs.” But an independent federal commission puts the job gains at 28,000 over five years.
• The president boasted that “a long, tall, and very powerful wall is being built” along the southern border, and more than 100 miles have been completed. But only one mile is located where no barriers previously existed.

[Da Coyote]

Nice try.

Now, go thou and perform sex upon yourself.

[Pearls Before Swine]

The president boasted that “a long, tall, and very powerful wall is being built” along the southern border, and more than 100 miles have been completed. But only one mile is located where no barriers previously existed

I don't know about the accuracy of the other "checks," but this is downright deceptive. Replacing a few broken strands of cattle fencing with a real 30 foot barrier is de facto a NEW barrier. The "old one" was just a fig leaf.

[son of terrence]

We need to stop arguing with idiots. This is a pathetic scribe that proves what it attempts to disprove.

The time for accountability for political criminality is past due. Let’s focus on bringing justice to leakers which is easily provable and then follow the poisoned vine.

[BipolarBob]

Replacing a few broken strands of cattle fencing with a real 30 foot barrier is de facto a NEW barrier.

That's what I was thinking when I read this tripe. fact check . . my foot.

[Bommer]

He said he brought about low unemployment by reversing “years of economic decay” and “failed economic policies,” when in fact over 1 million more jobs were added in the 35 months before he took office than in the first 35 months since

Thats a load of crap. 1 million governemnt jobs were invented. Obama actually lost 14 million jobs.

[FlipWilson]

Just add the words “fact check” in front of the same ole BS and suddenly it’s credible.

[Fungi]

These bastards should “fact check” themselves.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: This is a pathetic scribe that proves what it attempts to disprove.

There are in fact 6 scribes in this article.

[Fiddlstix]

WOW! This Calls For Maximium BS Detection!

[BenLurkin]

Not so much a “fact check” at all.

It’s more of a De.ocrat Party attempt at rebuttal.

[Prolixus]

Hm, have the “fact checkers” fact-checked the Steele Dossier? Have they fact checked whether or not it was used to obtain FISA warrants? Have they fact-checked the related Wikipedia articles?

Of course, I know the “fact checkers” are only interested in “fact checking” Donald Trump’s opinions and feelings. They’re absolutely not interesting in checking important and verifiable “facts.”

[kiryandil]

Any words that come after "fact check" can be safely ignored.

You don't even have to read them.

[ClearCase_guy]

Yeah, this is the weakest “fact check” I’ve ever seen.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Heaven forfend that anything GOOD would be happening to America and Americans!

“How Dare You!” *SPIT*

[Huskrrrr]

Let the voters decide.

[1_Rain_Drop]

that fact check worse than a rubber check.

[Prince of Space]

Thank goodness they did it to Obama too. Every POTUS exaggerates their accomplishments in the SOTU. It’s basically a PR speech, focusing only on the positives and ignoring any downsides to their presidency. Big whoopdeedoo.

[Rdct29]

Who are you going to believe, fact check or your own experience? Were the obama years better economically then the last 3 years under president Trump? All I know is my 401k has skyrocketed within 6 months of president Trump getting elected.

[Widget Jr]

My inner child's ADHD has been triggered.

"Trump claimed the economy is “the best it has ever been.” But GDP growth fell to 2.3% last year and economists predict further slowing this year."

Let's spend two minutes fact checking the fact checkers. US GDP by Year Compared to Recessions and Events

Real GDP based on 2005. From 2018 to 2019, the U.S. rate of growth fell from 2.9% to 2.3% while real GDP went up from 18.6 to 19.3 trillion. So by that measure, the economy was still improving, if not as fast as last year.

2019 was the lowest rate of growth since Trump took office. After three years, Trump has not had growth lower than 2.3%, while Obama had four years with growth less than that, including the 2009 Recession.

See? Fact checking fact checkers is fun. Except we already know "fact checking" is a oxymoron.