Former President Donald Trump held a press conference Thursday at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, marking the second time he addressed reporters this week.
Trump’s remarks focused on the economy and immigration policy under the Biden administration, pinpointing the blame on his 2024 election opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.
The former president also took aim at Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a news conference at Trump National Golf Club, Aug. 15, 2024, in Bedminster, N.J.
Julia Nikhinson/AP
Speaking for nearly an hour before taking questions from reporters, Trump’s remarks contained falsehoods and exaggerations.
ABC News has fact-checked a few of Trump’s claims to provide context following the press conference.
Mortgage rates
Trump claim: “The cost of a typical monthly mortgage has doubled since I left office. We had mortgage rates at around 2% and they’re now at 10%, and you can’t get a mortgage.”
Fact check: Trump’s claim on mortgage rates being “around 2%” when he was in office is accurate, during his time in office 30-year fixed mortgage rates were at 2.6%. The former president’s claim that rates have doubled since his tenure is also accurate.
However, Trump’s claim that rates are now 10% under Biden’s leadership is false. Mortgage rates are now the lowest in more than a year at 6.49%, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday.
Tampons in bathrooms
Trump claim: During his remarks, Trump alleged that Gov. Tim Walz approved a Minnesota bill to put tampons in boys’ bathrooms in public schools.
“He approved a bill recently tampons in boys’ bathrooms. He wants tampons in boys’ bathrooms. It’s terrible,” Trump said.
Fact check: Trump’s claim is potentially misleading. In 2023, Walz signed a law that required public schools to provide access to menstrual products in bathrooms regularly used by students in grades 4 to 12.
The legislation does not distinguish by gender but states menstrual products must be available to “all menstruating students,” leaving the designation of the products up to the individual schools.
Border encounters
Trump claim: Harris allowed more than “20 million” people into the United States.
Fact check: Trump’s claim is false. There have been 9.9 million immigration encounters during the Biden administration, according to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
When accounting for individuals who are not stopped by border officials the number rises to approximately 11.6 million, according to estimates from the Department of Homeland Security.
On August 7th, 2020, President Donald Trump held a press conference at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, where he made several statements on a variety of topics. As with any public appearance by the President, there has been much debate and scrutiny over the accuracy of his statements.
One of the most controversial statements made by President Trump during the press conference was his claim that he had signed four executive orders to provide economic relief to Americans amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While it is true that President Trump did sign four executive orders, experts have pointed out that these orders may not have as much impact as the President claims.
For example, one of the executive orders signed by President Trump aims to provide an additional $400 per week in unemployment benefits to Americans who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic. However, critics have pointed out that this order may face legal challenges as it requires states to contribute $100 of the $400 weekly benefit, which many states may not be able to afford.
Another statement made by President Trump during the press conference was his claim that the United States has one of the lowest mortality rates from COVID-19 in the world. While it is true that the United States has a lower mortality rate than some countries, such as Italy and Spain, experts have pointed out that the U.S. still has a higher mortality rate than many other developed countries, such as Germany and South Korea.
Overall, it is important for the public to critically analyze the statements made by President Trump and other political leaders, especially during times of crisis like the current pandemic. Fact-checking organizations and independent experts can provide valuable insights into the accuracy of these statements and help ensure that the public is well-informed about important issues affecting their lives.
