Our model rated these statements. Lower is better.
Fact or Fluff
Supported27Partly supported37Not supported22Contradicted by evidence30Can't verify9
125 claims checked against independent sources, chosen by a fixed rule (every material claim (one that supports an argument, a policy or an attack) in the transcripts that count towards a score; in other transcripts, up to 10 claims spread evenly across each; plus any claim an emotional passage relies on). 0 more were found but not checked yet; they do not count.
Quotes leave out filler sounds and repeated words. Words in [square brackets] correct a transcript that misheard or misspelt them. The transcript keeps every word as published.
Can't verify50% confidence
“I just want to announce the stock market just hit another alltime high.”
Claim checkedThe US stock market hit another all-time high on August 27, 2026.
The S&P 500 set several records in August 2026, but no source found confirms a new all-time high on 27 August itself.
Claim checkedOn 27 August 2026 the U.S. stock market hit an all-time high, the 81st record high in the roughly year and a half since January 2025.
The S&P 500's most recent record close before the remarks was 7,798.99 on 13 Aug 2026, its 27th record of 2026. On 27 Aug it closed at 7,730.99, below that record, and CNBC's market report for the day did not describe a record close for the S&P 500 or the Dow. Added to the roughly 38-39 S&P record closes in 2025, that gives about 65 records since January 2025, not 81 in a year and a half.
“Honda announced and Toyota announced they're moving in from Mexico.”
Claim checkedHonda and Toyota have both announced that they are moving car production from Mexico to the United States.
Toyota announced in July 2026 that it is moving most Tacoma production from Mexico to Texas. Honda moved one future model (the Civic hybrid) away from Mexico but denied a wider move.
“I won it every time by record numbers—have the alltime record by millions of votes.”
Claim checkedTrump won South Carolina every time he ran by record numbers, holding the all-time record by millions of votes.
South Carolina was won in 2016, 2020 and 2024, and the 2024 total (about 1.48 million votes) was a state record. But the margins were about 300,000–500,000 votes, not millions, and the 2020 margin was smaller than 2016's, so 'record numbers every time… by millions of votes' does not hold.
“They don't pay us to defend Canada, but we defend Canada.”
Claim checkedCanada does not pay the United States for its defence, and the United States defends Canada for nothing in return.
Canada does not pay the U.S. a fee for protection, so that part is accurate. But continental defence is shared through NORAD: the U.S. pays about 60% of the North Warning System under a 1985 cost-sharing deal and Canada pays the rest, and Canada committed C$38.6 billion in 2022 to modernise NORAD. AP found the related claim that the U.S. subsidises Canada was not supported by the numbers. So the surrounding 'we defend Canada for nothing' overstates the case.
Claim checkedThe United States has 11 brand-new icebreakers on the way.
In October 2025 the US agreed with Finland to acquire 11 new Arctic Security Cutters (icebreakers), four built in Finland and seven in the US; first delivery is due in 2028.
“We lose, on average, over the last 15 years, $60 billion a year carrying Canada.”
Claim checkedOver the last 15 years, the United States has lost an average of $60 billion a year carrying Canada.
The US deficit with Canada in goods and services was about $36 billion in 2024 and $46 billion in 2025. Goods alone peaked at $78 billion in 2022, and the 15-year average is lower. A trade deficit is not a payment to 'carry' another country.
“As you know, we took something called the Gulf of Mexico, we changed it, and now it's very routinely the Gulf of America.”
Claim checkedThe Gulf of Mexico was renamed the Gulf of America and that name is now routinely used.
Executive Order 14172 (20 Jan 2025) renamed the U.S. part of the Gulf of Mexico as the 'Gulf of America'. Federal agencies have since used the name in Federal Register rules, and Google Maps shows it to U.S. users. But the order binds only the U.S. federal government. Mexico, the International Hydrographic Organization and the AP still use 'Gulf of Mexico', so the new name is routine only in U.S. federal and some domestic use.
Claim checkedThe 2020 U.S. presidential election was rigged.
This refers to the 2020 presidential election. Federal and state election officials said in November 2020 that there was no evidence any voting system deleted, lost or changed votes. Dozens of lawsuits challenging the result were dismissed or failed, and recounts and audits confirmed the certified result.
“we're losing $62 billion a year, on average, with Canada”
Claim checkedThe United States is losing an average of $62 billion a year in its trade with Canada.
Official figures put the goods-and-services deficit with Canada at $36–46 billion in 2024–25. The '$62 billion on average' figure also differs from the '$60 billion' given minutes earlier.
“Last night, we took 24 boats through the Strait.”
Claim checkedOn the night of 26 August 2026 the U.S. escorted 24 ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S.-escorted transits through the Strait of Hormuz were taking place at the time. The Joint Maritime Information Center recorded 37 U.S.-facilitated transits over 25-26 Aug 2026 and 65 over 27-29 Aug, so 24 in one night is plausible. No public per-night count was found to confirm or rule out 24 ships on the night of 26 Aug, and USNI News noted that administration figures are hard to check against independent tracking.
Claim checkedNot one ship has gotten through the US naval blockade of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.
US forces redirected or disabled dozens of vessels, but shipping data show some tankers transiting via the Iranian-controlled route in August 2026, so 'not one ship' is not supported.
“I have the alltime highest vote in the history of Texas also.”
Claim checkedDonald Trump's 2024 vote total in Texas is the highest any candidate has ever received in the state.
The Texas Secretary of State's official canvass shows Trump received 6,393,597 votes in Texas in November 2024. That is the largest total for any candidate in Texas history, above his own 2020 total of about 5.89 million.
“I won this State with the highest vote count ever in the history of the State, all three times.”
Claim checkedTrump won South Carolina in 2016, 2020 and 2024, each time with the highest vote count in the state's history.
Trump received 1,155,389 votes in South Carolina in 2016, 1,385,103 in 2020 and 1,483,747 in 2024. Each total was higher than any earlier presidential candidate's in the state: Romney had 1,071,645 in 2012, McCain 1,034,896 in 2008 and Biden 1,091,541 in 2020. The 2024 total is the highest on record.
Claim checkedTrump won all seven swing states in the 2024 presidential election.
In the November 2024 presidential election Trump carried all seven battleground states (Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin), winning 312 electoral votes to 226. Fact-checkers confirm this part, while noting his popular-vote margin was about 1.5 points (49.8% to 48.3%).
“Egg prices were up four or five times higher than they were a year before.”
Claim checkedWhen Trump took office in January 2025, egg prices were four or five times higher than a year earlier.
BLS data put the average retail price of a dozen Grade A large eggs at about $4.95 in January 2025, against about $2.52 in January 2024. That is roughly double, not four or five times. The egg index of the consumer price index rose 53% between January 2024 and January 2025. Wholesale egg prices, which can rise by a larger multiple, were not checked.
“Biden created the worst inflation in 48 years, the worst trade deficit in world history”
Claim checkedUnder President Biden, US inflation was the highest in 48 years and the US trade deficit was the largest in history.
Inflation under Biden peaked at 9.1% in the year to June 2022, which BLS calls the largest 12-month rise since November 1981, about 40 years, not 48. The US goods and services trade deficit reached a record $948.1 billion in 2022, so a record deficit did occur, though the goods deficit was larger still in 2025 ($1,240.9 billion) and 'in world history' goes beyond what the US data measure.
“They came from prisons and jails from other countries, from mental institutions and insane asylums, from drug dealers and 11,888 murderers”
Claim checkedPeople who entered the US under Biden came from foreign prisons, jails and mental institutions, and included drug dealers and 11,888 murderers.
The murder figure appears to come from a September 2024 ICE letter. That letter counted 13,099 noncitizens with homicide convictions on ICE's non-detained docket. The docket covers people who arrived over several decades, including during Trump's first term, and many of them are serving sentences in prison. It does not count people who crossed the border under Biden. Experts consulted by fact-checkers said they knew of no evidence that other countries emptied prisons or mental institutions to send people to the US.
“$19.2 trillion is being invested right now in the United States, more than any country at any time by many, many times.”
Claim checkedAs of August 2026, $19.2 trillion is being invested in the United States, more than any country has had at any time by many times.
FactCheck.org found that Trump's similar claim of $20 trillion in investment from 'outside countries and companies' was unsupported: it is nearly double the White House's own tally, which is itself made up largely of pledges and announcements rather than money invested. No source shows $19.2 trillion being invested in the US now.
“we went 40 years without building a car factory, and now we're building more car plants and factories than we ever have in the history of our country.”
Claim checkedThe US went 40 years without building a car factory, and is now building more car plants than at any time in its history.
Many new US car assembly plants opened in the 40 years before 2025, including Volvo's plant in Berkeley County, South Carolina (ground broken 2015) and the Toyota-Mazda plant in Alabama (announced 2018); fact-checkers have repeatedly rated the 'no new car plants in decades' claim false. No data found show more car plants being built now than at any time in US history.
“last month, inflation dropped at the fastest rate in many years, and more Americans are working today than at any point in the history of our country”
Claim checkedIn July 2026, US inflation dropped at the fastest rate in many years, and more Americans are working than at any time in US history.
The July 2026 consumer price index, published on 12 August 2026, showed annual inflation easing only from 3.5% to 3.4%, which is not the fastest fall in many years. The July jobs report, published on 7 August, showed nonfarm payrolls down 23,000 in the month; whether total employment was still at a record high could not be confirmed.
Claim checkedTrump's administrations have built 1,200 miles of border wall.
The GAO counted about 458 miles of wall built in Trump's first term, 371 of which replaced existing barriers. CBP tracking reported by TIME on 6 August 2026 shows 59 new miles of primary wall, 42 of secondary wall and 38 of replacement wall since January 2025, so roughly 600 miles in total across both terms, about half of 1,200.
“They don't do that anymore in Washington. No, crime is down 78 percent.”
Claim checkedCrime in Washington, DC, is down 78 percent since Trump's federal crackdown and National Guard deployment there.
Reported data on DC crime around August 2026 show large drops in some categories but no overall drop of 78%. A year after the August 2025 federal surge, the US Attorney's office reported homicides down 45%, carjackings down 64% and robberies down 33%. Total crime was reported down about 20% year to date. The Council on Criminal Justice found aggravated assaults up 45% in the first half of 2026.
“Crime is down 79 percent. This is after 5 months.”
Claim checkedCrime in New Orleans fell 79% in the five months after the National Guard was sent in around Mardi Gras 2026.
No source found reports a 79% fall in crime in New Orleans after the National Guard deployment that began in late December 2025. Reported figures are smaller or narrower: in the French Quarter's 8th District homicides fell 87% (15 to 2) but robberies fell 13-31% and aggravated batteries 12%, while citywide murders were down about 34%; violent crime had also been falling for three years before the deployment.
“just last week, the entire "Dumocrat" National Committee voted to abolish ICE”
Claim checkedIn August 2026, the full Democratic National Committee voted to abolish ICE.
On 15 August 2026 the full Democratic National Committee approved Resolution 27 by unanimous voice vote. The resolution urges Democratic members of Congress to abolish ICE. It is non-binding, and the DNC also passed a competing resolution calling for ICE to be reformed. The DNC chair said neither vote sets the party's formal platform.
“Ultimate 25 million people throughout the 4-year period came into our country.”
Claim checkedAbout 25 million people entered the US illegally during the four years of the Biden administration.
CBP recorded under 11 million nationwide migrant encounters during the Biden administration (to December 2024), a count of events that includes repeat crossers and people quickly expelled; adding roughly 2.2 million estimated 'gotaways' still falls far short of 25 million. PolitiFact rates the 25 million figure false.
“it was recently announced that American exports have skyrocketed to the highest level in American history.”
Claim checkedUS exports have recently risen to the highest level in American history.
US exports reached a monthly record of $327.1 billion in April 2026, according to the trade report released in June 2026. Exports then fell 3.2% in May, and the June report, released on 4 August 2026, put them at $314.7 billion. Exports for 2026 to June were up 11.7% on the same period of 2025.
“The stock market has set 80 alltime highs since our election.”
Claim checkedUS stock indexes set about 80 record closing highs between the November 2024 election and August 2026.
The S&P 500 set 10 record closes from 6 November to December 2024, 38-39 in 2025 and 27 in 2026 through 13 August, about 75-76 in all by the 21 August 2026 rally; counting the Dow and Nasdaq records as well, 'the stock market' setting about 80 all-time highs is roughly right.
“the typical 401(k) is up by nearly $40,000 since I took office”
Claim checkedThe typical American 401(k) balance has risen by nearly $40,000 since Trump took office in January 2025.
Fidelity's average 401(k) balance was $131,700 at the end of 2024 and $141,000 at the end of March 2026. That is a rise of about $9,300. Fidelity's later figure for the second quarter of 2026, $155,800, is still only about $24,000 above the end of 2024. Fact-checkers found Trump's earlier claims of $30,000 and $46,000 gains to be overstated.
“every single Democrat in Congress voted against your tax cuts.”
Claim checkedEvery Democrat in Congress voted against the 2025 tax cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The tax cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) passed the House by 218 to 214 on 3 July 2025, after a 51-50 Senate vote decided by the Vice President; the noes in both chambers included every Democrat, with a few Republicans also voting against.
“in the past 15 months, a historic record of zero illegal aliens have been admitted into the United States of America.”
Claim checkedNo migrants without legal status were admitted into the United States in the 15 months before August 2026.
DHS/CBP data report zero Border Patrol releases of migrants at the southwest border every month from May 2025, reaching 15 straight months by July 2026, so the 15-month figure matches the release data. But the statement says 'admitted', and Snopes noted that release on parole is a different thing from admission; the release figures also do not count people who crossed without being caught.
“we've cut the flow of fentanyl across our border by 64 percent.”
Claim checkedThe Trump administration has cut the flow of fentanyl across the US border by 64 percent.
No data measures the total flow of fentanyl across the border, and experts told FactCheck.org in June 2026 that seizures cannot show it. CBP fentanyl seizures fell about 50% in Trump's first 15 full months of his second term compared with Biden's last 15. No published figure showing a 64% drop was found.
“The largest murder rate drop ever recorded to the lowest level in 125 years, since the year 1900.”
Claim checkedThe U.S. murder rate in 2025 fell by the largest amount on record, to its lowest level since 1900.
FBI data released in August 2026 show murders fell an estimated 18.1% in 2025, the largest one-year drop since national estimates began in 1936, so 'largest drop ever recorded' holds. But the 2025 murder rate of 4.1 per 100,000 ties 1955 and 1956 rather than being the lowest in 125 years. FBI estimates do not go back to 1900, and fact-checkers noted that the 'lowest since 1900' comparison rests on older data built in a different way.
Claim checkedSouth Carolina Governor Henry McMaster kept the state totally open during the COVID pandemic.
On 31 March 2020 Governor McMaster ordered non-essential businesses in South Carolina to close from 1 April. On 6 April 2020 he issued a mandatory statewide 'Home or Work' order that took effect on 7 April. A 2023 CNN fact-check also noted that South Carolina closed schools and restricted access to beaches early in the pandemic.
“For decades, Americans paid the highest prices for prescription drugs anywhere in the world by far, and now we are paying the lowest price paid by any other country.”
Claim checkedAmericans, who for decades paid the world's highest prescription drug prices, now pay the lowest prices of any country thanks to the most-favored-nation drug pricing policy.
The first part matches long-standing evidence that U.S. drug prices were the highest among comparable countries. But FactCheck.org (August 2026) found the most-favored-nation deals much narrower than described. For existing drugs, MFN prices apply only to Medicaid, TrumpRx cash sales and some GLP-1 drugs in Medicare/Medicaid, and the deals do not affect what most privately insured Americans pay. So the U.S. as a whole does not now pay the lowest price of any country.
“when it came to South Carolina, I won South Carolina by a lot.”
Claim checkedTrump won the 2016 South Carolina Republican presidential primary, in which Lindsey Graham had also been a candidate, by a large margin.
In the 20 February 2016 South Carolina Republican presidential primary, official results show Trump won 240,882 votes (32.4%) against 166,565 for Rubio (22.4%) and 165,417 for Cruz (22.2%), a margin of about 10 points, and took all 50 delegates. A 10-point first-place finish in a six-way field fits 'by a lot'.
Claim checkedThe Strait of Hormuz was open on July 12, 2026, after Iran declared it closed.
US Central Command said the Strait of Hormuz was open and traffic was flowing; Iran's Revolutionary Guard declared it closed after striking a container ship. Independent reports describe the strait as contested that day.
Claim checkedThe US carried out large-scale strikes on Iranian military targets on the night of 11 July 2026, the night before the 12 July interview.
US Central Command said that on 11 July 2026 it completed a third round of strikes that week against Iran, hitting about 140 Iranian military targets (missile and drone sites, naval assets, ammunition storage, communications). CNN reported the strikes overnight into Sunday 12 July, the day of the interview.
“And then within an hour, they launched a drone at a ship.”
Claim checkedWithin an hour of agreeing a deal with the US on 11 July 2026, Iran launched a drone at a ship.
CENTCOM said Iran's Revolutionary Guard 'blatantly attacked' a Cyprus-flagged container ship in the Strait of Hormuz on 11 July 2026 (one crew member missing), and the IRGC said it fired a 'warning shot'; reports seen do not specify that a drone was used. No reporting found shows Iran agreeing to a deal with the US the day before: CNN reported only a tentative Omani proposal on strait routes and US officials saying talks could not progress until the strait was secure, so the 'within an hour of a deal' sequence is not borne out.
“the stock market has surged to record highs, picking up thousands of points over the last short period of time.”
Claim checkedAs a US-Iran agreement came into view, the US stock market surged to record highs, gaining thousands of points in a short period.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average set record closes in the days before the 17 June 2026 remark, including 51,999.67 on 16 June with an intraday high above 52,190, a rally news reports linked to the US-Iran deal. The Dow had closed at 49,910.59 on 5 May 2026, about 2,000 points lower. The S&P 500 set a record of 7,609.78 on 1 June but fell 0.57% on 16 June.
“He only traveled on commercial airlines—was big ones with lots of people, because he knew we wouldn't shoot them down.”
Claim checkedIranian general Qasem Soleimani, killed in a US strike in January 2020, travelled only on large commercial airliners because he knew the US would not shoot them down.
On 3 January 2020 Qasem Soleimani did fly from Damascus to Baghdad on a Cham Wings Airbus A320, a commercial flight carrying about 156 passengers, and US intelligence tracked that flight with help from informants and reportedly Israeli intelligence. No source found shows that he travelled only on large commercial airliners, or why he did so; reports describe a tip-off about that specific flight rather than knowledge a month ahead.
“He loaded up a plane with $1,700,000,000 in green cash from banks all over Washington, Maryland, and Virginia.”
Claim checkedThe Obama administration flew $1.7 billion in US cash to Iran, taken from banks in Washington, Maryland and Virginia.
In 2016 the US did pay Iran $1.7 billion in cash to settle a Hague tribunal claim over a 1970s arms sale: $400 million principal plus about $1.3 billion interest. Reports from August and September 2016 say the cash was in euros, Swiss francs and other non-US currencies, obtained from central banks in Switzerland and the Netherlands, and flown to Iran on several flights in January and February 2016. No source found says it was US dollars from banks in Washington, Maryland and Virginia.
“they were aimed at these different places: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E.—think of it—Bahrain, Kuwait. They got hit.”
Claim checkedDuring the 2026 Iran war, Iranian missiles were aimed at Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait, and those countries were hit.
After US and Israeli strikes on Iran began on 28 February 2026, Iran fired missiles and drones at Gulf states including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait. Human Rights Watch and Al Jazeera report strikes or debris hitting buildings, airports and infrastructure in these countries, with deaths in the UAE and injuries in Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.
“they were criticized by certain members of the press, like CNN, for possibly not doing that much damage.”
Claim checkedCNN and other media outlets reported that the US B-2 strikes on Iran's nuclear sites may not have done much damage.
On 24 June 2025 CNN reported an early Defense Intelligence Agency assessment, citing sources. It said the US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites did not destroy the core of the programme and probably set it back only by months. The White House disputed the assessment, and CNN later also reported the CIA's view that the programme was 'severely damaged'.
Claim checkedAs of June 2026 the United States has the most nuclear weapons of any country and Russia has the second most.
SIPRI's 2026 Yearbook estimates that at the start of 2026 Russia had about 4,400 warheads in its military stockpile against about 3,700 for the United States, with China at about 620. On these estimates Russia, not the US, has the most nuclear weapons, though the two together hold almost 86 per cent of the world total.
Claim checkedThe United States sent Israel a copy of the US-Iran agreement.
In mid-June 2026 ABC News and Israel's Channel 12 reported that Israeli officials had been briefed on the US-Iran memorandum but had not received the text. NBC News reported that shortly after the President said a copy had been given to Israel, an Israeli government official said Israel still had not seen it. A US official said Netanyahu was kept informed but 'maybe he hasn't seen the final document'.
“He raised taxes too fast, and he raised interest rates too fast all at the same time, and it caused the Great Depression.”
Claim checkedPresident Herbert Hoover raised taxes and interest rates too fast at the same time, and this caused the Great Depression.
The Great Depression began in 1929, before Hoover's Revenue Act of 1932, the large tax increase he backed. Interest rates were raised by the Federal Reserve, not the President, in 1928-29 and again in late 1931; historians count these moves as making the downturn worse, but they do not show that Hoover raised rates or that his tax rises caused the Depression.
“we just gave you the largest tax decrease—largest tax cut in the history of our country.”
Claim checkedThe 2025 tax law that Trump signed, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, was the largest tax cut in US history.
The Tax Foundation estimates that the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act reduces revenue by about $5 trillion over 2025-2034. That is a very large amount in nominal dollars, but as a share of GDP the Act ranks sixth, behind the 1981 Act, the 1945, 1948 and 1964 Revenue Acts, and the 2012 Act. PolitiFact rated a similar 'largest tax cut in American history' claim Mostly False in August 2025.
“Eleven thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight murderers allowed into our country.”
Claim checkedThe Biden administration allowed 11,888 murderers into the United States between 2021 and 2025.
The figure refers to ICE data on non-citizens on its non-detained docket who had been convicted of homicide at some point. FactCheck.org and CNN found that these people entered the US over several decades, including during Trump's first term, and many are in prison, so the data do not show 11,888 murderers being let in under the Biden administration.
“we gave $375 million. The rest of the world gave, essentially, nothing.”
Claim checkedThe United States gave $375 million to fight the Ebola outbreak in Africa, while the rest of the world gave essentially nothing.
The US $375 million pledge was the largest single contribution. KFF calculated that it was 41% of the $910 million in donor pledges, which an African Union meeting on 17 June 2026 announced. That leaves about $535 million from other donors, including $80 million from African member states. The UK had pledged £20 million ($26.8 million) in May 2026.
“we signed a declaration on illegal immigration, the first time ever for a G–7 statement.”
Claim checkedAt the June 2026 G7 summit in Évian, leaders signed a declaration on illegal immigration, the first time a G7 statement has covered it.
G7 leaders did adopt a 'Leaders' declaration on tackling migrant smuggling' at Évian on 17 June 2026. But it was not the first G7 statement on the subject: leaders issued a Statement on Countering Migrant Smuggling at Kananaskis in June 2025, building on a 2024 G7 action plan.
“drugs coming through the border are down 61 percent. Drugs coming through water—the sea—ocean, sea, gulf—down 97.2 percent.”
Claim checkedDrugs coming across the US border are down 61 percent, and drugs coming into the United States by sea are down 97.2 percent.
A FactCheck.org article on 15 June 2026 found that federal data do not support the claim of a 97% cut in drugs arriving by sea. The figure comes from selected CBP seizure data, and seizures do not measure total drug flow; the Coast Guard handles most maritime seizures. PolitiFact rated the 97% claim False in February 2026. No source was found for 61% at the border: CBP fentanyl seizures fell about 46% in fiscal 2025, and CBP reported record southwest border seizures in fiscal 2026.
“When we knocked out the last ship, the Times refused to do a story on it.”
Claim checkedWhen the US destroyed the last ship of Iran's navy in 2026, The New York Times refused to publish a story about it.
Whether The New York Times declined to report a particular event is an editorial decision that cannot be tested from public sources. Reporting also does not confirm the premise that the US sank the last of about 159 Iranian ships; Trump has given figures of 158 and 159 and independent verification is lacking.
Claim checkedIran has inflation of 250 to 300 percent.
The Statistical Centre of Iran reported year-on-year inflation of 88.6% for 22 May to 21 June 2026, and a 12-month average rate of 62%. The Central Bank of Iran reported 83.1% for the same period. Some food categories rose 139% to 178%, but no source found puts overall inflation at 250% to 300%.
“you have, probably, the third largest oil reserves in the world”
Claim checkedIran has probably the third largest oil reserves in the world (as of June 2026).
According to the US Energy Information Administration and OPEC figures, Iran holds about 209 billion barrels of proved crude oil reserves, the third largest in the world after Venezuela (about 303 billion) and Saudi Arabia (about 267 billion). Some rankings that include Canada's oil sands place Iran fourth, which the word 'probably' allows for.
“The oil never went to $350 a barrel. It went to $115, $120.”
Claim checkedDuring the war with Iran, oil prices peaked at $115 to $120 a barrel and never went near $350.
Oil never came close to $350 a barrel. Brent futures rose to nearly $120 in the first weeks of the war and then touched $126.41 on 30 April 2026. The physical Dated Brent price reached $141.37 on 2 April 2026, its highest since 2008, so the stated $115 to $120 peak is too low.
“They were four times more expensive than they were in my administration.”
Claim checkedUnder the Biden administration egg prices were four times higher than during Trump's first administration (2017-2021).
BLS average prices for a dozen large eggs were about $1.46 in January 2021 and as low as $1.20 in June 2019, against $4.82 in January 2023 and $4.95 in January 2025, so Biden-era peaks were roughly 3.3 to 4 times first-term levels. The all-time high of $6.23, however, came in March 2025, after Trump took office, and economists attribute the rise mainly to bird flu.
“I heard that they arrested the Bolsonaro Jr. He was doing well in the polls, and they arrested him because he made a statement in Texas.”
Claim checkedOn 17 June 2026 Brazilian authorities arrested (or sought to arrest) a son of Jair Bolsonaro who was doing well in the polls, because of a statement he made in Texas.
Flávio Bolsonaro, a 2026 presidential candidate rising in the polls, spoke at CPAC in Grapevine, Texas, in March 2026, and federal police opened a probe into him in April 2026; his brother Eduardo, who lives in Texas, was convicted of coercion by Brazil's Supreme Court. No source found reports an arrest or arrest warrant for either son on or around 17 June 2026, and Trump himself said 'they arrested him, or they want to arrest him'.
“I built it, frankly. I built it in my first four years.”
Claim checkedDonald Trump built the US military, the most powerful in the world, during his first four-year term.
Fact-checkers found that procurement was about 20% of the 2017-2020 defense budgets (about $591bn of roughly $2.5tn) and that most US weapons systems predate 2017, so the force was not built in a single four-year term; budgets did rise in that period.
“Their navy is gone. Their air force is gone. Their anti-aircraft is gone.”
Claim checkedIran's navy, air force and anti-aircraft defenses have been destroyed by US strikes.
AP's April 2026 tally reported much of Iran's conventional navy destroyed and about 80% of its air defense systems hit, but the IRGC's small-boat navy remained partly intact and Defense Secretary Hegseth conceded Iran 'can still shoot'; reports did not show the air force or air defenses wholly eliminated.
“this little ceasefire that we did at the request of some very good people, very, very fine people from — actually from numerous places, as you know. You know, there are a lot of people involved. But from Pakistan in particular, the field marshal and the prime minister.”
Claim checkedThe US-Iran ceasefire was agreed at the request of several countries, in particular Pakistan's Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Pakistan, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, brokered the US-Iran ceasefire announced on 8 April 2026 and hosted talks in Islamabad on 11-12 April; other countries such as Qatar were also involved.
“they tried a blockade, and now we blockaded them.”
Claim checkedThe US imposed a naval blockade on Iran after Iran first tried to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.
After the war began on 28 February 2026, Iran choked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz; after the Islamabad talks failed in April, the US Navy began blocking ships entering or leaving Iranian ports.
Claim checkedIran is losing $400-500 million a day because of the US naval blockade.
An FDD analyst put Iran's loss at about $450 million a day in economic activity, close to the claim, but estimates of lost oil revenue were far lower: Al Jazeera put the oil revenue lost to the blockade at nearly $6bn by early June, roughly $100-120 million a day.
“Their leaders are gone. Their generals are gone. Their first tier and second tier are gone. Much of their third tier is gone.”
Claim checkedIran's leaders and generals have been killed, including its first and second tiers of leadership and much of its third tier.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and dozens of senior commanders, including IRGC chief Mohammad Pakpour, Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh and later Ali Larijani, were killed, but Iran's state continued under a new supreme leader, a sitting president and replacement commanders, so 'first and second tier gone' overstates it.
“we beat Venezuela. We lost nobody. Took over the whole country. We lost nobody.”
Claim checkedThe US defeated Venezuela and took over the whole country without losing any US service members.
No US troops were killed in the 3 January 2026 raid that captured Nicolas Maduro (seven were wounded), but the operation was a raid that seized Maduro, and reporting describes no US takeover of the whole country.
Claim checkedThirteen US service members have been killed in the Iran war.
The Pentagon's official count of US service members killed in the Iran war stood at 13 from early April 2026; it rose to 14 only after a 1 July helicopter crash, so 13 was correct in early June.
“if you look at Vietnam, where hundreds of thousands of people were killed”
Claim checkedHundreds of thousands of people were killed in the Vietnam War.
US military deaths in Vietnam were 58,220 per the National Archives, well short of hundreds of thousands, though total deaths in the war, mostly Vietnamese, ran well over a million; the comparison with 13 US deaths implies US losses.
Claim checkedIt costs the US very little to keep its forces deployed in the Iran war region.
Published estimates put the direct cost of the war in the billions: a Pentagon briefing to lawmakers put the first six days at about $11.3bn, and analysts cited roughly $1bn a day, which does not support 'very little', though the cost of keeping forces in place during the ceasefire is lower than during active combat.
“The stock market already, as you know, it’s at an all-time high. Even in the midst of it, it hit all-time highs. We had 73 all-time highs in the short period of time that I’ve been in office, which is a record”
Claim checkedThe US stock market is at an all-time high and has set 73 all-time highs since Donald Trump took office in 2025, which is a record.
US stocks were setting records in mid-2026, but CFRA counted 64 S&P 500 record closes since January 2025 even by early August, so 73 by June overstates it (74 is reached only counting from the 2024 election) and no source was found supporting 'a record'.
“It’s the third group that we’ve been dealing with.”
Claim checkedThe Iranian officials now leading the country are the third group of leaders the US has dealt with during the war.
Whether the officials now negotiating are the 'third group' is a characterization of changes in Iran's leadership after successive killings, not a measurable fact.
Claim checkedIran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is badly injured.
Reports cited a source saying Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei suffered a fractured foot and facial lacerations on the war's first day, but most accounts described the injuries as minor and Iranian officials said he was safe and well.
“They’ve conceded the fact that they will not have nuclear weapons.”
Claim checkedIn negotiations with the US, Iran has conceded that it will not have nuclear weapons.
Iran had long said it does not seek nuclear weapons, and the US-Iran memorandum concluded on 14 June 2026 records Iran reaffirming that it will never develop nuclear weapons, though enrichment and the uranium stockpile were left to later talks.
“they were very close to having a nuclear weapon twice.”
Claim checkedIran came very close to having a nuclear weapon twice, including under the JCPOA nuclear deal.
FactCheck.org reported that under the 2015 JCPOA Iran's breakout time was 12-plus months and that Iran expanded enrichment only after the US withdrew in 2018; US intelligence said in March 2025 that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon.
Claim checkedThe 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) expired long ago.
The JCPOA reached its termination day on 18 October 2025, about eight months before the interview, and Iran declared its restrictions ended; the US had withdrawn in 2018. 'Long ago' is a loose description of eight months.
“I’m into three months. You know, Vietnam lasted 19 years.”
Claim checkedThe Iran war is three months old, while the Vietnam War lasted 19 years.
The US-Iran war began on 28 February 2026, a little over three months before the interview; US military deaths in Vietnam span 1956 to 1975, roughly 19 years of involvement.
“Most of the drone factories have been knocked out, most of the launching pads have been knocked out and most of the missile manufacturing areas have been knocked out.”
Claim checkedUS strikes have knocked out most of Iran's drone factories, launch pads and missile manufacturing sites.
US intelligence reports said more than two-thirds of Iran's missile, drone and naval production facilities and more than half of its launchers were damaged, destroyed or trapped, but CNN reported satellite images showing Iran had repaired most of its underground missile facilities.
Claim checkedIn the June 2025 US strikes, three mountains collapsed on Iran's nuclear sites.
The June 2025 US strikes hit three sites (Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan), of which only Fordow is built into a mountain; experts said the sites were badly damaged but not obliterated, and no evidence shows three mountains collapsed.
“every one of those bombs went right down those chutes, blew up.”
Claim checkedIn the June 2025 strikes on Iran, every US bunker-buster bomb went down the ventilation shafts and exploded.
At a Pentagon briefing Gen. Dan Caine described the bunker-buster bombs entering Fordow's ventilation shafts and detonating as planned, with 14 dropped on Fordow and Natanz; the first fell at about 2:10 a.m. local time, not 1 a.m., and early intelligence assessments of the damage were mixed.
“the only two countries that can get it are us and China because we’re the only two with the equipment that’s capable of doing that kind of work.”
Claim checkedDonald Trump said only the United States and China have the equipment able to dig out Iran's buried enriched uranium, so only they could get it.
Reporting in March 2026 (citing US intelligence, via the New York Times) said Iran could still reach the highly enriched uranium buried at Isfahan through a narrow access point, though tunnels were damaged and mined. No evidence was found that only the US and China have equipment able to dig it out.
“if you walked over there, I would be able to read your first name on your lapel. And these are cameras up in space.”
Claim checkedDonald Trump said US satellite cameras watching the Iranian nuclear site could read a person's first name on their lapel.
The resolution of US reconnaissance satellites is classified. Public estimates put the best optical resolution at roughly 10-15 cm, which would make reading a name on a lapel unlikely, but no official figure exists to confirm or rule it out.
Claim checkedDonald Trump said the United States fought in the Korean War for many, many years.
US combat in the Korean War lasted about three years, from 25 June 1950 to the armistice of 27 July 1953, with over 36,000 American deaths. US troops have stayed in South Korea since, but the war itself was not 'many, many years' long.
“We’ve had 13 people killed. And that includes two wars. That’s Venezuela, and that’s Iran.”
Claim checkedDonald Trump said 13 US service members have been killed across the Venezuela operation and the Iran war combined.
By early June 2026, 13 US service members had died in the Iran war that began on 28 February (seven from Iranian attacks in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, six in a KC-135 crash in Iraq); US officials said no Americans were killed in the January 2026 raid in Venezuela. Further deaths in July brought the Iran total to 16.
“in three months, I’ve demolished the navy, the air force, anti-aircraft. They have no radar.”
Claim checkedDonald Trump said that in three months the US demolished Iran's navy, air force and anti-aircraft defences and that Iran has no radar.
Iran's regular navy was largely destroyed and its air force and air defences heavily damaged, but May 2026 reports of US intelligence assessments said the IRGC naval forces kept about half their capability, Iran kept about 70% of its mobile missile launchers, and coastal defence missiles remained largely functional.
“Obama flew a Boeing 757, a plane I know very well. They took the seats out, and they loaded it up with $1.7 billion in cash from the banks in Maryland and Virginia and D.C.”
Claim checkedDonald Trump said the Obama administration flew $1.7 billion in cash to Iran on a Boeing 757, drawn from banks in Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC.
The US did deliver $1.7 billion in cash to Iran in 2016 to settle a 1979 arms-sale claim ($400 million principal plus about $1.3 billion interest). But the money came from a trust fund and the Treasury judgment fund and was converted to foreign currency through European banks, not drawn from banks in Maryland, Virginia and DC; the first $400 million went on an unmarked cargo plane.
Claim checkedDonald Trump said the Obama administration gave Iran tens of billions of dollars.
Under the 2015 nuclear deal Iran regained access to its own frozen assets, which the US Treasury estimated at about $56 billion in usable funds; this was Iran's money released by sanctions relief, not US payments.
“I inherited a terrible military. We had no equipment.”
Claim checkedDonald Trump said he inherited a terrible US military in 2017 that had no equipment.
The US spent roughly $600 billion on defence in the year before January 2017 and had the world's largest military; fact-checkers and defence analysts found readiness strains but no lack of equipment or ammunition.
Claim checkedDonald Trump said Joe Biden gave away a lot of US military equipment.
The Biden administration sent more than $65 billion in security assistance to Ukraine from 2022 to 2024, much of it drawn from existing US stocks under presidential drawdown authority, so a substantial amount of equipment did leave US inventories; this was aid to an ally with replenishment funded by Congress rather than equipment simply given away.
“we’ve just had all brand new stock market records today.”
Claim checkedDonald Trump said US stock markets set brand new records on the day of the interview (5 June 2026).
The interview was recorded on Friday 5 June 2026, when the S&P 500 fell 2.6% and the Nasdaq 4.2%, the worst day since October; the Dow fell 1.3% a day after a record close on 4 June. No index set a record that day.
“Then I sent the B2 bombers in about nine, ten months ago.”
Claim checkedDonald Trump said he sent B-2 bombers to strike Iran's nuclear sites about nine or ten months before the interview.
The B-2 strikes on Iran's nuclear sites took place on 21-22 June 2025, about 11 and a half months before the 5 June 2026 interview, not nine or ten months.
“they obliterated, totally obliterated, the site.”
Claim checkedDonald Trump said the June 2025 B-2 strikes totally obliterated Iran's nuclear site.
The June 2025 strikes caused severe damage to Iran's nuclear sites, but experts cited by FactCheck.org said the sites were damaged rather than 'obliterated', and the strikes did not remove or account for about 400 kg of 60% enriched uranium.
Claim checkedDonald Trump said he recently won a big election (the November 2024 presidential election).
Trump won the November 2024 presidential election with 312 electoral votes to 226 and the national popular vote; it took place about 19 months before the interview, so 'just' is loose.
“We’ve been doing this for three months. Much of it has been under the form — a pretty good form of ceasefire.”
Claim checkedDonald Trump said the US-Iran war had lasted about three months and that much of that time was under a reasonably good ceasefire.
The war began on 28 February 2026, a little over three months before the 5 June interview, and a ceasefire agreed on 8 April (extended to July) covered roughly two of those months, though it was strained by the US blockade and Iran's re-closing of the Strait of Hormuz.
Claim checkedDonald Trump said the US took over Venezuela in a matter of minutes.
The 3 January 2026 raid that captured Nicolas Maduro took several hours (forces were in and out within about five hours), and the US did not take over Venezuela: Maduro's deputy Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in as interim president.
“I built 1,000 miles of wall on our southern border.”
Claim checkedDonald Trump said he built 1,000 miles of wall on the US southern border.
PolitiFact (25 June 2026) reports about 450 miles of barrier in Trump's first term, mostly replacing existing barriers, plus about 110 miles built since the 2025 contracts, roughly 560 miles in all and far short of 1,000.
“I took the worst border in history, and I made it the best border in history in a matter of weeks.”
Claim checkedDonald Trump said he took the worst border in US history and made it the best in history within weeks.
Southwest border apprehensions fell to 8,347 in February 2025, the lowest monthly figure on record, within weeks of the inauguration. But crossings had already fallen sharply from their December 2023 peak before he took office, so he did not take over the border at its worst point.
“They were developing it during the nuclear deal.”
Claim checkedDonald Trump said Iran was developing a nuclear weapon during the 2015 nuclear deal.
The IAEA verified Iran's compliance with the 2015 deal until the US withdrew in 2018, and arms control experts say Iran expanded enrichment only after the withdrawal; US intelligence assessed in March 2025 that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon.
“when Obama signed that stupid deal where he paid them billions, and billions of dollars.”
Claim checkedDonald Trump said that under the Iran nuclear deal Barack Obama paid Iran billions and billions of dollars.
The US paid Iran $1.7 billion in 2016 to settle a 1979 arms-sale claim, and the deal let Iran regain access to its own frozen assets (Treasury estimated about $56 billion usable). The settlement was a separate claim, and the larger sums were Iran's own funds rather than US payments.
Claim checkedDonald Trump said Iran obtained all of its enriched uranium during the Obama administration.
The 2015 deal capped Iran's enriched uranium stockpile at 300 kg of 3.67% material; Iran exceeded the limits from July 2019 after the US withdrawal and built up more than 400 kg of 60% uranium afterwards, according to IAEA reporting and arms control experts.
Claim checkedDonald Trump said Iran did not escalate its nuclear programme after the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal.
After the US left the nuclear deal in May 2018, Iran began exceeding its limits in July 2019: its low-enriched uranium stockpile passed the cap, enrichment rose from 3.67% to 4.5% and later 60%, and by September 2020 the stockpile was about 10 times the deal's limit, according to IAEA figures.
Claim checkedDonald Trump said the May 2026 jobs report beat economists' expectations by about three times.
The May 2026 jobs report showed 172,000 jobs added, well above forecasts of about 85,000 (LSEG) to 88,000 (Bloomberg). That beat is roughly double the forecast, not triple.
Claim checkedDonald Trump said that US farmers were doing very well in June 2026.
USDA forecast that 2026 net farm income would fall slightly, and by about 12% without record government payments of $44.3 billion. Low crop prices, high costs and lost exports left farm income about 24% below the 2022 record. In the same interview, the moderator cited a survey in which 70% of farmers said they could not afford fertilizer.
“You know what I gave farmers last term? $28 billion because China took advantage and other people. And you know who paid for it? China, last term.”
Claim checkedDonald Trump said he gave farmers $28 billion in his first term and that China paid for it.
USDA did provide about $28 billion in trade aid to farmers in 2018-2019, so the figure is about right. But the money came from the US Treasury through USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation, and studies show that US importers and consumers, not China, paid the tariffs.
Claim checkedDonald Trump said the US economy in his first term was the greatest economy ever.
In Donald Trump's first term, the best year for real GDP growth was 2018, at 2.9%. That was below his own 3% target, and growth was higher in many earlier periods, including the late 1990s. Growth never reached 4% in any full year of the term.
Claim checkedDonald Trump said farmers voted for him in record numbers in the 2024 election.
In Pew's study of validated voters, Trump won rural voters 69% to 29% in 2024, a 40-point margin. That was larger than his margins in 2016 and 2020. The most farming-dependent counties gave him about 78% of the vote on average.
“Fertilizer was very cheap. Everything was cheap. Gasoline was very low.”
Claim checkedDonald Trump said that in his first term fertilizer was very cheap and gasoline prices were very low.
In Trump's first term, regular gasoline averaged about $2.41 a gallon in 2017, $2.75 in 2018 and $2.60 in 2019, which is low compared with 2022 and 2026. Nitrogen fertilizer prices fell from 2013 to 2017 and then rose gradually, before a record spike in 2021-2022. 'Everything was cheap' is a broad description that cannot be checked.
“I was in Iowa, and the prices were $1.85 a gallon.”
Claim checkedDonald Trump said gasoline prices in Iowa were $1.85 a gallon when he visited before the US attacked Iran.
Trump visited Iowa in late January 2026. That day, AAA put the Iowa average for regular gasoline at $2.57 a gallon. GasBuddy found only four of 2,036 stations below $2 (the lowest was $1.97), and a station near the venue charged $2.69. About $1.85 was the price of E85 ethanol blend, not regular gasoline.
“if you go back 15 or 20 years, when you had good reports, the market went up. Nowadays when you have good reports, the market goes down”
Claim checkedDonald Trump said that 15 to 20 years ago markets rose on good economic reports, but now they fall because investors expect higher interest rates.
Markets sometimes fall on strong data when traders expect higher interest rates, a pattern often called 'good news is bad news'. But there is no clear measure that shows this pattern started only in the last 15 to 20 years.
“We have more money coming into our country right now from other countries and people than ever before.”
Claim checkedDonald Trump said more money is coming into the United States from other countries and people than ever before.
BEA reported $232.2 billion in new foreign direct investment in the US in 2025. That was up 49.5% from 2024, but far below the $439.6 billion recorded in 2015 and the $373.4 billion in 2016.
Claim checkedDonald Trump said that economic growth does not cause inflation.
Economists say growth does not always cause inflation: when productivity and capacity rise with demand, prices can stay stable. But when demand grows faster than the economy's capacity, the result is 'demand-pull' inflation, so as a general rule the claim is not supported.
“And Democrats. Most, excuse me, mostly Democrats. Some. Very few Republicans.”
Claim checkedDonald Trump said opposition to the anti-weaponization fund came mostly from Democrats and from very few Republicans.
Democrats opposed the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, but Republican opposition was more than 'very few'. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he saw no purpose for it and asked the administration to shut it down, and GOP objections put a larger Senate bill at risk.
Claim checkedDonald Trump said federal authorities raided his Mar-a-Lago home.
On 8 August 2022, the FBI searched Mar-a-Lago under a court warrant in its investigation of classified documents and seized 102 documents with classification markings.
“People have committed suicide because a bunch of thugs went after them.”
Claim checkedDonald Trump said some people prosecuted by federal authorities, including January 6 defendants, died by suicide because of how they were pursued.
Several January 6 defendants died by suicide while their cases were open, including Matthew Perna in February 2022 while he awaited sentencing. Whether the prosecutions caused these deaths cannot be established, and 'thugs' is a characterisation, not a fact that can be checked.
“They had FBI agents ushering them into the building.”
Claim checkedDonald Trump said FBI agents ushered January 6 rioters into the Capitol building.
The Justice Department inspector general found in December 2024 no undercover FBI employees in the January 6 crowd. Of 26 FBI informants present, four entered the Capitol, none of them at the FBI's direction. NBC reported no evidence that FBI agents brought anyone into the building.
Claim checkedDonald Trump said January 6 defendants pleaded guilty because prosecutors told them they would otherwise go to jail for 15 years.
Private plea negotiations are not public, and we found no evidence that January 6 defendants were generally told they faced 15 years in prison unless they pleaded guilty.
“Many of them were arrested without even going into the building.”
Claim checkedDonald Trump said many January 6 defendants were arrested without having entered the Capitol building.
Many January 6 defendants were charged for conduct outside the building, such as assaulting police on the Capitol grounds. For example, David Dempsey was sentenced to 20 years for assaults committed outside. NBC notes that the probe focused on people who entered the Capitol or committed aggravating acts outside it.
Claim checkedDonald Trump said the 2020 presidential election was rigged.
Courts, state election officials and Trump's own attorney general, William Barr, found no fraud on a scale that could have changed the outcome of the 2020 election. Barr said so in December 2020.
“They’re dropping fast because it’s a rigged election. Let me tell you, it’s four days and they aren’t even close to coming up with the”
Claim checkedDonald Trump said Republican margins in California's June 2026 primary were dropping fast because the election was rigged, as shown by the slow count four days after the vote.
California mails ballots to all active voters and accepts ballots that arrive up to seven days after election day. Counties have until 15 June to count most ballots, so a slow count is normal. Republican margins shrink as later mail ballots, which lean Democratic, are counted, and that is not evidence of fraud.
Claim checkedDonald Trump said California officials were cheating in the June 2026 primary election.
PolitiFact rated the claim that California's slow ballot count shows cheating 'Pants on Fire'. The pace comes from the state's mail-ballot rules and signature checks, and when asked for evidence the White House pointed only to the president's own comments.
“I won an election in a landslide and I got 94% bad press.”
Claim checkedDonald Trump said he won the 2024 election in a landslide while receiving 94% negative press coverage.
Trump won in 2024 with 312 electoral votes, but by about 1.5 points in the popular vote. That was the smallest popular-vote margin for a winner since 1968, so 'landslide' overstates it. The conservative Media Research Center reported network coverage of him as about 91% to 94% negative in several studies, so the press figure matches that group's own measure.
Procedural claims (the speaker's own dates, petition counts, who said what, background), clear slips of the tongue, and words read out from someone else. They stay on the record and do not count in Accuracy.
Supported“He was pushing the Save America Act like crazy.”Procedural: Part of his remembrance of Lindsey Graham, not an argument. · Meet the Press interview, 12 Jul 2026
Can't verify“He got back, said he just landed from Ukraine.”Procedural: Part of his remembrance of Lindsey Graham: their last contact. · Meet the Press interview, 12 Jul 2026
Partly supported“I understand the police or whoever it is came there at about 7:30, 8:00 in the evening”Procedural: Repeats what he heard about the timing of events on the day of the death. · Meet the Press interview, 12 Jul 2026
Supported“In 2016, he came out and very strongly endorsed me.”Procedural: Who said what: when Lindsey Graham endorsed him. · Meet the Press interview, 12 Jul 2026
Partly supported“he campaigned for me with his wife, with Peg.”Procedural: Part of his remembrance of Lindsey Graham. · Meet the Press interview, 12 Jul 2026
Supported“And I know he was gonna do your show today.”Procedural: Repeats what Lindsey Graham was going to do that day. · Meet the Press interview, 12 Jul 2026
Pending“I took Scott, Howard, I took Pete, I took everybody into a room.”Procedural: His own account of a meeting with his officials: scene-setting for the decision. · Meet the Press interview, 7 Jun 2026
