At a Sunday evening rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City, former US president Donald Trump made several inaccurate claims on topics including immigration, disaster response, and the economy, many of which have been previously debunked.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the key falsehoods from his speech.
FEMA and North Carolina: Trump incorrectly claimed that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had failed to respond to Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. In reality, FEMA acted promptly and reported having over 1,700 personnel on the ground, approving over $100 million in aid by mid-October. North Carolina officials, including Governor Roy Cooper, expressed appreciation for the agency’s quick response and support.
FEMA Funding and Migrants: Trump alleged that FEMA's disaster relief funding was diverted to support undocumented migrants, which supposedly left insufficient resources for states like North Carolina and Georgia. This is inaccurate; FEMA’s disaster relief funds, over $35 billion for fiscal 2024, are separate from the $650 million designated to assist communities with sheltering migrants.
Immigration statistics: Trump repeated a misleading claim that illegal immigration was at an all-time low when he left office, marked by a specific chart. However, the chart referenced April 2020, when migration was temporarily reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, not because of immigration policies alone. Migration numbers then steadily increased until the end of Trump’s term.
Kamala Harris and the border: Trump inaccurately labelled Vice President Kamala Harris as the “border czar,” claiming she was responsible for border security. In reality, President Biden tasked Harris with addressing migration issues through diplomatic outreach in Central America rather than direct control over border enforcement, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security.
Migrant numbers in Springfield, Ohio: Trump falsely claimed that 30,000 undocumented migrants were placed in Springfield, Ohio, a town of 50,000 residents. However, Haitian immigrants in the area arrived legally under the Immigration Parole Program and chose Springfield for economic opportunities, housing, and an established Haitian community. Local officials estimate the number of Haitian residents is between 10,000 and 12,000 in the wider county, not 30,000.
Unaccompanied migrant children: Trump mischaracterized federal data, claiming 325,000 unaccompanied migrant children were “missing.” The Homeland Security report he referenced noted 32,000 children had missed court dates, and 291,000 hadn’t been issued court dates, which doesn’t imply they are lost or exploited.
Rally attendance in Pennsylvania: Trump exaggerated attendance at his Pennsylvania rally, stating that 101,000 people were present, though Secret Service and local authorities reported a crowd of around 24,000.
Nord Stream 2 Pipeline: Trump incorrectly claimed he “ended” the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. While he signed sanctions related to the project in 2019, construction resumed shortly after, and the pipeline was largely completed by the end of his term.
Defeating ISIS and inflation claims: Trump inaccurately claimed ISIS was defeated in “four weeks” and that inflation was non-existent during his term, despite cumulative inflation reaching around 8% and ISIS being subdued over two years into his presidency.
Border wall construction: Trump overstated the length of the border wall built during his presidency, claiming 571 miles when the official tally shows 458 miles, including both new and replacement segments.
2020 Election claims: Trump reiterated the unfounded claim that the 2020 election was manipulated through COVID-related changes to voting procedures. No evidence supports widespread fraud, and election protocols were adjusted across party lines to accommodate the pandemic.
Each of these statements has been fact-checked and found to be incorrect or misleading based on verified data and official records.
