‘State of the Union’: Trump made false or misleading statements, agency says; see which ones

Trump defends progress in the economy and immigration policy The President of the United States, Donald Trump, presented an often distorted reality about the country’s situation when he claimed a “historic turnaround” led by his government during the traditional “State of the Union” speech on Tuesday (25), according to a check carried out by the American news agency Associated Press (AP). ✅ Follow the g1 international news channel on WhatsApp SANDRA COHEN: In a spectacle to the nation, Trump distills partisan hatred and launches a prank on Democrats The AP reached Trump’s statements on various topics, such as elections, inflation, immigration, tariffs and wars around the world. According to the agency, Trump “returned to rhetoric based on disinformation” during his speech to the US Congress. See below some of the statements and why they were considered by the AP to be false or distorted: Elections Trump: “I urge you to pass the Save America Act to prevent illegal immigrants and other unauthorized people from voting. Fraud is widespread.” Check: False. ➡️ The facts: Trump and his allies never presented evidence of widespread fraud. Experts say voter fraud is extremely rare. In Michigan, a review identified 15 people who apparently were not citizens and voted in the 2024 general election, out of more than 5.7 million votes cast. Thirteen cases were referred to the attorney general. Donald Trump speaks to the American Congress. Nathan Howard/Reuters Trump Economy: “When I last spoke on this floor 12 months ago, I had just inherited a nation in crisis, with a stagnant economy.” Check: Misleading. ➡️ The facts: It’s not exactly what Trump said. In the 2024 elections, voters were dissatisfied with high inflation, but the US economy was far from stagnant. The US Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew 2.8% in 2024, already discounting inflation. This is a stronger pace than the 2.2% recorded last year, at the beginning of Trump’s second term. Trump: “Incomes are rising rapidly, the economy is hotter than ever.” Check: Misleading. ➡️ The Facts: Not the case. After-tax income, adjusted for inflation, rose just 0.9% in 2025, down from 2.2% in 2024, Biden’s final year in office. The annual gain in Trump’s first year is the smallest since 2022, when inflation soared and reduced Americans’ real incomes. Salaries and salaries are the largest component of income, and their growth has slowed as companies have sharply reduced hiring. In such an environment, workers tend to get smaller raises. See the videos that are trending on g1 Immigration Trump: “We will always allow people to enter legally, people who love our country and work hard to keep it.” Check: Misleading. ➡️ The facts: Trump has taken steps to restrict who can immigrate to the US, often under the argument of protecting national security. He suspended the refugee program on his first day in office and in October resumed it only on a limited basis for white South Africans. It also imposed restrictions on travel and immigration from nearly 40 countries, many in Africa. According to US media, immigrants with temporary or conditional legal status have been deported by the Trump administration through mass revocations of asylum programs, for example. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security has been arresting and deporting illegal immigrants who have been in the US for years and have no criminal record. US President Donald Trump holds a sign with a photograph of a person he claims is an illegal immigrant REUTERS/Jessica Koscielniak Foreign investment in the US Trump: “I have secured commitments of more than US$18 trillion (about R$93 trillion) flowing from all parts of the world.” Check: Misleading. ➡️ The Facts: Trump did not present evidence that he guaranteed this volume of investment, domestic or foreign, in the USA. Based on statements from companies, foreign countries and the White House’s own website, the amount seems exaggerated, highly speculative and much higher than the real amount. The White House website presents a much lower number, US$9.6 trillion (around R$49.5 trillion), which apparently includes commitments made during the Biden administration. A study published in January raised doubts about whether more than US$5 trillion (around R$25.7 trillion) in commitments announced last year by major US trading partners would actually come to fruition and questioned how they would be applied. MORE Check: True, but in parts. ➡️ The Facts: Yes, more Americans are working, but the number of employed citizens always grows as the population increases. The relevant indicator is the proportion of Americans with jobs, which has fallen significantly over the past quarter century, in part because the workforce is aging and more people are retired. This proportion peaked at 64.7% in April 2000 and was at 59.8% in January of that year. The unemployment rate in the US is currently low at 4.3%, but it was even lower when Joe Biden left office in January 2025: 4%. During the Democrat government, the rate reached 3.4%, the lowest in 50 years. Trump Crime: “Last year, the homicide rate had the biggest drop ever recorded in history.” Check: Misleading. ➡️ The facts: Trump claims credit for a significant drop in violent crime by 2025, saying the homicide rate has fallen to its lowest level in 125 years. The statement, however, is misleading because crime has already been falling in recent years. A study released in January by the Council on Criminal Justice showed a 21% reduction in the homicide rate between 2024 and 2025 in 35 cities analyzed. FBI reports for 2023 and 2024 already showed significant reductions. Crime had spiked during the coronavirus pandemic, with a nearly 30% increase in homicides in 2020, but returned to levels close to pre-pandemic levels around 2022, during the Biden administration.

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