Fact check: The many lies Trump told the New York Post
Fact check: The many lies Trump told the New York Post
Fact check – In a recent exchange with Miranda Devine, a prominent conservative commentator and podcaster, President Donald Trump reiterated a series of claims that have long been debunked. The interview, released on Wednesday, highlighted his tendency to recycle familiar narratives about elections, economic performance, and immigration policies. This pattern mirrors his earlier remarks during a Fox News appearance, where he also made unchallenged assertions. While the conversation with Devine focused on specific issues, it revealed a consistent strategy of framing facts to fit his agenda. Here’s a detailed review of some of his most notable statements from the interview.
Mail-in Ballots: A Global Practice
Trump asserted that the United States is the only nation that still uses mail-in ballots, dismissing other countries as having abandoned the practice. However, this claim is demonstrably false. Dozens of nations, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, and Switzerland, have long embraced mail-in voting in varying forms. While the U.S. system is unique in its scale and specific rules, other countries also allow voters to cast ballots by mail, often as part of broader election procedures.
“We’re the only country in the world that has mail-in ballots. No other country does it anymore.”
Devine’s interview provided a platform for Trump to restate this claim, which he has made repeatedly in the past. The lack of rebuttal during the discussion underscores how these falsehoods are often presented without scrutiny. The key takeaway is that mail-in ballots are not a U.S. monopoly, and their use varies globally depending on political and logistical contexts.
The 2020 Election: Rigged or Legitimate?
Trump repeatedly accused the 2020 election of being “rigged,” this time adding that “it’s been proven to be rigged.” He also claimed that Joe Biden “should have never been president” and that Biden lost the election in a “landslide.” However, the facts contradict these assertions. Biden secured a decisive victory in the Electoral College with 306 votes to Trump’s 232. Furthermore, Biden received over 7 million more votes than Trump in the overall count. Five and a half years after the election, no credible evidence has emerged to support Trump’s claim of widespread fraud.
“It’s been proven to be rigged.”
Despite these claims, the election’s legitimacy was upheld by courts, election officials, and independent audits. Trump’s insistence on a “rigged” outcome reflects his ongoing effort to cast doubt on the democratic process, even as the evidence continues to support the election’s fairness.
Trump’s Election Performance: A Tale of Two Wins
During the interview, Trump stated, “I won it three times.” This claim, however, is misleading. While he did secure victories in the 2016 and 2024 presidential elections, he lost the 2020 race to Biden. The 2024 election, which Trump called “a great election,” also featured his accusation that “they had a lot of rigging going on there too.” He insisted that “there were areas that were just rigged. I could see it. In other words, rigged against me.”
“They had a lot of rigging going on there too. There were areas that were just rigged. I could see it. In other words, rigged against me.”
Though Trump won the 2024 election by a significant margin, he acknowledged that some regions experienced legitimate challenges. However, the assertion that the entire election was rigged lacks substantiation. His strategy of emphasizing local discrepancies while ignoring the overall result is a common tactic in his campaign to undermine confidence in the electoral process.
Democrats and Elections: A Systemic Claim
Trump claimed that Democrats “couldn’t win” without cheating, stating, “If they didn’t cheat, they could not win because their policies are so bad.” He also said, “If they didn’t cheat you wouldn’t have them in.” These statements suggest that Democratic victories are solely due to fraudulent practices, yet they ignore the fact that Democrats have won elections through legitimate means.
“If they didn’t cheat, they could not win because their policies are so bad.”
Democrats, like Republicans, have consistently won elections by securing the majority of votes. While Trump’s argument implies a pattern of cheating, it fails to account for the role of voter turnout, policy appeal, and candidate performance in determining electoral outcomes. His rhetoric often frames opposition as inherently dishonest, even when the evidence doesn’t support such a narrative.
California Ballots: Excess or Exaggeration?
Trump repeated a false claim about California’s voting system, asserting that “they mail out 38 — I think 38 million ballots” and that “some people get three, four, five ballots. Republicans get, oftentimes, none.” This statement, which he previously made in May, attempts to paint California as a battleground for partisan bias.
“You know, in California, they mail out 38 — I think 38 million ballots. And some people get three, four, five ballots. Republicans get, oftentimes, none.”
The fact check reveals that California’s voter registration numbers were around 22.6 million before the last presidential election and approximately 23.2 million ahead of recent primaries. While there are occasional administrative errors, such as duplicate ballots, there is no evidence of a widespread, intentional bias against Republicans. Trump’s claim relies on cherry-picking data to support his narrative.
Talarico’s Mask: A Misplaced Allegation
Trump accused James Talarico, the Democratic Senate candidate in Texas, of wearing a mask “six months ago,” a claim he had previously exaggerated. He suggested this was evidence of a broader pattern of behavior, though CNN found no such evidence. The video in question, which showed Talarico wearing a mask in 2022, was used by some Republicans to mock him, but it does not validate Trump’s broader assertion.
“A couple of months ago, he’s wearing a mask.”
Trump’s repetition of this claim highlights his use of selective examples to create a narrative. The mask incident, while notable, is not a major point in the 2022 election, nor does it prove any systematic bias in the voting process. His approach to this claim demonstrates how he leverages minor incidents to support larger conspiracy theories.
McConnell’s Reelection: A Credit Claim
Trump claimed responsibility for the 2020 reelection of Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader from Kentucky. He said, “Without me, he wouldn’t have been elected. It was my endorsement that got him elected.” However, McConnell’s race was never close. The senator had been reelected for decades, with no significant challenges to his dominance in the state. His 2020 victory was a landslide, with a margin of nearly 20 percentage points.
“Without me, he wouldn’t have been elected. It was my endorsement that got him elected.”
While Trump’s endorsement may have helped McConnell, the senator’s victory was a result of consistent support from his constituents. Trump’s insistence on taking credit for McConnell’s win is an example of how he often attributes political success to his influence, even when the outcome is largely due to other factors.
These examples from the New York Post interview illustrate Trump’s recurring pattern of using familiar tropes to challenge established facts. By reiterating claims without providing new evidence, he reinforces a narrative that questions the integrity of elections and institutions. The lack of pushback during the interview further highlights how these assertions are often accepted without critical examination. As the election cycle continues, such tactics remain a central part of his strategy to shape public perception and maintain his political narrative.