Donald Trump’s recent public appearances have been marked by a mix of disjointed ramblings, authoritarian rhetoric, and fervent attacks on President Joe Biden. On Friday, MSNBC’s Steve Rattner took a few moments to dismantle three of Trump’s key criticisms of Biden, using publicly available data to present clear graphs for those who prefer visual evidence.
Firstly, Trump’s assertion of rampant crime under the Biden administration was debunked by Rattner, who highlighted that crime rates have, in fact, decreased significantly across the board, comparing favorably to any period during Trump’s tenure. Addressing Trump’s persistent advocacy for increased oil drilling and energy independence, Rattner pointed out that energy production has soared under Biden’s leadership, reaching record levels. And regarding Trump’s claim of fiscal responsibility and deficit reduction, Rattner confirmed that Trump actually presided over a historic increase in national debt, contrary to his promises.
Lie No. 1: Crime is skyrocketing under Biden.
Despite widespread misconceptions, data shows that crime rates have generally declined, challenging Trump’s narrative. Studies consistently demonstrate lower crime rates among immigrants compared to native-born citizens.
Lie No. 2: The U.S. lacks energy independence, and Biden mishandles energy production.
Contrary to Trump’s rhetoric, America has been progressing towards energy independence since the shale boom of 2005, with record energy production under Biden’s administration. Whether the nation will prioritize renewable energy leadership remains uncertain.
Lie No. 3: Trump would have tackled the deficit, while Biden exacerbates it.
In reality, Biden’s proposed budget includes measures for deficit reduction. Trump oversaw a significant increase in national debt, surpassing previous presidents, without the pretext of wartime expenditures.
Trump’s habitual disregard for truth isn’t new. During his presidency, media outlets expended substantial efforts fact-checking his statements, with The Washington Post cataloging over 30,000 false claims.