In a speech at Madison Square Garden, former President Donald Trump repeated several inaccurate statements about topics ranging from immigration and FEMA’s disaster relief to inflation and border security. This fact-check explores 16 claims from his rally that have been proven misleading or false.
FEMA Responses and Immigration Claims
Trump accused the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of not responding to Hurricane Helene’s impact in North Carolina. He claimed, “They haven’t even responded,” suggesting the agency failed to act. In reality, FEMA swiftly responded to the disaster, deploying over 1,700 staff in North Carolina, with $100 million approved for state residents. North Carolina Gov.
Roy Cooper and state emergency management officials acknowledged FEMA’s support, praising its immediate response. Trump also alleged FEMA’s budget was misused to assist undocumented immigrants instead of aiding states like North Carolina.
This accusation is false, as FEMA’s funds for disaster relief and migrant assistance are separate. Congress appropriated $35 billion to FEMA for disaster relief in fiscal year 2024, while only $650 million was allocated for sheltering migrants—funds independent of disaster relief.
Border Immigration and Misleading Statistics
Trump referenced his “favorite chart” on migration rates at the southern border, claiming it showed the “lowest illegal immigration” right as he left office. His reference is misleading; the chart actually points to April 2020, a period of low migration influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Migration rates then rose steadily until he left office in January 2021.Trump repeated the claim that Vice President Kamala Harris was appointed “border czar,” in charge of U.S. border security. In reality, Harris’s role was limited to diplomatic efforts in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to address migration causes, while Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas oversees border security. The White House has consistently clarified that Harris’s assignment did not include border security.
Misleading Claims About Migrants and Towns
Trump alleged that Springfield, Ohio, with a population of 50,000, had been overwhelmed with 30,000 illegal immigrants. This claim is false on several counts. Haitian immigrants in Springfield generally reside in the U.S. lawfully through programs like the Immigration Parole Program, allowing them to apply for Temporary Protected Status. Ohio Gov.
Mike DeWine also confirmed their legal status. Additionally, local estimates suggest around 12,000-15,000 immigrants reside in Springfield’s county, not 30,000.Trump claimed 325,000 migrant children were “missing, de.ad, se.x sla.ves, or slav.es,” due to the border situation.
This wildly distorts data from a Homeland Security report that mentioned 32,000 unaccompanied children missed immigration hearings between 2019 and 2023. A larger figure, 291,000, refers to children not given court dates, but this does not imply exploitation. Experts, such as Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council, clarified that “missing” in this context only refers to missed court appearances.
Claims on Inflation, Military, and Election Integrity
Trump claimed, “we had no inflation” during his presidency, which is incorrect. Cumulative inflation under Trump was around 8%. Trump also attributed the “worst inflation” in U.S. history to Harris’s Senate tie-breaking votes, which is factually inaccurate.
The 40-year high U.S. inflation rate in 2022 (9.1%) was far from the all-time record set in 1920, when it reached 23.7%.Trump exaggerated the extent of his border wall project, claiming he built 571 miles when official data indicates 458 miles were completed, much of it as replacements for existing barriers. Trump also claimed to have “rebuilt” the military, stating all equipment had been replaced. Military experts noted this is an overstatement, as most of the military’s equipment predates his administration.
Finally, Trump repeated his false claim that Democrats “used Covid to cheat” in the 2020 election. Despite numerous investigations, there is no evidence of widespread fraud. Several Republican-led states also altered voting procedures in response to the pandemic, with bipartisan support for enhanced voter access.
These 16 statements provide a window into Trump’s messaging, revealing a pattern of exaggerated or debunked claims at his Madison Square Garden rally. Each claim underscores the importance of verifying information before accepting it as fact.
