Reflecting on President Donald Trump’s triumphant second term, we find ourselves nearly 100 days in. Along the way, PolitiFact has been diligently keeping track of assorted topics connected to the new administration. These encompass everything from major policy transformations to the composition of the executive branch itself. The media environment has undeniably seen a shift, and fact-checkers have arguably felt this shift the most.
Our attempts to monitor the delivery on promises made by this administration have evolved, contrasting to earlier methods first established during President Barack Obama’s tenure. These changes allow for a more comprehensive tracking of the abundance of commitments made during Trump’s second-term campaign, neatly compiled in the ‘MAGA-Meter’. Our tracking system dynamically displays the status of 75 different promises, including key interim benchmarks.
President Trump’s pledges are evaluated with a five-tier rating system which includes: ‘Promise Kept’, ‘Promise Broken’, and ‘Compromise’. These ratings are definitive, indicating the completed status of the pledges. Typically, these are used towards the end of any term, denoting the conclusion of a promise. The remaining two ratings, ‘In the Works’ and ‘Stalled’, serve as indications of ongoing developments or stagnation.
Going beyond the purely political, we’ve had an eye on the transforming economic scene under President Trump’s leadership. Through the lens of fluctuating tariffs and stirring conversations around the country’s financial health, we’ve noted some significant movements. A case in point being the eye-catching development shortly after ‘Liberation Day’ on April 2nd.
During this dynamic period, numerous reports surfaced on social media claiming that Kevin Hassett, the National Economic Council director, voiced the potential of a new 90-day halt on tariff imposition. These rumors were promptly contradicted by an official dismissal from the White House, labeling the idea as nothing more than ‘fake news’. Our own investigation of these claims found them to be unfounded.
However, only a day after our publication, President Trump upended expectations with the announcement of a 90-day deferment of some tariffs on imports from all countries, excluding China. Interestingly, this decision represented a marked reversal from his previous position.
During the same period, we also analyzed a statement made by Minnesota Governor and former Democratic vice presidential nominee, Tim Walz. According to Walz, Democrats need to focus on reaching out to those struggling with economic instability. He claimed that many Americans were worried about their precarious financial future, suggesting that less than half of them had savings of over $1,000.
Although it is no secret that many Americans grapple with financial insecurity, Governor Walz’s prediction of their savings situation seemed stretched. Our research contradicts his assertion, as it paints a slightly more encouraging image of the average American’s savings account than the one implied by Governor Walz. This led us to rate his statement as ‘Mostly False’.
In a separate incident in February, ‘Shark Tank’ celebrity Kevin O’Leary took a swipe at the federal government’s financial management, suggesting billionaire Elon Musk could handle it better. He pointed out that the federal government has been running unchecked for a century without due diligence for cost-efficiency. This audacious claim was rated as ‘Pants on Fire!’ by our team.
The claim by O’Leary was off the mark due to the longstanding existence of inspectors general whose primary function is to audit the federal government. They tirelessly tackle issues of waste, fraud, and abuse, aiming for transparency and efficiency. The outcomes of their investigations are publicly available and can be easily accessed online.
At PolitiFact, we take pride in our record of debunking incorrect information. In our eyes, everyone involved in public administration is held to the same standard, regardless of their status or affiliation. The importance of ensuring citizens are accurately informed cannot be overstressed. Our consistency has earned us a reputation as a reliable source of truth.
As part and parcel of our regular work, we constantly cross-verify claims and track promise delivery across administrations. It’s an essential role during a presidential term, to observe and report on ongoing developments, duly updating the public about any significant progress, mishaps, or stagnations. Without such meticulous tracking, crucial pledges might slip through the cracks.
The MAGA-Meter is a representative example of our attempt to maintain this transparency and accountability. It provides a clip of evolving administrative processes in a palatable way, keeping the public informed and administration on its toes.
Another round of fact-checking took us to Arlington National Cemetery, where the ‘Notable Graves’ list briefly omitted about 40 names before they were reinstated. The cemetery’s spokesperson confirmed the temporary removal to PolitiFact. They further clarified that the name of Colin Powell had been uninterrupted on their website throughout this period.
As diligent chroniclers, we remain committed to keeping a finger on the pulse of the administration’s movements. Whatever the ups and downs, challenges, and victories, our aim stays unwavered: to derive the truth buried deep within claims and promises.
As we look forward to charting the course of the second term of President Trump’s presidency, rest assured, that our vigilant fact-checking mechanism remains steadfast. Through our ongoing investigations and ratings system, we’ll continue to provide the public with an unbiased, but always fair, assessment of the promises made by our leaders.