FACT FOCUS: Trump blends falsehoods and exaggerations at rambling NJ press conference

▶ Follow the AP’s live coverage of the 2024 election Former President Donald Trump on Thursday gave his second news conference in as many weeks as he adjusts to a newly energized Democratic ticket ahead of next week’s Democratic National Convention. At his New Jersey golf club, the Republican nominee blended falsehoods about the economy with misleading statements and deeply personal attacks about his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. Growth surged under Biden TRUMP: “As a result of Kamala’s inflation, price hikes have cost the typical household a total of $28,000. … Harris and Biden blew it all up.” THE FACTS: Trump made numerous economic claims that were either exaggerated or misleading. Prices did surge during the Biden-Harris administration, though $28,000 is far higher than independent estimates. Separately, the U.S. economy was growing quickly as it reopened from COVID in 2020, as Trump’s term ended, and it continued to do so after Biden took office. Growth reached 5.8% in 2021, Biden’s first year in the White House, as the rebound continued, faster than any year that Trump was in office. Mortgage rates were low when Trump left because of the pandemic, which caused the Federal Reserve to cut its key rate to nearly zero. ‘Foreign born’ is not the same as ‘migrants’ TRUMP: “Virtually 100% of the net job creation in the last year has gone to migrants.” THE FACTS: This is a misinterpretation of government jobs data. The figures do show that the number of foreign-born people with jobs has increased in the past year, while the number of native-born Americans with jobs has declined. In addition, the unemployment rate for native-born Americans is 4.5%, lower than the 4.7% for foreign-born. Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump talks after a news conference at Trump National Golf Club, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, in Bedminster, N.J. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) A thief is not allowed to steal up to $950 TRUMP: “You’re allowed to rob a store as long as it’s not more than $950. … If it’s less than $950 they can rob it and not get charged.” THE FACTS: Trump was referring to regulations in California that allegedly allow for theft under $950. Alex Bastian, then-special adviser to Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón, who co-authored Prop 47, told The Associated Press in 2021 that the minimum was raised “to adjust for inflation and cost of living,” but that most shoplifting cases were already prosecuted as misdemeanors any since they didn’t exceed $400. Prop 47 was enacted to comply with a 2011 U.S. Supreme Court order, which upheld that the state’s overcrowded prisons violated incarcerated individuals’ Eighth Amendment rights against cruel and unusual punishment. What to know about the 2024 Election Today’s news: Follow live updates Ground Game: Sign up for AP’s weekly politics newsletter AP’s Role: The Associated Press is the most trusted source of information on election night, with a history of accuracy dating to 1848. Harris has not said in this campaign she wants to defund police TRUMP, on Harris: “You know, she wants to defund the police.” THE FACTS: Harris expressed praise for the “defund the police” movement after the murder of George Floyd in 2020, questioning whether money was being effectively spent on public safety. Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump listens to a question after a news conference at Trump National Golf Club, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, in Bedminster, N.J. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) Trump did not win Pennsylvania in 2020 TRUMP: “I won Pennsylvania and I did much better the second time. Trump did win the state in 2016, when he beat Democrat Hillary Clinton to win the presidency. According to the official certified results, Biden and Harris received 3.46 million votes, compared to Trump and Vice President Mike Pence with 3.38 million votes, a margin of about 80,000 votes. Oil production in U.S. hit record under Biden Trump says he will bring energy prices down by reversing President Joe Biden’s policy of encouraging renewable energy at the expense of fossil fuels. TRUMP: “We’re going to drill baby drill, we’re going to get the energy prices down, almost immediately.” THE FACTS: Oil production in the U.S. hit an all-time high under Biden’s administration. The U.S. Department of Energy reported in October that U.S. oil production hit 13.2 million barrels per day, passing a previous record set in 2020 by 100,000 barrels. Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a news conference at Trump National Golf Club, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, in Bedminster, N.J. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) Economy has shown recent signs of strength, not evidence of collapse TRUMP: “We’re going to have a crash like the 1929 crash if she gets in.” THE FACTS: The economy has shown recent signs of strength — not evidence that America is on the edge of economic collapse. Harris was not named border ‘czar’ TRUMP: “She was the border czar but she didn’t do anything. … She was the person responsible for the border and she never went there.” THE FACTS: Biden tapped Harris in 2021 to work with Central American countries to address the root causes of migration and the challenges it creates. Black unemployment is lower under Biden TRUMP: “The Black population had the best numbers they’ve ever had on jobs, on income, on everything. The Hispanic population had the best numbers.” THE FACTS: It’s true that Black and Hispanic unemployment fell to then-record lows under Trump, but that was upended by COVID. When Trump left office, Black unemployment had soared to 9.3% and Hispanic unemployment to 8.5%. Under Biden, Black unemployment fell to a new record low of 4.8% in April 2023, while Hispanic unemployment in September 2022 matched the all-time low of 3.9% it had reached under Trump. – This Summarize was created by Neural News AI (V1). Source: https://apnews.com/f8ed52f64a12cf450b0d0f2591c9d92b