Donald Trump is known for spreading false information, but his performance in the recent debate was shocking. According to CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale, Trump lied at least 33 times during the 90-minute debate. That means he was lying almost every three minutes. This level of dishonesty is a huge problem, especially for someone who wants to be president again.
“This was a staggeringly dishonest debate performance from former President Trump,” said Dale. He explained that Trump didn’t just stretch the truth like some politicians. Instead, his lies were completely out of touch with reality. For example, Trump claimed that every Democrat wanted Roe v. Wade overturned. The truth? More than 80% of Democrats actually supported Roe v. Wade. This kind of blatant dishonesty makes it hard for people to know what’s true and what’s not.
One Twitter user, @Acyn, shared a clip of Dale’s fact-checking on CNN, writing, “CNN Fact Check of the debate: This was a staggeringly dishonest debate performance from former President Trump. Just lie after lie on subject after subject by my preliminary count, he made at least 33 false claims.”
CNN Fact Check of the debate: This was a staggeringly dishonest debate performance from former President Trump. Just lie after lie on subject after subject by my preliminary count, he made at least 33 false claims pic.twitter.com/5ZhJVBlqub
— Acyn (@Acyn) September 11, 2024
Stay up-to-date with the latest news!
Subscribe and start recieving our daily emails.
Trump has been spreading lies for a long time. One of his biggest lies was about the 2020 election. He kept claiming that the election was “stolen” from him, even though many investigations found no evidence to support this. His refusal to accept the truth hurt trust in America’s election system and divided the country.
Another example of Trump’s dishonesty was during the COVID-19 pandemic. He often downplayed the seriousness of the virus, even though it was killing thousands of Americans. He also pushed unproven treatments, which led to confusion. This kind of misinformation likely made the pandemic worse in the U.S. and cost lives.
It’s not just Trump spreading false information. Many Republicans continue to support and spread his lies. During the debate, Trump said something shocking about migrants in Springfield, Ohio. He claimed they were eating people’s pets. This strange rumor started from a Facebook post with no real evidence to support it. Even JD Vance, Trump’s vice-presidential candidate, admitted the rumor was likely false, but he still encouraged people to spread memes about it.
One Twitter user, @Mohamedida, expressed frustration, tweeting: “I thought he lied more than 33 times. He virtually lied every time he said something. The only time he didn’t lie was when his mouth was closed.”
I thought he lied more than 33 times. He virtually lied every time he said something. The only he didn’t lie was when his mouth was closed.
— Eng. Mohamed Tache Dida (@Mohamedida) September 11, 2024
When leaders spread lies like this, it stirs up fear and division. It also makes it harder to have honest conversations about important issues like immigration. Vice President Kamala Harris had a much more honest performance in the debate compared to Trump. Trump’s dishonesty during the debate touched on several important topics. On abortion, he falsely claimed that all Democrats wanted Roe v. Wade overturned, when in reality, over 80% of Democrats supported keeping Roe v. Wade. This is just one example of how Trump twists facts to fit his own agenda. Another false claim was about crime. Trump said that crime was out of control in the U.S., but data shows that crime has actually decreased since early 2023. As Daniel Dale pointed out, “Crime is now lower than it was when Trump left office.” Trump’s lies about crime are designed to scare people, even though the facts suggest otherwise. He also made false claims about health care, taking credit for “saving Obamacare,” even though he tried multiple times to get rid of it. As Dale explained, “Trump falsely claimed he saved the law he repeatedly tried to overturn.” This is just another example of Trump lying to make himself look better.
A Twitter user, @infinity62Lib, also pointed out Trump’s constant lies, tweeting: “They just let him go on and on and on saying the same thing, the border after he decimated the border bill with his supportive inept party.”
They just let him go on and on and on saying the same thing, the border after he dessimated the border bill with his supportive inept party.
— 𝗯𝗹𝘆6262 (@infinity62Lib) September 11, 2024
Lies like the ones Trump told during the debate are not harmless. In a democracy, the truth is very important. When leaders lie, it makes it harder for people to trust the government and make informed decisions. Americans deserve leaders who tell the truth, even when it’s difficult. Trump’s 33 lies during the debate should be a wake-up call for everyone. It’s time to demand honesty from our leaders. The future of democracy depends on it.
Featured image via Screengrab
