The first night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago featured a series of fact checks by CNN’s Fact First team. Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia of California claimed that former President Donald Trump told Americans to inject bleach into their bodies during the Covid-19 crisis. However, this claim is misleading as Trump never actually advised citizens to do so. Trump’s comments were related to scientists exploring the possibility of using disinfectants as a treatment for the virus, which was criticized by medical experts as dangerous.
Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois stated that former President Trump lost millions of jobs in America and was one of only two presidents to leave office with fewer Americans working than when he started. While Durbin’s statistics are correct, he failed to provide context about the job losses. Trump did see a net gain of about 6.7 million jobs until the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, resulting in a loss of nearly 22 million jobs. The US began regaining jobs afterward, but not enough to fully recover from the initial losses.
Ohio Rep. Joyce Beatty praised the Biden administration’s efforts to provide larger tax credits for families and lift children out of poverty. She highlighted the expanded child tax credit passed early in the Biden administration, which did reduce child poverty rates in 2021. However, the benefit was only temporary and child poverty rates increased in 2022 to levels comparable to those before the pandemic. The child tax credit lifted millions of children out of poverty in 2021, but the temporary enhancement was not sustained in the following year.
A prerecorded video from Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign team attempted to debunk claims made by former President Trump about the economy. The video compared average monthly job gains under Trump before Covid-19 to those under the Biden-Harris administration. While the numbers presented were accurate, they lacked crucial context. It was noted that the job gains under the Biden-Harris administration were influenced by the economic recovery from the pandemic, with some months seeing significant job additions. Additionally, while manufacturing jobs did decline slightly under Trump before the pandemic, the losses were far less significant compared to the impact of Covid-19 on the industry.
Overall, the fact checks from the Democratic National Convention highlighted various claims made by speakers regarding former President Trump’s handling of the economy and the Covid-19 crisis. While some statements were accurate, they often lacked context or failed to provide a full picture of the situation. It is important to critically assess claims made by political figures and ensure that factual information is presented to the public. The fact-checking process helps hold politicians accountable and promotes transparency in political discourse. As the convention continues, it will be essential to remain vigilant in verifying information and providing accurate context for the public.
