President Trump’s 100-day address in Michigan was marked by fact-checking from BBC Verify, which examined key claims made during the speech.
Fact-Checking Trump’s 100 Days Speech
President Trump recently delivered a speech in Michigan, marking his administration’s 100 days in office. BBC Verify has examined some of the key claims made during the address.
The State of Gas Prices
Trump stated that gasoline prices are down ‘by a lot‘ since he took office. However, data from the American Automobile Association (AAA) shows that average gas prices across the US were $3.16 per gallon ($2.36) on April 29, just before Trump entered the White House. This is slightly higher than the $3.125 per gallon ($2.33) recorded on his inauguration day.
Trump also claimed that gas prices had ‘just hit $1.98 in a lot of states.‘ However, no state has an average gas price lower than $2.67 per gallon ($1.99), according to AAA data.
The Cost of Eggs
The US president spoke about the cost of eggs, saying that since he took office, the cost is down 87%. This claim is false. While wholesale egg prices have decreased by around 52% since Trump entered office, the average national price for consumers has risen to a record high of around $6.23 per dozen.
Border Crossings
Trump highlighted his efforts to tackle illegal immigration, stating that border crossings are at their lowest on record. This claim is backed up by recent monthly figures, which show 7,181 encounters with migrants in March and 8,346 in February. These numbers are the lowest since these records began in 2000.
However, some analysts argue that Trump‘s statement may be overstated. The Migration Policy Institute has found that this year’s illegal border crossings are the lowest since the late 1960s, rather than the lowest for ‘all time.‘
Efficiency and Waste Reduction
President Trump praised Elon Musk‘s work at the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), saying they have saved over $150bn on waste, fraud, and abuse. However, less than 40% of this figure is broken down into individual savings, and only about half of these itemized savings have a link to evidence.
Elon Musk is a South African-born entrepreneur and business magnate.
He is the CEO of SpaceX, a private space exploration company, and Tesla, Inc., an electric vehicle manufacturer.
Musk has also co-founded other companies such as Neuralink and The Boring Company.
He is known for his ambitious goals, including establishing a human settlement on Mars and revolutionizing transportation with high-speed tunnels.
Musk's net worth exceeds $200 billion, making him one of the richest people in the world.
Job Creation
Trump claimed that his administration has created 350,000 jobs in three months. This claim is backed up by official figures, which show that during Trump‘s first two full months in office, 345,000 jobs were added. However, over the same period last year, 468,000 jobs were added under President Biden.
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. is an American politician who served as the 46th President of the United States from 2021 to present.
Born on November 20, 1942, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Biden graduated from the University of Delaware and Syracuse University College of Law.
He began his political career in the U.S. Senate in 1973, serving six terms before becoming Vice President under Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017.
It is true that during Trump‘s first two full months in office more jobs have been created for native-born workers than foreign-born workers. This also happened between February and April last year under President Biden.
