This fact check first appeared on PolitiFact.
During his inaugural address to a joint session of Congress, President Donald Trump reviewed six weeks of vigorous initiatives aimed at downsizing the federal workforce, restructuring the economy, and shifting foreign policy priorities.
READ MORE: The complete text of Trump’s address to Congress
The speech, delivered on March 4, was lengthy by historical benchmarks—approximately an hour and 40 minutes—and incited significant pushback from the opposition party compared to recent addresses.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., removed Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, a persistent critic of Trump, after Green interrupted Trump shortly after he began speaking; Republicans applauded Green’s ejection. As Trump brought up law enforcement, some Democratic representatives shouted, “January 6,” a reference to the 2021 Capitol riot that resulted in numerous injuries and fatalities for Capitol Police officers. Johnson called for order with his gavel.
Trump reiterated his determination to adhere to tariffs, including those imposed earlier that day on Canada, Mexico, and China.
READ MORE: Trump administration hints at possible exemptions for tariffs on Canada and Mexico
“Tariffs—they’re focused on safeguarding the essence of our nation,” Trump stated. “There might be a minor disruption, but we’re fine with that. It won’t be substantial.” To farmers concerned about retaliatory tariffs on their exports, he acknowledged, “There might be a bit of adjustment,” but encouraged, “Have fun—I appreciate you.”
Here’s a summary of fact-checked assertions.
Social Security
Social Security databases indicate “3.5 million individuals aged 140 to 149, and payments are being made to many of them.”
False.
Trump quoted figures from a chart shared by Elon Musk on X, indicating millions of individuals over the age of 100 in Social Security records, including roughly 3.5 million in the 140 to 149 age range and one in the 360-369 age range.
The acting Social Security commissioner clarified that individuals over 100 without an associated date of death in their records “aren’t necessarily receiving benefits.” Recent data from the Social Security Administration indicates that approximately 89,000 people aged 99 and older receive Social Security benefits.
While government databases might list someone as 150 years old due to unusual database discrepancies or missing data, it does not imply that millions of fraudulent payments are being made to individuals with highly improbable ages.
Government Spending
“We uncovered hundreds of billions of dollars in fraud.”
False.
On his first day in office, Trump established the Department of Government Efficiency through an executive order. As of March 4, the DOGE website reported $105 billion in savings. However, its “wall of receipts,” which claims to document savings from DOGE’s cuts, indicated less than $20 billion, and has faced numerous errors.
The White House has highlighted federally funded projects that it ideologically opposes, like initiatives related to diversity, equity, and climate change. Still, this does not constitute fraud, which requires a crime and intent to deceive as determined by courts.
WATCH: DOGE continues to reduce the federal workforce after dismissing over 30,000 employees
The search for fraud is not a new endeavor. Inspectors general have investigated fraud in government agencies for decades, with some inquiries resulting in prosecutions. The Government Accountability Office estimated last year that fraud might cost the federal government between $233 billion and $521 billion annually, referencing data from 2018 to 2022.
“$1.9 billion went to a recently formed decarbonization of homes committee,” led by Stacey Abrams.
False.
Trump cited various federal spending instances as examples of “shocking waste.” His list included “$1.9 billion to a newly formed decarbonization of homes committee, headed up—she was involved, and at the last moment, the funds were passed over—by a woman named Stacey Abrams. Have you ever heard of her?”
No evidence suggests Abrams, the two-time Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Georgia, received any grant money or engaged in wrongdoing.
Trump’s assertion seems to refer to a $2 billion Environmental Protection Agency grant awarded to a coalition of five clean energy organizations called Power Forward Communities. This coalition included Rewiring America, where Abrams served as senior legal counsel from March 2023 until 2024. The grant, awarded by the EPA under President Joe Biden, is designated for energy-efficient housing initiatives nationwide.
Immigration
“In the last four years, 21 million people flooded into the United States, many of whom were murderers, human traffickers, gang members, and other criminals from dangerous cities worldwide.”
False.
Immigration officials recorded encounters with immigrants illegally crossing the U.S. border approximately 10.4 million times from February 2021, Biden’s first full month in office, to January 2025, his last.
WATCH: Mayors testify before Congress on ‘sanctuary cities’
Factoring in the Congressional Republicans’ September 2024 estimate of “got aways”—individuals not apprehended by border officials—the total rises to around 12.4 million. However, encounters do not equate to admissions. Encounters represent events, meaning one individual attempting to cross the border twice counts as two encounters. Additionally, not everyone encountered is allowed into the country. The Department of Homeland Security reported that around 4.5 million encounters led to expulsions or removals from February 2021 through November 2024.
“Illegal border crossings last month were the lowest ever recorded.”
Half True.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has not published official data for February. Trump stated on March 1 that there were “only 8,326 apprehensions” by Border Patrol agents in February.
The collection of monthly data began in 2000. The figure Trump referenced is indeed the lowest recorded monthly illegal crossings since Border Patrol started reporting this data. Prior to this, officials noted 11,000 encounters in April 2020, which was the previous low during Trump’s first term amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
WATCH: Trump touts his immigration enforcement measures
Before 2000, data was reported annually. By dividing that annual data by 12, average monthly figures were derived. The records indicate that average monthly apprehensions were below 8,000 from 1960 to 1968.
Trump’s strict immigration policies likely contributed to the decrease in illegal immigration, which has been declining since March 2024 under Biden’s administration.
Economy
With tariffs, “we will garner trillions of dollars that create jobs like never before. I achieved this with China, and with others too.”
Partially predictive, Trump’s assertion about the effects of his first-term tariffs was overly optimistic.
In 2018, Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on steel and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum, although some countries, including major trading partners Canada and Mexico, received full or partial exemptions. Under Biden, the U.S. negotiated with Europe and Japan to lift these tariffs, yet tariffs on other countries, particularly China, remained in effect.
WATCH: Businesses affected by new tariffs imposed on Mexico, Canada, and China
Trump also initiated tariffs on billions of dollars’ worth of Chinese imports, prompting China to retaliate with tariffs as high as 25 percent on U.S. exports to China. Additionally, Trump enforced tariffs of up to 30 percent on solar panels and a 20 percent tariff on washing machines.
We reviewed numerous academic and think-tank analyses regarding Trump’s first-term tariffs. Some indicated benefits for domestic industries facing foreign competitors hit with tariffs, but many studies concluded that, overall, the adverse economic impact and increased consumer costs outweighed these benefits. Even where certain companies or industries gained, analyses determined tariffs to be an inefficient means of supporting domestic producers.
READ MORE: 5 key points to understand about tariffs and their implications
Independent forecasts for potential tariff revenue are modest, with the center-right Tax Foundation estimating that the first year of tariffs on China, Canada, Mexico, and others would yield $140 billion—an amount insufficient to significantly reduce the $1 trillion deficit.
“Joe Biden has, especially, allowed egg prices to spiral out of control.”
Half True.
While egg prices have soared significantly, this statement fails to acknowledge that the increases occurred due to a bird flu outbreak.
During Biden’s term, over 100 million egg-laying hens either died from bird flu or were culled to prevent the virus’s spread, resulting in an egg shortage and surging prices.
WATCH: An epidemiologist evaluates the Trump administration’s strategies against bird flu
Experts indicate that depopulation has long been a strategy to combat bird flu; this tactic was also implemented during Trump’s first term, according to government documents outlining the Department of Agriculture’s bird flu response in both his term and during an outbreak in 2015 under Obama.
Moreover, current egg prices surpass those at their peak during Biden’s tenure, having increased by around $2 since Trump took office.
Under the Biden administration, “we faced the worst inflation in 48 years, maybe even in the history of our nation, which is uncertain.”
Mostly False.
The highest inflation rate observed during Biden’s time in office peaked at approximately 9 percent in the summer of 2022, a level not seen in about 40 years. Trump exaggerated the uncertainty surrounding this claim.
The highest year-over-year inflation rates in U.S. history were during the 1970s and early 1980s, peaking at times between 12 percent and 15 percent.
READ MORE: Consumers reduced spending significantly last month, marking the largest drop in four years
However, Trump’s assertion that this is the highest inflation rate in U.S. history is incorrect. Historical records show inflation rates exceeded 18 percent in 1946, following World War II.
International Relations and Foreign Policy
“We’ve spent maybe $350 billion, akin to taking candy from a child, on Ukraine.”
False.
The total U.S. expenditure related to Ukraine’s conflict with Russia varies depending on the metrics used, but most estimates range between $175 billion and $185 billion, as noted by Mark Cancian, a defense and security advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
WATCH: Ukraine scrambles to preserve its alliance with the U.S. as military aid is paused
According to Ukraine Oversight, a platform created for the special inspector general overseeing Operation Atlantic Resolve—which the U.S. established in 2014 to coordinate military assistance to Ukraine—by September 30, 2024, the U.S. had committed $183 billion to aid Ukraine.
The European Union contributed about $145 billion in financial, military, humanitarian, and refugee assistance.
Trump mentions Panama and Greenland, topics he did not address during his campaign.
In a recent expansionist statement, Trump claimed, “My administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal,” and expressed, “I have a message for the wonderful people of Greenland: We fully support your right to shape your own destiny, and if you choose, we welcome you into the United States.”
These comments, along with frequent suggestions of making Canada the 51st state and envisioning a “Trump Gaza,” may or may not materialize. However, contrary to many of his previous assertions during his presidency, this “Manifest Destiny” ideology was not previously articulated to voters.
Trump had little to convey regarding foreign policy in the 75 campaign commitments currently tracked by the MAGA-Meter. Additionally, Trump-aligned Project 2025 focused minimally on these issues, other than calling for enhanced economic relations between the U.S. and Greenland, including establishing a diplomatic presence.
WATCH: The rationale behind Trump’s interest in Greenland and its strategic significance
Conversely, Trump has often boasted (not always accurately) about his first term’s peace record without initiating any wars.
Mexico and Canada have “permitted fentanyl to enter our nation at unprecedented levels, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of our citizens.”
Mostly False.
There is some truth in that claim since a majority of illicit fentanyl in the U.S. is sourced from Mexico, utilizing chemicals procured from Chinese laboratories. It largely enters the U.S. through the southern border and is mostly smuggled by U.S. citizens.
However, Trump inaccurately characterizes the situation at the U.S.-Canadian border.
WATCH: Experts analyze the recent nationwide decline in drug overdose deaths
In fiscal year 2024, border officials confiscated nearly 22,000 pounds of fentanyl along U.S. borders, with less than 1% of that (43 pounds) seized at the U.S.-Canada border. In January 2025, border patrols seized 1,000 pounds, with less than half a pound captured at the northern border.
He also overstates the number of fentanyl overdose fatalities, which have been declining since 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The most recent data indicates that over 53,000 individuals died from synthetic opioid overdoses during the 12-month period starting in October 2023 and ending in September 2024, marking a decrease from over 77,000 during the previous year.
The Paris Accord was “costing us trillions of dollars.”
False.
The climate agreement did not impose trillion-dollar costs on the U.S., though it theoretically could.
The Trump administration justified its withdrawal from the Obama-era climate agreement partly based on a consultant’s forecast regarding the economic implications of limiting fossil fuel emissions.
The NERA Economic Consulting report predicted that such restrictions would elevate production costs, leading to the closure of noncompetitive manufacturing businesses. This downturn would result in job losses and a resultant GDP decline, estimated at $250 billion by 2025 and escalating to $3 trillion by 2040.
However, the study did not account for the potential job gains and economic growth associated with a transition to clean technology.
Polling
“For the first time in modern history, more Americans believe our country is heading in the right direction than in the wrong direction.”
Mostly False.
This statement selectively cites the findings of two polls conducted since Trump assumed office on January 20. An additional 17 polls during this period reflect strong sentiments of “wrong track.”
WATCH: Public opinion on Trump’s second term thus far
An archive of “right-track/wrong-track” polling maintained by RealClearPolitics shows that two recent polls indicated more respondents believed the country is on the right track than the wrong track. A Rasmussen poll noted a 1-point advantage for “right track,” while an Emerson College survey revealed a 4-point edge. Rasmussen has consistently reported higher approval ratings for Trump than its peers.
Nevertheless, all 17 other polls recorded since Trump came to office indicate “wrong track” sentiment exceeding “right track,” often by double-digit margins. RealClearPolitics’ aggregate of all polls shows a nearly 10-point lead for “wrong track” sentiment.
Contributors to this story include PolitiFact Chief Correspondent Louis Jacobson, Senior Correspondent Amy Sherman, Staff Writers Grace Abels, Maria Briceño, Madison Czopek, Loreben Tuquero, Maria Ramirez Uribe, Researcher Caryn Baird, Executive Director Aaron Sharockman, and KFF Health News Senior Correspondent Stephanie Armour.
