Trump made 45 false or misleading claims in a single 45-minute Sean Hannity interview
The rate at which President Trump makes false or misleading statements continues to rise — especially when he gets on the phone with Sean Hannity.
Trump has now made more than 10,000 false or misleading claims during his presidency, The Washington Post's fact checker said on Monday. This unfortunate milestone comes after a particularly prolific week for Trump: During a 45-minute interview with Hannity on April 25, he racked up 45 false or misleading claims. This was the conversation during which Trump said, among other things, that Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation was "an attempted overthrow of the United States government."
In fact, in just three days last week, from April 25 to April 27, Trump totaled 171 mistruths, the Post says. This fast pace seems to even be surprising the fact checkers, who note that Trump in the first 100 days of his presidency was making fewer than five false or misleading claims per day. By September 2018, he was at eight claims per day. But since September, his average has been 23 a day. Trump took 601 days to hit 5,000 claims, but in the seven months since then, he's already doubled that.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The fact that the 2018 midterm elections came during that stretch of time is certainly a factor, as is the release of Mueller's report. The Post's Glenn Kessler noted on CNN that Trump continues to insist, for instance, that Mueller cleared him of obstruction when actually the report outlined instances of potential obstruction and did not exonerate him.
With the 2020 presidential election fast approaching, don't be surprised if even these numbers seem downright quaint in a year's time.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Her Lotus Year: Paul French's new biography sets lurid rumours straight
The Week Recommends Wallis Simpson's year in China is less scandalous, but 'more interesting' than previously thought
By The Week UK Published
-
Today's political cartoons - November 21, 2024
Cartoons Thursday's cartoons - wild cards, wild turkeys, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Say Nothing: 'sensational' dramatisation of Patrick Radden Keefe's bestselling book
The Week Recommends The series is a 'powerful reminder' of the Troubles
By The Week UK Published
-
Ukraine fires ATACMS, Russia ups hybrid war
Speed Read Ukraine shot U.S.-provided long-range missiles and Russia threatened retaliation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
New York DA floats 4-year Trump sentencing freeze
Speed Read President-elect Donald Trump's sentencing is on hold, and his lawyers are pushing to dismiss the case while he's in office
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'It may not be surprising that creative work is used without permission'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What message is Trump sending with his Cabinet picks?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION By nominating high-profile loyalists like Matt Gaetz and RFK Jr., is Trump serious about creating a functioning Cabinet, or does he have a different plan in mind?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Wyoming judge strikes down abortion, pill bans
Speed Read The judge said the laws — one of which was a first-in-the-nation prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy — violated the state's constitution
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US sanctions Israeli West Bank settler group
Speed Read The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Amana, Israel's largest settlement development organization
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz ethics report in limbo as sex allegations emerge
Speed Read A lawyer representing two women alleges that Matt Gaetz paid them for sex, and one witnessed him having sex with minor
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The clown car Cabinet
Opinion Even 'Little Marco' towers above his fellow nominees
By Mark Gimein Published