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17 candidates, 2 debates, 1 Donald Trump and plenty to fact-check

Texas

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gestures during the first Republican presidential debate in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP)

Aaron Sharockman

By Aaron Sharockman August 7, 2015

Seventeen candidates, five moderators, two debates, one Donald Trump. All of it kept the fact-checkers busy Thursday.

Click here for PolitiFact's immediate rundown of claims made during the debate.

See individual fact-checks.

stated on August 5, 2021 in a viral image:

Says there are fewer than 2,000 confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S.

false

false

stated on June 21, 2021 in a post on Facebook:

Says President John F. Kennedy said, “There are people in Washington, D.C., in positions of power to whom the border is just a nuisance, and I think some of them believe that illegal immigration is a moral good. It is not.”

false

false

stated on October 7, 2020 in a post on Facebook:

“Shredded Pennsylvania Mail in ballot Applications were discovered in a trailer. The applications were for @realDonaldTrump.”

false

false

stated on October 4, 2020 in comments on ABC's "This Week":

Says Joe Biden stays in his basement.

false

false

stated on August 14, 2020 in a post on Facebook:

“As of the last 24 hours this is the protocol regarding masks: Masks should only be used by healthcare workers, caretakers or by people who are sick with symptoms like fever and cough.”

false

false

stated on June 30, 2020 in a post on Facebook:

An image from the St. Louis protest is “what MSM (mainstream media) won’t show you. Peaceful demonstrator pointing weapon at homeowner.”

false

false

stated on June 24, 2020 in a Facebook post:

Tennis star Serena Williams wrote that she’s “sick of COVID-19. I’m sick of black vs. white. I’m sick of Democrats vs. Republicans. I’m sick of gay vs. straight. I’m sick of Christians vs atheists. I’m REALLY sick of the media.”

false

false

stated on June 12, 2020 in a post on Facebook:

Says Tim Tebow “kneeled in protest of abortion during the National Anthem in 2012. He was praised by fans as being a ‘model American.’”

false

false

stated on February 29, 2020 in posts on Twitter and Facebook:

Says Sen. Chuck Schumer deleted a Feb. 5 tweet criticizing President Donald Trump’s decision to ban some forms of travel to and from China.

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on February 29, 2020 in a post on Facebook:

“Bernie Logic: Nobody can live on $7 an hour. We must raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Also we must raise the tax rate to 52%. $15 an hour * 52% = $7.80. $15 an hour - $7.80 = $7.20. $7.20 an hour!!!”

false

false

stated on December 20, 2019 in the sixth Democratic presidential debate:

Says Pete Buttigieg ran statewide in Indiana and "lost by 20 points."

true

true

stated on October 29, 2018 in a post on Facebook:

"As some of you may know I am the recent $3.4 million lotto winner. I’d like to spread some positivity so I’m sending $1,000 to the first 100k people that share this."

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on February 7, 2018 in a blog post:

"FBI RAIDS OBAMA – Find Massive Secret That Was Hidden For YEARS."

false

false

stated on March 28, 2018 in a blog post:

"Robert Redford Says: Michelle And Barack Obama Should Get Five Years In Prison."

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on November 29, 2017 in a post on Twitter:

Says Joe Scarborough is party to an "unsolved mystery" from his time as a congressman in Florida.

pants-fire

pants-fire

TikTok posts
stated on February 7, 2024 in TikTok posts:

Israel “accidentally voted (for) Palestine” at a United Nations Security Council meeting.

By Sofia Ahmed • April 24, 2024
Viral image
stated on April 22, 2024 in a Threads post:

Photo shows Stormy Daniels wearing a mushroom-patterned dress to court April 22.

By Ciara O'Rourke • April 24, 2024
Facebook posts
stated on April 19, 2024 in a Facebook post:

Dollar Tree, Walgreens, Macy’s, Foot Locker, Gap, Burger King, Regal Cinemas and Kroger have had mass store closures during Joe Biden’s presidency.

By Sara Swann • April 24, 2024
Facebook posts
stated on April 9, 2024 in una publicación en Facebook:

"OVNI en Arlington, Texas, avistado durante el eclipse solar".

By Marta Campabadal Graus • April 24, 2024
Facebook posts
stated on February 29, 2024 in a Facebook post:

“Reba McEntire faces serious charges.”

By Ciara O'Rourke • April 24, 2024
Facebook posts
stated on April 17, 2024 in a post on Facebook:

Hunter Biden, “BLM rioters” and “COVID criminals” have “0 indictments”

By Madison Czopek • April 24, 2024
Greta Neubauer
stated on April 11, 2024 in X, formerly Twitter:

“The GOP has failed to invest in our campuses, making WI fall to 42nd in the nation in state support.”

By Hope Karnopp • April 24, 2024
Threads posts
stated on April 19, 2024 in a Threads post:

Former President Donald Trump “didn’t attend the graduations” of his other children.

By Ciara O'Rourke • April 24, 2024
Facebook posts
stated on April 16, 2024 in a post:

John Mellencamp was “booed off stage for praising Joe Biden.”

By Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu • April 23, 2024
Instagram posts
stated on April 17, 2024 in an Instagram post:

Video compilation shows a tornado and storms in Dubai on April 17.

By Sofia Ahmed • April 23, 2024