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Hypothetically speaking

National

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton discusses nuclear arms control.

Angie Drobnic Holan

By Angie Drobnic Holan April 13, 2010

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declined to answer a "what if?" question on ABC News' This Week, saying she didn't like those kinds of questions.

"I don't answer hypotheticals," Clinton said.

Politicians often say that, but they'll answer them when it's in their political interest. We couldn't resist delving into the record to see if Clinton never answered hypotheticals.

Read our full report; we rated Clinton's statement Half True.

See item for full sources.

Janet Napolitano

stated on August 27, 2013 in a speech at the National Press Club:

The 2010 DREAM Act failed despite "strong bipartisan support."

barely-true

barely-true

stated on May 29, 2013 in a chain email:

Says the word "Dhimmitude" is on page 107 of the health care law and means "Muslims are specifically exempted from the government mandate to purchase insurance."

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on May 3, 2013 in a position on legislation:

On an early date for Florida's presidential primary

full-flop

full-flop

stated on September 27, 2020 in a speech:

Says Amy Coney Barrett “has a written track record, disagreeing adamantly with the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the ACA. In fact, she publicly criticized Chief Justice Roberts’ opinion upholding the law eight years ago.”

mostly-true

mostly-true

Instagram posts

stated on September 22, 2020 in an Instagram post:

Like Al-Qaeda and ISIS, Amy Coney Barrett has said her “end goal is to end the separation of church and state & build a ‘Kingdom of God’ in the United States.”

false

false

stated on March 23, 2019 in a speech:

Says that the Council on American-Islamic Relations was founded in response to 9/11.

false

false

stated on September 4, 2016 in an interview on "Meet the Press":

Says Hillary Clinton "wants to increase Syrian refugees to this country by 550 percent."

true

true

Antonio Sabato Jr.

stated on July 19, 2016 in an interview with ABC News:

Says President Barack Obama is "absolutely" a Muslim.

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on June 22, 2016 in a speech in New York City:

Says Hillary Clinton "said she was under attack (in Bosnia) but the attack turned out to be young girls handing her flowers."

true

true

stated on January 17, 2016 in an interview on "Meet the Press":

Hostages were released as soon as Ronald Reagan took office because Iran perceived that America was "no longer under the command of someone weak."

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on September 27, 2015 in an interview on ABC's "This Week":

"We've had examples like in Yuma County, where we've been able to stop 97 percent of the illegal (immigration) flow, and those programs, they abolish."

barely-true

barely-true

stated on October 14, 2014 in a campaign ad:

Says Rick Scott changed his promise from 700,000 jobs created "on top of what normal growth would be" to just 700,000 jobs.

true

true

stated on March 3, 2014 in in an interview on CNN:

On the economic stimulus.

half-flip

half-flip

Americans For Tax Reform

stated on April 14, 2014 in in a press release:

"Obama has proposed 442 tax hikes since taking office."

barely-true

barely-true

National Republican Congressional Committee

stated on February 12, 2014 in a television ad:

"300,000 Floridians will lose their current health plans" because of Obamacare, a plan Alex Sink supports.

half-true

half-true

Janet Napolitano

stated on August 27, 2013 in a speech at the National Press Club:

The 2010 DREAM Act failed despite "strong bipartisan support."

barely-true

barely-true

stated on May 29, 2013 in a chain email:

Says the word "Dhimmitude" is on page 107 of the health care law and means "Muslims are specifically exempted from the government mandate to purchase insurance."

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on May 3, 2013 in a position on legislation:

On an early date for Florida's presidential primary

full-flop

full-flop

stated on September 27, 2020 in a speech:

Says Amy Coney Barrett “has a written track record, disagreeing adamantly with the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the ACA. In fact, she publicly criticized Chief Justice Roberts’ opinion upholding the law eight years ago.”

mostly-true

mostly-true

Instagram posts

stated on September 22, 2020 in an Instagram post:

Like Al-Qaeda and ISIS, Amy Coney Barrett has said her “end goal is to end the separation of church and state & build a ‘Kingdom of God’ in the United States.”

false

false

stated on March 23, 2019 in a speech:

Says that the Council on American-Islamic Relations was founded in response to 9/11.

false

false

Social Media
stated on June 16, 2025 in social media posts:

“Governor Tim Walz has DELETED every post he made praising Minnesota (assassin) Vance Boelter.”

By Madison Czopek • June 18, 2025
X posts
stated on June 16, 2025 in X posts:

Image shows accused shooter Vance Boelter wearing a “Resist” shirt.

By Loreben Tuquero • June 18, 2025
X posts
stated on June 9, 2025 in an X post:

Image shows an antifa debit card that can “automatically be funded after looting, rioting and gang stalking.”

By Gabrielle Lazor • June 17, 2025
X posts
stated on June 14, 2025 in an X post:

Video shows the New York Mets “showed a Pride flag instead of the American flag” during the national anthem.

By Gabrielle Lazor • June 17, 2025
Mike Lee
stated on June 15, 2025 in a post on X:

The suspect in the Minnesota lawmakers’ shootings was driven by “Marxist” ideology.

By Madison Czopek • June 16, 2025
Gavin Newsom
stated on June 10, 2025 in posts on X:

California has lower homicide rates than Alabama, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

By Louis Jacobson • June 16, 2025
X posts
stated on June 9, 2025 in an X post:

Video shows Marine Corps attack helicopter over Los Angeles in response to immigration raid protests.

By Gabrielle Lazor • June 16, 2025
Facebook posts
stated on June 15, 2025 in Facebook post:

Photos show Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift participated in a “No Kings” rally.

By Ella Moore • June 16, 2025
X posts
stated on June 12, 2025 in an image:

Says Karoline Leavitt said, “America cannot function if President Trump has to deal with co-equal branches of government having the ability to check his power.”

By Ella Moore • June 13, 2025
Social Media
stated on June 10, 2025 in an ad on Craigslist:

Companies called “T-Mellon Events” and “Fight Fite Fight LLC” are offering to pay “seat fillers” in Washington, D.C, on June 14.

By Gabrielle Lazor • June 13, 2025

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