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Live fact-checking the first 2020 presidential debate: Donald Trump vs. Joe Biden

Elections National
Fact-checking debate politifact logo
(Jillian Banner/Poynter)
By PolitiFact Staff
September 29, 2020

UPDATE: See our fact-checks from the first debate here. 

PolitiFact, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, has been fact-checking presidential politics since 2007 and has rated more than 18,000 individual claims on our Truth-O-Meter.

Follow along below for our live coverage. PolitiFact is also partnering with WRAL, our PolitiFact North Carolina affiliate, to present a live video stream with live fact-checking. If you prefer to stream the debate live, click here.

This page will update automatically.

Our Sources

Listed in the live feed.

Browse the Truth-O-Meter

More by PolitiFact Staff
Donald Trump
stated on December 8, 2021 in an interview with Hugh Hewitt:
Gas prices were “$1.86 when I left” the White House.
False
By PolitiFact Staff • December 8, 2021
Louise Slaughter
stated on September 5, 2017 in a tweet:
Rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program “will harm our economy.”
True
By PolitiFact Staff • September 10, 2017
Bloggers
stated on March 2, 2017 in a headline:
“Doctors who discovered cancer enzymes in vaccines all found murdered.”
Pants on Fire!
By PolitiFact Staff • April 4, 2017
David Menchetti
stated on November 28, 2016 in testimony before the Illinois House Labor and Commerce Committee:
“The causation standard in Indiana is exactly the same as it is in Illinois.”
True
By PolitiFact Staff • December 19, 2016
Kasim Reed
stated on September 16, 2016 in a White House press conference:
“If you look at any real analysis,” the Trans-Pacific Partnership is “going to generate better-paying jobs that are more stable.”
Half-True
By PolitiFact Staff • September 30, 2016
Kasim Reed
stated on November 17, 2015 in press release:
While the smoking rate nationally has fallen, more than 18 percent of Georgians still light up.  
Mostly True
By PolitiFact Staff • November 30, 2015
NextGen Climate Action Committee
stated on August 8, 2014 in a campaign ad:
Says Rick Scott “is letting Duke (Energy) keep collecting billions” despite troubled power plants.
Half-True
By PolitiFact Staff • August 13, 2014
Georgia Department of Transportation
stated on July 19, 2011 in a press release:
The Northwest Corridor highway project in Cobb and Cherokee counties “is expected to create over 9,700 jobs statewide.”
False
By PolitiFact Staff • August 10, 2011
Republican National Committee
stated on June 5, 2008 in in a news release:
Obama couldn’t have afforded his home without Rezko’s help.
False
By PolitiFact Staff • June 17, 2008

Live fact-checking the first 2020 presidential debate: Donald Trump vs. Joe Biden

Clear
Phil Berger
stated on October 7, 2026 in comments:
Suspending North Carolina’s gas tax
Full Flop
By Paul Specht • October 7, 2026
Zach Nunn
stated on September 8, 2026 in a social media post:
“We have cut the largest taxes in U.S. history.”
Mostly False
By Isabella Tisdale • October 7, 2026
Senate Leadership Fund
stated on September 22, 2026 in an ad:
Iowa U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Josh Turek “supports amnesty for illegals.”
Half-True
By Caleb McCullough • October 7, 2026
Markwayne Mullin
stated on October 1, 2026 in a speech at a rally in Oklahoma:
For President Donald Trump, “there’s no financial gain like the past presidents have had. It’s cost him to be in office.”
Pants on Fire!
By Louis Jacobson • October 5, 2026
Donald Trump
stated on October 4, 2026 in a Truth Social post:
Brazil’s quick election results are proof that places like Detroit, Philadelphia and California “take weeks to rig” their elections.
Pants on Fire!
By Amy Sherman • October 5, 2026
Donald Trump
stated on September 21, 2026 in an X post:
Roy Cooper was “in New York speaking at a New York Times ‘Climate Forward’ event” when Hurricane “Helene slammed into North Carolina.”
False
By Paul Specht • October 5, 2026
WinSenate
stated on September 25, 2026 in an ad:
Iowa Republican Senate candidate Rep. Ashley Hinson voted against releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Mostly False
By Loreben Tuquero • October 2, 2026
Donald Trump
stated on October 1, 2026 in a Truth Social post:
“I stated, numerous times, that it would take 4-6 weeks to get rid of THE IRAN NUCLEAR THREAT, and I did it in one night!”
False
By Amy Sherman, Maria Briceño • October 2, 2026
TikTok posts
stated on September 28, 2026 in a post:
These videos show scenes of alleged sexual assault at Cornell University.
Pants on Fire!
By Jeff Cercone • October 1, 2026
Byron Donalds
stated on September 28, 2026 in an ad:
“Just months after” the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, David Jolly “was in Washington, pressuring Congress to expand drilling off the Florida coast, over $5 million in billings.”
Mostly False
By Samantha Putterman • October 1, 2026
Senate Leadership Fund
stated on September 16, 2026 in an ad:
Sherrod Brown supports “forcing childhood sex change surgery.”
False
By Louis Jacobson • October 1, 2026
John E. Sununu
stated on September 8, 2026 in his primary night victory speech:
“Chris Pappas voted to raise taxes 68 times. Every tax vote he’s made was to raise taxes.”
False
By Louis Jacobson • October 1, 2026
Mike Rogers
stated on September 24, 2026 in a TV interview:
Abdul El-Sayed “could not condemn the terrorist who tried to attack and kill 140 Jewish children right here in Michigan.”
Mostly False
By Caleb McCullough • October 1, 2026
Ashley Hinson
stated on September 2, 2026 in a social media post:
Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Josh Turek “skipped 58% of the votes at the Statehouse this year.”
True
By Anna Mitchell • September 30, 2026
Mike Rogers
stated on September 23, 2026 in an X post:
“Abdul El-Sayed supports defunding the police and emptying prisons.”
Mostly False
By Caleb McCullough • September 28, 2026
WinSenate
stated on September 24, 2026 in an ad:
Sen. Susan Collins “voted to cover up the Epstein files” and Jeffrey Epstein’s “business partner funneled $3 million” to a Collins super PAC.
False
By Amy Sherman • September 28, 2026
Rob Sand
stated on August 24, 2026 in an ad:
Iowa once had “the best public schools in the country,” but is now “in the bottom half.”
Half-True
By Grace Olson • September 24, 2026
Republican National Committee
stated on September 2, 2026 in an X post:
“54% of North Carolina commercial driver’s licenses were issued illegally to foreign nationals.”
False
By Paul Specht • September 24, 2026
Texas PAC
stated on September 11, 2026 in an ad :
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico “supported using taxpayer dollars for sex change surgeries on young children.”
False
By Ben Brasch • September 24, 2026
Chris Pappas
stated on September 15, 2026 in a press release:
New Hampshire Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Sununu “led efforts to privatize Social Security.”
Mostly True
By Louis Jacobson • September 23, 2026
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