Latest Mostly False Fact-checks in Debt Mike Pence stated on August 23, 2023 in a Republican presidential debate in Milwaukee: "I actually pushed the Deficit Reduction Act. That was the last time we actually reduced the national debt in the United States, when I was the leader of House conservatives." Hakeem Jeffries stated on May 12, 2023 in a tweet: “(Donald) Trump ran up more debt than any other president in American history.” Brian Kemp stated on May 10, 2022 in an ad: "David Perdue voted with liberals” for $10 trillion “in new debt, his out-of-control federal spending is driving inflation through the roof." Ron DeSantis stated on April 29, 2022 in a press conference: “The student debt that is out there, almost 60% of it is graduate school debt.” Rick Scott stated on September 23, 2021 in an op-ed: “Democrats are responsible for the massive spending and debt growth, they alone need to take responsibility for raising the debt limit.” Facebook posts stated on May 25, 2021 in a Facebook post: “The Biden administration has decided to cancel $0 in student debt.” Elizabeth Warren stated on November 20, 2019 in a debate: "Today in America — a new study came out — 20 years out, whites who borrowed money, 94% of them have paid off their student loan debt; 5% of African Americans have paid it off." Bill Clinton stated on June 4, 2018 in an interview on NBC's Today show: "I left the White House $16 million in debt." Donald Trump stated on February 25, 2017 in a tweet: "The National Debt in my first month went down by $12 billion." Donald Trump stated on August 31, 2016 in a speech: Says "Hillary Clinton has pledged amnesty in her first 100 days, and her plan will provide Obamacare, Social Security, and Medicare for illegal immigrants, breaking the federal budget." Sean Duffy stated on July 18, 2016 in a speech: "Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have left us with $19 trillion in debt." Katrina Shankland stated on January 29, 2016 in a news release: "Faced with $1 million in campaign debt," Scott Walker "is unloading his campaign security costs onto the backs of Wisconsin taxpayers." Rand Paul stated on October 28, 2015 in a Republican presidential debate in Boulder, Colo.: The debt limit deal "allows President Obama to borrow unlimited amounts of money." Lindsey Graham stated on March 8, 2015 in a speech in Concord, N.H.: "If you took every penny of the 1 percent, including their dog, you wouldn't even begin to balance the budget." Jack Reed stated on May 1, 2014 in Senate floor speeches and during a news conference: The Senate proposal to restore emergency unemployment benefits for five months was "fully paid for." Mike Collins stated on May 16, 2014 in a flier: Says he never wanted to raise the debt ceiling. Angel Taveras stated on May 12, 2014 in a fundraising letter: I turned "a $110 million deficit into a $1.6 million surplus for our city." We Are Wisconsin stated on February 17, 2014 in an email: With his proposal to cut income and property taxes, Scott Walker is "increasing the state deficit at a time when borrowing is already at record levels." Republican Party of Florida stated on October 30, 2013 in a YouTube attack ad: Says Alex Sink supported "a $5.2 billion increase in Florida's debt." Andrew Napolitano stated on October 17, 2013 in an interview on "Fox and Friends": "Woodrow Wilson borrowed $30 billion to fund World War I in 1917. That money has not been paid back. And we are still paying interest on it." Louie Gohmert stated on October 15, 2013 in an interview with Fox News: "We went from $160 billion deficit spending in (President George W.) Bush's last year to $1.6 trillion the following year." David Cicilline stated on May 12, 2013 in an interview on WPRI's Newsmakers program: Historically, the Social Security tax has been assessed on about 90% of U.S. income. Now it captures 83% because there's been such a growth of income among the highest earners. Steve Lonegan stated on December 18, 2012 in a news release: "The price tag amounted to nearly $4,200 for every man, woman and child in the state." Connie Mack stated on September 6, 2012 in an op-ed in 'The Hill': "President Obama has no plan to reduce the deficit, let alone pay down the debt." Brendan Doherty stated on September 12, 2012 in a news release: David Cicilline was "required to provide key information about city finances to an independent outside auditor. The deadlines were clear -- yet [he intentionally] missed them by months" until after the November 2010 election. David Cicilline stated on September 4, 2012 in a debate: "The auditor [for the city of Providence] was not locked out" of access to the city's finances. John Cornyn stated on August 21, 2012 in a Facebook post.: Says that when Democrats controlled Congress and the White House, federal spending as a share of the Gross Domestic Product leapt from 18.2 percent in 2001 to 25.2 percent in 2009 -- the largest such increase in any eight-year period since World War II.
Mike Pence stated on August 23, 2023 in a Republican presidential debate in Milwaukee: "I actually pushed the Deficit Reduction Act. That was the last time we actually reduced the national debt in the United States, when I was the leader of House conservatives." Hakeem Jeffries stated on May 12, 2023 in a tweet: “(Donald) Trump ran up more debt than any other president in American history.” Brian Kemp stated on May 10, 2022 in an ad: "David Perdue voted with liberals” for $10 trillion “in new debt, his out-of-control federal spending is driving inflation through the roof." Ron DeSantis stated on April 29, 2022 in a press conference: “The student debt that is out there, almost 60% of it is graduate school debt.” Rick Scott stated on September 23, 2021 in an op-ed: “Democrats are responsible for the massive spending and debt growth, they alone need to take responsibility for raising the debt limit.” Facebook posts stated on May 25, 2021 in a Facebook post: “The Biden administration has decided to cancel $0 in student debt.” Elizabeth Warren stated on November 20, 2019 in a debate: "Today in America — a new study came out — 20 years out, whites who borrowed money, 94% of them have paid off their student loan debt; 5% of African Americans have paid it off." Bill Clinton stated on June 4, 2018 in an interview on NBC's Today show: "I left the White House $16 million in debt." Donald Trump stated on February 25, 2017 in a tweet: "The National Debt in my first month went down by $12 billion." Donald Trump stated on August 31, 2016 in a speech: Says "Hillary Clinton has pledged amnesty in her first 100 days, and her plan will provide Obamacare, Social Security, and Medicare for illegal immigrants, breaking the federal budget." Sean Duffy stated on July 18, 2016 in a speech: "Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have left us with $19 trillion in debt." Katrina Shankland stated on January 29, 2016 in a news release: "Faced with $1 million in campaign debt," Scott Walker "is unloading his campaign security costs onto the backs of Wisconsin taxpayers." Rand Paul stated on October 28, 2015 in a Republican presidential debate in Boulder, Colo.: The debt limit deal "allows President Obama to borrow unlimited amounts of money." Lindsey Graham stated on March 8, 2015 in a speech in Concord, N.H.: "If you took every penny of the 1 percent, including their dog, you wouldn't even begin to balance the budget." Jack Reed stated on May 1, 2014 in Senate floor speeches and during a news conference: The Senate proposal to restore emergency unemployment benefits for five months was "fully paid for." Mike Collins stated on May 16, 2014 in a flier: Says he never wanted to raise the debt ceiling. Angel Taveras stated on May 12, 2014 in a fundraising letter: I turned "a $110 million deficit into a $1.6 million surplus for our city." We Are Wisconsin stated on February 17, 2014 in an email: With his proposal to cut income and property taxes, Scott Walker is "increasing the state deficit at a time when borrowing is already at record levels." Republican Party of Florida stated on October 30, 2013 in a YouTube attack ad: Says Alex Sink supported "a $5.2 billion increase in Florida's debt." Andrew Napolitano stated on October 17, 2013 in an interview on "Fox and Friends": "Woodrow Wilson borrowed $30 billion to fund World War I in 1917. That money has not been paid back. And we are still paying interest on it." Louie Gohmert stated on October 15, 2013 in an interview with Fox News: "We went from $160 billion deficit spending in (President George W.) Bush's last year to $1.6 trillion the following year." David Cicilline stated on May 12, 2013 in an interview on WPRI's Newsmakers program: Historically, the Social Security tax has been assessed on about 90% of U.S. income. Now it captures 83% because there's been such a growth of income among the highest earners. Steve Lonegan stated on December 18, 2012 in a news release: "The price tag amounted to nearly $4,200 for every man, woman and child in the state." Connie Mack stated on September 6, 2012 in an op-ed in 'The Hill': "President Obama has no plan to reduce the deficit, let alone pay down the debt." Brendan Doherty stated on September 12, 2012 in a news release: David Cicilline was "required to provide key information about city finances to an independent outside auditor. The deadlines were clear -- yet [he intentionally] missed them by months" until after the November 2010 election. David Cicilline stated on September 4, 2012 in a debate: "The auditor [for the city of Providence] was not locked out" of access to the city's finances. John Cornyn stated on August 21, 2012 in a Facebook post.: Says that when Democrats controlled Congress and the White House, federal spending as a share of the Gross Domestic Product leapt from 18.2 percent in 2001 to 25.2 percent in 2009 -- the largest such increase in any eight-year period since World War II.
Mike Pence stated on August 23, 2023 in a Republican presidential debate in Milwaukee: "I actually pushed the Deficit Reduction Act. That was the last time we actually reduced the national debt in the United States, when I was the leader of House conservatives."
Hakeem Jeffries stated on May 12, 2023 in a tweet: “(Donald) Trump ran up more debt than any other president in American history.”
Brian Kemp stated on May 10, 2022 in an ad: "David Perdue voted with liberals” for $10 trillion “in new debt, his out-of-control federal spending is driving inflation through the roof."
Ron DeSantis stated on April 29, 2022 in a press conference: “The student debt that is out there, almost 60% of it is graduate school debt.”
Rick Scott stated on September 23, 2021 in an op-ed: “Democrats are responsible for the massive spending and debt growth, they alone need to take responsibility for raising the debt limit.”
Facebook posts stated on May 25, 2021 in a Facebook post: “The Biden administration has decided to cancel $0 in student debt.”
Elizabeth Warren stated on November 20, 2019 in a debate: "Today in America — a new study came out — 20 years out, whites who borrowed money, 94% of them have paid off their student loan debt; 5% of African Americans have paid it off."
Bill Clinton stated on June 4, 2018 in an interview on NBC's Today show: "I left the White House $16 million in debt."
Donald Trump stated on February 25, 2017 in a tweet: "The National Debt in my first month went down by $12 billion."
Donald Trump stated on August 31, 2016 in a speech: Says "Hillary Clinton has pledged amnesty in her first 100 days, and her plan will provide Obamacare, Social Security, and Medicare for illegal immigrants, breaking the federal budget."
Sean Duffy stated on July 18, 2016 in a speech: "Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have left us with $19 trillion in debt."
Katrina Shankland stated on January 29, 2016 in a news release: "Faced with $1 million in campaign debt," Scott Walker "is unloading his campaign security costs onto the backs of Wisconsin taxpayers."
Rand Paul stated on October 28, 2015 in a Republican presidential debate in Boulder, Colo.: The debt limit deal "allows President Obama to borrow unlimited amounts of money."
Lindsey Graham stated on March 8, 2015 in a speech in Concord, N.H.: "If you took every penny of the 1 percent, including their dog, you wouldn't even begin to balance the budget."
Jack Reed stated on May 1, 2014 in Senate floor speeches and during a news conference: The Senate proposal to restore emergency unemployment benefits for five months was "fully paid for."
Angel Taveras stated on May 12, 2014 in a fundraising letter: I turned "a $110 million deficit into a $1.6 million surplus for our city."
We Are Wisconsin stated on February 17, 2014 in an email: With his proposal to cut income and property taxes, Scott Walker is "increasing the state deficit at a time when borrowing is already at record levels."
Republican Party of Florida stated on October 30, 2013 in a YouTube attack ad: Says Alex Sink supported "a $5.2 billion increase in Florida's debt."
Andrew Napolitano stated on October 17, 2013 in an interview on "Fox and Friends": "Woodrow Wilson borrowed $30 billion to fund World War I in 1917. That money has not been paid back. And we are still paying interest on it."
Louie Gohmert stated on October 15, 2013 in an interview with Fox News: "We went from $160 billion deficit spending in (President George W.) Bush's last year to $1.6 trillion the following year."
David Cicilline stated on May 12, 2013 in an interview on WPRI's Newsmakers program: Historically, the Social Security tax has been assessed on about 90% of U.S. income. Now it captures 83% because there's been such a growth of income among the highest earners.
Steve Lonegan stated on December 18, 2012 in a news release: "The price tag amounted to nearly $4,200 for every man, woman and child in the state."
Connie Mack stated on September 6, 2012 in an op-ed in 'The Hill': "President Obama has no plan to reduce the deficit, let alone pay down the debt."
Brendan Doherty stated on September 12, 2012 in a news release: David Cicilline was "required to provide key information about city finances to an independent outside auditor. The deadlines were clear -- yet [he intentionally] missed them by months" until after the November 2010 election.
David Cicilline stated on September 4, 2012 in a debate: "The auditor [for the city of Providence] was not locked out" of access to the city's finances.
John Cornyn stated on August 21, 2012 in a Facebook post.: Says that when Democrats controlled Congress and the White House, federal spending as a share of the Gross Domestic Product leapt from 18.2 percent in 2001 to 25.2 percent in 2009 -- the largest such increase in any eight-year period since World War II.
