In a recent interview, former President Donald Trump repeated several false claims on various topics such as the 2020 election and the January 6th insurrection. Let’s look at some of these claims and do a fact check.
First, Trump claimed that the price of bacon has increased fivefold in recent years. However, this statement is completely inaccurate. Although the average price of bacon has increased since Trump left office, it is far from a five-fold increase. According to federal data, the average price of sliced ​​bacon in August 2023 was about 11.5% higher than in January 2021, not 400% as Trump claims.
Second, Trump repeated the claim that about $85 billion in military equipment was given to the Taliban during the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan. However, this number is incorrect. The Defense Department estimates that the equipment left behind was worth about $7.1 billion, a fraction of the total sought by Trump. It’s important to note that part of the remaining team was also intentionally incapacitated.
In addition, Trump claimed to have stopped the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany. However, this statement is not true. While Trump approved sanctions against companies working on the project, the pipeline was already 90% complete at the time. The company behind the project announced in December 2020 that construction would resume, and Germany renewed construction permits in its waters in the final days of the Trump presidency.
Finally, Trump tried to blame then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the January 6 violence. However, responsibility for Capitol security rests with the Capitol Police Board, not the Speaker of the House. The board oversees the U.S. Capitol Police and approves requests for National Guard support.
In summary, Trump’s recent claims continue to be misleading and inaccurate. It is important to check the facts and verify information before accepting it as true.
