A Record of Falsehoods and Misinformation

At Trumpism Exposed, we are committed to documenting the impact of Trumpism on American democracy. One of the defining aspects of Donald Trump’s presidency was his unprecedented volume of false or misleading statements. According to The Washington Post’s Fact Checker, Trump made 30,573 false or misleading claims during his four years in office—an average of 21 falsehoods per day.

This staggering number is not just a statistic—it is a reflection of the political strategy that defined his administration, shaping public discourse, fueling misinformation, and eroding trust in democratic institutions.

Tracking the Lies: Where the 30,573 False Claims Came From

The Fact Checker database meticulously tracked Trump’s statements from January 20, 7 to January 20, 2021, across multiple public platforms:

Campaign Rallies – Repeating false claims to fire up supporters

White House Speeches – Misrepresenting facts on policy and governance

Media Interviews – Spreading misleading information unchecked

Social Media Posts – Amplifying conspiracy theories and misinformation

Press Conferences – Denying facts and attacking the free press

Each claim was categorized as false, misleading, or exaggerated based on verifiable data. The fact-checking team cross-referenced statements with credible sources, historical records, and policy documents to ensure accuracy.

The Escalation: How Trump’s Lies Increased Over Time

While Trump’s relationship with the truth was shaky from the beginning, the frequency of falsehoods increased over time, especially during politically turbulent moments:

2017-2018: Early days of the presidency saw regular false claims about crowd sizes, tax cuts, and economic achievements.

2019: Impeachment proceedings led to an increase in misleading narratives about Ukraine and Democratic opponents.

2020: The election year saw a historic surge in falsehoods, particularly about voter fraud, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the economy.

Post-2020 Election: Trump’s baseless claims of a “stolen election” fueled insurrectionist sentiments, culminating in the January 6th Capitol attack.

The most dangerous lies were those that spread disinformation about democratic institutions, public health, and elections—damaging trust in government and media.

Recurring Themes: What Trump Lied About Most

Election Fraud – The “Big Lie” falsely claiming widespread fraud in the 2020 election, despite zero credible evidence.

The Economy – Exaggerations about job creation, tax cuts, and GDP growth that did not align with real economic data.

Immigration – False claims about crime rates among immigrants and the effectiveness of his border policies.

COVID-19 – Downplaying the virus, spreading conspiracy theories, and promoting unproven treatments.

His Own Record – Constant self-congratulations based on exaggerated or outright fabricated accomplishments.

The repetition of these falsehoods created an alternate reality where fact-checking was dismissed as partisan bias, leading many Americans to question objective truths.

Why This Matters: The Consequences of Trump’s Misinformation

Erosion of Trust in Institutions – Repeated lies about election fraud led to widespread distrust in the voting process, culminating in the violent January 6th insurrection.

A Culture of Disinformation – Trump’s embrace of conspiracy theories legitimized fringe movements like QAnon and emboldened disinformation networks.

The Politicization of Science – COVID-19 falsehoods fueled vaccine hesitancy, prolonging the pandemic and costing lives.

Normalization of Lying in Politics – By rejecting accountability, Trump set a precedent for future politicians to embrace dishonesty without consequence.

Misinformation is not just about misleading statements—it has real-world consequences that shape policy, endanger lives, and undermine democracy.

Fact vs. Fiction: Debunking Trump’s Most Notorious Lies

Lie: “I won the 2020 election. It was stolen.”
Truth: Trump lost both the electoral vote (306-232) and the popular vote (by over seven million votes). No evidence of widespread fraud has been found.

Lie: “COVID-19 is totally under control.” (January 22, 2020)
Truth: Trump was briefed on the virus’s severity but publicly downplayed it, contributing to the delayed response that cost hundreds of thousands of lives.

Lie: “The U.S. has never been stronger economically than under my administration.”
Truth: While the economy was strong pre-pandemic, job growth under Trump was slower than under Obama, and his tax cuts increased the national deficit.

Lie: “We built the wall.”
Truth: Of the 450 miles of border barriers constructed, most were replacements of existing structures. Mexico did not pay for any of it.

Lie: “I had the largest inauguration crowd in history.”
Truth: Photographic evidence and official estimates confirm that Obama’s 2009 inauguration had a significantly larger crowd.

These are just a handful of the thousands of misleading claims that defined Trump’s presidency.

The Big Question: Why Do So Many People Still Believe the Lies?

Trump’s falsehoods were not just random misstatements—they were part of a deliberate strategy.

Repetition – If you say a lie enough times, people start to believe it.

Attacking the Press – Calling real journalism “fake news” to undermine credibility.

Blaming Opponents – Shifting focus to “the deep state” and political enemies to avoid accountability.

Emotional Appeal – Playing on fear, anger, and nostalgia rather than facts.

Even after leaving office, Trump’s false claims continue to influence millions, showing the lasting damage of political misinformation.

The Fight Against Misinformation Continues

At Trumpism Exposed, we believe in truth, accountability, and transparency. Exposing Trump’s 30,000 plus lies is not just about history—it is about ensuring that the American public does not fall victim to misinformation again.

What You Can Do:

Fact-check before sharing information – Use reputable sources like The Washington Post Fact Checker, Politifact, and Snopes.

Hold politicians accountable – Demand truth from elected officials and reject those who profit from dishonesty.

Educate others – Help people recognize misinformation and push back against false narratives.

Support independent journalism – Real journalism matters. Subscribe to fact-based news sources.

The truth matters. The facts matter. History will remember who fought for them.

Stay informed. Stay vigilant. Stay committed to the truth.

In four years, President Trump made 30,573 false or misleading claims The Fact Checker’s database of the false or misleading claims made by President Trump while in office.