In all, CNN counted at least 11 outright falsehoods and a few more that were misleading or lacked context.
Here’s a look at the President’s claims and the facts behind them.
When asked about the Black Lives Matter protests happening across the US, Trump talked about the federal crackdown on protesters who have destroyed monuments, claiming, “We have now over 1,000 people, federal, in jail. We’re prosecuting many people.”
Facts First: This is not accurate based on data from Trump’s own Department of Justice. While it is not clear where the 1,000 number came from, the department reported that as of September 2, a total of 227 people have been federally charged in cities, including Minneapolis, Portland, Salt Lake City and Seattle. The charges vary from arson to assaulting a federal officer.
Cancel culture
After a reporter asked about the President’s calls to investigate the use of the New York Times’ 1619 project to teach students about the country’s history with racism, Trump said he wants “everyone to know everything they can in history,” adding that he is “not a believer in cancel culture.”
Facts First: It’s false for Trump to suggest he doesn’t like “cancel culture,” considering how he has himself explicitly advocated cancellations, boycotts and firings on numerous occasions for what he considers objectionable words and acts.
18 angry Democrats
Trump said special counsel Robert Mueller’s team — which investigated Russian interference in the 2016 US election — included “18 angry Democrats.”
Facts First: Mueller himself is a longtime Republican. The majority of the lawyers on his team had registered as Democrats, but not all of them.
In his testimony on July 24, 2019, Mueller said he hires people for their capabilities and integrity and had “not had one occasion to ask somebody about their political affiliation” in his 25 years working “in this business.”
Cost of Mueller investigation
According to Trump, Mueller spent $48 million over the course of his investigation.
Spying
Trump once again alleged that President Barack Obama and then-Vice President Joe Biden had spied on his 2016 presidential campaign.
History of tariffs
Trump spent a long time touting his achievements against China, namely that the US has taken in billions from China under his administration after previously never receiving so much as 10 cents.
Facts First: It’s not true that the Treasury has never received “10 cents” from China. The US has had tariffs on China for more than two centuries.
It’s also misleading for Trump to suggest that the Chinese are paying for the tariffs. American importers make the tariff payments in the form of customs duties.
Shutdown
Echoing comments he made in August, Trump claimed “Biden’s plan for the China virus is to shut down the entire US economy.”
Facts First: Biden has not announced any such plan for…
Read More: Fact check: Trump repeats numerous false claims in campaign-style press briefing