President Donald Trump held an impromptu press gaggle aboard Air Force One on President’s Day, February 16, 2026, covering a sweeping range of topics including upcoming Iran nuclear talks in Geneva, a potential government shutdown, Cuba diplomacy, the Ukraine peace process, his new “Board of Peace,” Taiwan arms sales, the Epstein files, and sharp criticism of Democratic governors and politicians. Trump touted historically low crime statistics, gas prices below $2 in some areas, and low inflation as evidence his administration is succeeding — while framing an impending government shutdown as a “Democrat shutdown” driven by resistance to voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. Assistance from Claude AI.
Participants
- Donald Trump — President of the United States (primary speaker)
- Unidentified reporters — White House press pool traveling aboard Air Force One (one reporter, addressed by Trump as “Steve,” appears to be a familiar White House correspondent)
Topic Breakdown
Opening Statement: Economy, Gas Prices, and Crime
Trump opened the gaggle without prompting, immediately citing what he described as favorable economic indicators. He pointed to low inflation, declining prices, and gasoline falling below $2 per gallon in many locations as proof his “drill, baby drill” energy policy is working.
“Gasoline is less than $2 in many places — gallon — which nobody expected to see, but I did.”
He framed the current economic and public safety climate as a direct contrast to what he inherited from the Biden administration, which he called “a mess.” He claimed that crime numbers are at historic lows, specifically asserting the best murder rate in 125 years — since 1900, before his father was born — a figure he repeated multiple times throughout the gaggle for emphasis. He attributed these improvements despite what he called Biden’s “open border policy,” which he said allowed approximately 25 million people into the country, “many of whom should not have been allowed.”
Context for general readers: Trump has frequently cited crime statistics as a core second-term accomplishment. The claim about the best murder numbers since 1900 refers to FBI Uniform Crime Report data; independent analysts note that murder rates fluctuate significantly year to year and comparisons across a century involve very different data collection methods.
Iran Nuclear Talks in Geneva
A reporter asked what Trump expected from nuclear negotiations scheduled in Geneva the following day (February 17). Trump said he would be “involved indirectly” in the talks and expressed cautious optimism while implying a military threat remained on the table.
“Typically Iran’s a very tough negotiator — they’re good negotiators, or bad, I would say they’re bad negotiators — because we could have had a deal instead of sending the B-2s in to knock out their nuclear potential, and we had to send the B-2s.”
This is a significant statement: Trump referenced a B-2 stealth bomber strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities as an action already taken — framing it as something Iran’s intransigence forced. He said Iran “wants to make a deal” and does not want “the consequences of not making a deal.”
When a reporter noted he had been told a deal was “next to impossible,” Trump pushed back: “No, no. I think they wanna make a deal.”
Context for general readers: B-2 Spirit bombers are the U.S. military’s most advanced stealth bombers, capable of delivering bunker-busting munitions capable of destroying deeply buried nuclear facilities. A U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure would represent one of the most consequential military actions in decades. Trump appeared to reference this as a recent event justifying Iran’s willingness to now negotiate.
Government Shutdown and DHS Funding Negotiations
A reporter asked whether Trump would sit down with Democrats to negotiate Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding and potentially avert a government shutdown. Trump said he would meet with Democrats but pivoted quickly to defend law enforcement and ICE, and then launched an extended critique of Democratic priorities.
He called the potential shutdown a “Democrat shutdown” — blaming Democratic resistance to three specific conditions he said Republicans are demanding:
- Voter ID requirements
- Proof of citizenship to vote
- Ending mail-in ballots
Trump argued 98% of the population supports voter ID and that Democrats oppose it because, in his words, “they wanna cheat on elections.” He described mail-in ballots as “corrupt” and said the U.S. is “the only country in the world” with such a system. He equated Democratic opposition to voter ID with opposition to banning transgender athletes from women’s sports and the Biden-era open border — calling all of them “ridiculous” positions in the same category.
When asked if there are any Democratic demands he would accept: “I don’t like some of the things they’re asking for. We’re gonna protect law enforcement. We’re gonna protect ICE.”
On Washington, D.C.’s crime rate specifically, Trump said: “Washington, D.C. now is considered a very safe city. When I took over, it was a city that you were losing two, three people a week. Over a hundred people a year were being murdered in Washington.”
Context for general readers: A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass funding legislation before a deadline, halting non-essential federal operations and leaving many federal workers without pay. The DHS funding fight involves both border enforcement spending and election-related provisions that Democrats oppose.
State of the Union During a Shutdown?
Asked whether he would still deliver his State of the Union address if the government were in a shutdown, Trump said flatly: “Well, I think I would. Wouldn’t bother me. I would give. Yep.”
Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski
A reporter asked about news reports suggesting DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and political operative Corey Lewandowski are in a “close personal relationship,” and whether it is “a bad look.” The reporter also asked whether Noem would keep her job.
Trump played it close: “I don’t know about that. I mean, I haven’t heard that. I’ll find out about it, but I have not heard.”
Context for general readers: Corey Lewandowski is a longtime Trump political ally and former campaign manager. Kristi Noem is the former Governor of South Dakota serving as Secretary of Homeland Security. The question reflects press reporting about the nature of their professional relationship.
Jeffrey Epstein Files and Hillary Clinton
A reporter noted that Hillary Clinton had said in an interview that she and her husband are being “pulled into the Epstein matter” in order to divert attention from Trump — and that Trump’s administration has “something to hide.”
Trump responded emphatically: “I have nothing to hide. I’ve been exonerated. I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. They went in hoping that they’d find it and found just the opposite. I’ve been totally exonerated.”
He added that Jeffrey Epstein had reportedly opposed his election and worked against him with an author Trump called “a sleazebag.” He then turned the tables on Clinton: “They’re getting pulled in, and that’s their problem.”
When asked if Clinton should testify publicly, Trump said: “I’ve been totally exonerated on Epstein, and it’s really interesting because they’ve been pulled in — Clinton and many other Democrats.”
He also commented on Clinton’s appearance at the Munich Security Conference: “I watched her in Munich, and she seriously has Trump derangement syndrome.”
Cuba: Deal-or-Else
Asked about his warning to Cuba to “make a deal,” Trump described Cuba as a “failed nation” without basic resources, including jet fuel. He confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is currently conducting talks with Cuba.
“Cuba is right now a failed nation. They don’t even have jet fuel to get airplanes to take off. They’re logging up their runway. But we’re talking to Cuba right now — they have Marco Rubio talking to Cuba right now.”
Trump expressed sympathy for Cuban-Americans who have family on the island and have been separated for decades, saying they will “be able to go back and say hello to their relatives.” He also noted the ongoing embargo: “In the meantime, there’s an embargo. There’s no oil. There’s no money. There’s no anything.”
When asked whether he would consider a military operation against Cuba similar to what was apparently conducted or contemplated regarding Venezuela, Trump declined to answer directly:
“I don’t wanna answer that. Why would I answer that? If I was, it wouldn’t be a very tough operation as you can figure, but I don’t think that’ll be necessary.”
Ukraine Peace Talks in Geneva
Trump confirmed that his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would be attending Ukraine peace talks in Geneva the following day, February 17.
He expressed confidence the talks would succeed but issued a pointed warning to Ukraine: “Ukraine better come to the table fast — it’s all I’m telling you.”
He then launched into criticism of Democratic politicians who appeared at the Munich Security Conference — specifically Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) and Gov. Gavin Newsom of California — calling their performances “a bad look for our country.”
“I watched AOC answering questions in Munich. This was not a good look with the United States… Gavin Newsom answering questions in Munich. And this was a bad look for our country. These two people are incompetent.”
He offered a backhanded compliment to Hillary Clinton in comparison: “At least Hillary’s competent. She’s just Trump deranged.”
On AOC specifically: “She had no idea what was happening. She had no idea how to answer very important questions concerning the world. But she can’t answer questions concerning New York City either. Because New York City has some problems.”
Context for general readers: The Munich Security Conference is an annual gathering of global leaders, defense ministers, and diplomats. It is unusual for sitting U.S. members of Congress or governors to give major addresses there, and Trump’s criticism reflects an ongoing tension with Democrats over foreign policy messaging.
Marco Rubio’s Performance at Munich and the 2028 Race
A reporter praised Marco Rubio’s performance at Munich and asked if Trump could see a scenario where he would support Rubio for president in 2028. Trump deflected:
“Something I don’t have to worry about now. I’ve got three years to go… JG’s fantastic, and Marco’s, they’re both fantastic. I think Marco did a great job at Munich.”
Context for general readers: “JG” likely refers to JD Vance, Trump’s Vice President. Both Vance and Rubio are widely considered potential 2028 Republican presidential candidates.
Taiwan and China
Asked about a recent conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping in which Xi reportedly warned against sending more weapons to Taiwan, Trump said he had spoken with Xi and was not ready to announce a decision:
“I have a response. I’m talking to him about it. We had a good conversation and we’ll make a determination pretty soon.”
He added: “We have a very good relationship with President Xi. In fact, I’ll be going, I guess, in April.”
This appears to confirm a planned visit to China in April 2026.
Georgia Special Election and Trump’s Endorsement Power
Trump said he was traveling to Rome, Georgia on Thursday to engage with candidates seeking to fill the congressional seat previously held by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who apparently no longer holds the position. He said many candidates are competing and that he has not yet chosen whom to endorse.
“They say whoever I endorse is gonna win, but we have a lot of good candidates who wanna take our place.”
He was also asked why he has not yet endorsed Sen. John Cornyn in what appears to be a Texas Senate Republican primary contest also involving Ken Paxton. Trump said he likes all three candidates in the race and has not decided: “I like all three, actually. They’ve all supported me. They’re all good.”
He also claimed credit for helping elect a Japanese prime minister: “A very wonderful prime minister in Japan won by a landslide. She was gonna win, but she won by just about the biggest vote ever in Japan, and she attributed my endorsement for that.”
Board of Peace: First Meeting
Trump was asked about the inaugural meeting of his “Board of Peace” (also referred to as the “Court of Peace”), which he had previously described as potentially the most consequential international organization ever created. The $5 billion announced the previous day was characterized as seed funding.
“I think it can be [the most consequential]. We’re gonna have all world leaders. They’re putting up tremendous amounts of money, and I think it’s gonna go far beyond Gaza, and I think it’ll be peace all over the world.”
He said the organization would work in conjunction with the United Nations but expressed frustration with the UN: “United Nations has great potential. They haven’t lived up to the potential, but I think they might hate us a little bit.”
On the $5 billion: “That’s peanuts compared to the kind of money that has been spent in the Middle East by Bush, by Obama, by all of these people, by Biden.”
Context for general readers: The “Board of Peace” or “Court of Peace” appears to be a Trump initiative announced around this time as an alternative international peacemaking mechanism. It is separate from the UN but Trump envisions cooperation between the two bodies.
UAE-Saudi Arabia Rift
Asked whether he was involved in mediating a reported rift between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, Trump said he was not currently involved but offered to be: “I would be. I can settle it very easily… I settle wars. I settle a lot of rifts between countries. That’s an easy one to settle.”
Venezuela and National Security Advisor Nancy Rodriguez
Asked about National Security Advisor Nancy Rodriguez’s statement that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is “a legitimate president and innocent,” Trump gave a measured response: “I think she probably has to say that. I think politically, maybe she has to say that. But the relationship with Venezuela — she’s doing a very good job, and I fully understand that statement.”
U.S. Carrier Deployments and Military Stretch
A reporter raised a question about a U.S. aircraft carrier deployed from the Caribbean to the Middle East that had already surpassed its typical six-month deployment mark by two months. The reporter asked if there was concern that U.S. carriers were “being stretched too thin.”
Trump initially deferred — “I’ll answer the question last” — but the exchange ended before he returned to it, suggesting it went unanswered.
Middle East Peace and Gaza Phase Two
Asked whether Israel should lift its ban on foreign journalists entering Gaza now that the conflict is reportedly entering “phase two,” Trump was broadly optimistic:
“We’ll be lifting a lot of bans pretty soon. I think you’re gonna see everything opening up. Gaza — we have peace in the Middle East. Now, you have some flames here and there. But we essentially have peace in the Middle East.”
He again referenced the B-2 strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities as pivotal: “That happened primarily when we did the B-2 attack on the nuclear potential nuclear power. They would’ve had a nuclear weapon within one month. If that happened, it would’ve been a whole different deal.”
Governor Wes Moore and White House Meeting
Asked whether Maryland Governor Wes Moore was invited to the White House along with other governors, Trump confirmed Moore was not invited, explaining that all governors were invited except two. He described the second exclusion:
“One was Colorado — where he’s got a 73-year-old woman who’s probably got serious cancer, confined, and for some time it’s solitary confinement because she pointed out the voter theft that was taking place… They arrested her and they gave her a nine-year sentence, and he better let her go because it’s a disgrace.”
On Moore specifically: “Wes Moore — he’s doing a terrible job. I don’t like the job he’s doing at the Bridge. I don’t like the fact that he did that horrible, you know, with the pipes and the Potomac.”
Trump indicated he may need to involve the federal government to fix what he characterized as Moore’s failures: “I’m gonna have to get the federal government involved in getting it fixed because he can’t fix anything.”
Context for general readers: The “Bridge” reference appears to relate to the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, which collapsed in March 2024 after being struck by a cargo ship. The rebuilding effort has been a point of contention between state and federal authorities. The “pipes and the Potomac” reference is less immediately clear but may relate to water infrastructure issues in the DC/Maryland region.
Golf with Ron DeSantis
Lighthearted moment near the end: a reporter asked how golf went with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Trump said they had a good time and were joined by “two great coaches — the two greatest coaches, I would say, certainly at college football.” He added he was unable to play that day because he was focused on work: “I didn’t get to play today because I’m working on other things. Very important things. Much more important than golf.”
Valentine’s Day and Melania Trump
The gaggle ended on a warm note. Asked what he got Melania Trump for Valentine’s Day, Trump demurred with a smile:
“I better not tell you that. Goodbye, everybody. That’s the toughest question.”
He praised the First Lady, noting she was aboard Air Force One (“we have a movie star on the plane”), referenced her recent successful documentary, and predicted she will go down in history:
“I think you’re gonna see in the end that she’s gonna go down as one of the truly great first ladies. When you see what she’s doing with Russia, Ukraine, and so many of the other things she’s doing, she’s done a good job. She works very hard.”
Citation
“Press Gaggle: Donald Trump Speaks to Reporters on Board Air Force One — February 16, 2026.” Factbase, 16 Feb. 2026, factba.se. Transcript provided by CQ Roll Call / FiscalNote.
Fact-Check: Trump Air Force One Press Gaggle — February 16, 2026
Systematic fact-checking of key factual claims made by President Trump during his February 16, 2026, Air Force One press gaggle.
CLAIM 1: B-2 Bomber Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Facilities
Trump’s Claim: “We could have had a deal instead of sending the B-2s in to knock out their nuclear potential, and we had to send the B-2s.”
Assessment: ACCURATE
Evidence: The United States conducted strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on June 22, 2025, under the code name “Operation Midnight Hammer.” Seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri dropped 14 GBU-57A/B “bunker buster” bombs on the Fordow and Natanz nuclear facilities, while submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles struck the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center (Cummins-Abdo, 2025; Diaz, 2025). The operation involved more than 125 aircraft and was the first operational use of the 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (Caine, as cited in NPR, 2025).
According to the Wikipedia entry on the strikes, Trump stated the strikes “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities, though a Pentagon assessment found Iran’s nuclear program was likely set back around 2 years rather than permanently destroyed (“United States strikes on Iranian nuclear sites,” 2026). The strikes occurred during an Iran-Israel war that began June 13, 2025, and ended with a ceasefire on June 24, 2025.
APA Citations:
Cummins-Abdo, A. (2025, June 22). U.S. strikes 3 nuclear sites in Iran, in major regional conflict escalation. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2025/06/21/nx-s1-5441127/iran-us-strike-nuclear-trump
Diaz, D. (2025, June 22). U.S. launches strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Trump says. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-launches-strikes-iranian-nuclear-facilities-trump-says/
United States strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. (2026, January 26). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_strikes_on_Iranian_nuclear_sites
CLAIM 2: Murder Rate — “Best in 125 Years” / “Since 1900”
Trump’s Claim: “We have the best crime numbers we’ve had in many years and on murders 125 years… We have the best murder numbers. Horrible thing to say. But we have the best murder numbers since 1900. That’s before my father was born. 125 years, think of it.”
Assessment: PARTIALLY ACCURATE (Rated “Half True” by fact-checkers)
Evidence: The Council on Criminal Justice’s 2025 Crime Trends report projected that the 2025 homicide rate would be approximately 4.0 per 100,000 residents, which would represent “the lowest rate ever recorded in law enforcement or public health data going back to 1900” and “the largest single-year percentage drop” on record — a decline of approximately 20-21% from 2024 (Council on Criminal Justice, 2026; Poynter Institute, 2026).
However, crime data experts dispute whether this constitutes a true 125-year record. Jeff Asher, a crime data researcher, notes that FBI data from 1930-1959 is not “apples-to-apples” comparable because it was based on a smaller share of the U.S. population and used different definitions. Before 1930, the FBI produced no equivalent data. Data from 1900-1929 comes from public health sources that counted all homicides, including justifiable killings, making direct comparison problematic (Jacobson & Brumfield, 2026).
Experts agree the 2025 murder rate will likely be the lowest in at least 65 years (since 1960, when the FBI began using consistent methodology), eclipsing the previous modern low of 4.4 per 100,000 in 2014 (Poynter Institute, 2026). PolitiFact rated Trump’s broader claim about the overall “crime rate” being the lowest in 125 years as “Half True” because Trump conflated murder statistics with overall crime rates, and because the 125-year comparison involves non-comparable historical data (Jacobson & Brumfield, 2026).
Important Context: Violent crime was already falling significantly during Biden’s final year in office. Border encounters dropped sharply after June 2024 when Biden implemented asylum restrictions. The decline in crime predates Trump’s second term, beginning in March 2024 (Jacobson & Brumfield, 2026; Rodriguez & Fritze, 2026).
APA Citations:
Council on Criminal Justice. (2026, January). What’s driving the drop in homicide? How low might it go? https://counciloncj.org/whats-driving-the-drop-in-homicide-how-low-might-it-go/
Jacobson, L., & Brumfield, B. (2026, February 12). Is Donald Trump right that the U.S. crime rate is at its lowest in 125 years? PolitiFact. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2026/feb/12/donald-trump/murder-crime-rate-lowest-125-years-FBI/
Poynter Institute. (2026, February 11). Is Donald Trump right that the U.S. crime rate is at its lowest in 125 years? https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2026/is-the-crime-rate-at-record-lows/
Rodriguez, A., & Fritze, J. (2025, February 22). Fact-checking the Trump White House’s claims about illegal immigration dropping sharply. PBS NewsHour. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/fact-checking-the-trump-white-houses-claims-about-illegal-immigration-dropping-sharply
CLAIM 3: Gasoline Prices “Less Than $2 in Many Places”
Trump’s Claim: “Gasoline is less than $2 in many places — gallon — which nobody expected to see.”
Assessment: MISLEADING / EXAGGERATED
Evidence: As of February 2026, the national average gasoline price was approximately $2.91-$2.92 per gallon, not below $2.00 (AAA, 2026; U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2026). The lowest state average was Oklahoma at $2.34-$2.35 per gallon, followed by Arkansas at $2.46-$2.48 (Maguire, 2026; Smith, 2026).
Gas prices have indeed declined significantly from 2022 highs (when prices exceeded $5.00 per gallon nationally) and are at their lowest levels since 2020. The average price in January 2026 was $2.81 per gallon, down 8.7% from January 2025 (Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 2026). Forecasters projected the 2026 yearly average would be $2.97 per gallon (GasBuddy, 2026).
However, no state had an average price below $2.00 per gallon as of mid-February 2026. While individual gas stations in low-cost states may occasionally price gas below $2.00, this is not widespread enough to characterize as “many places.” Ten states were forecast to have yearly averages below $2.75 per gallon in 2026 (Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas), but none were projected to average below $2.00 (Isidore, 2026).
APA Citations:
AAA. (2026, February). Fuel prices. https://gasprices.aaa.com/
Bureau of Transportation Statistics. (2026, February). Motor fuel prices – January 2026 [Press release]. https://www.bts.gov/newsroom/motor-fuel-prices-january-2026-1
GasBuddy. (2026, January 5). GasBuddy: Yearly average gas prices to fall below $3 in 2026 — Lowest since 2020 [Press release]. https://www.gasbuddy.com/go/2026-fuel-price-outlook
Isidore, C. (2026, January 5). Forecasters say 2026 will be the cheapest year for gas since Covid. CNN Business. https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/05/business/2026-gas-prices-oil
Maguire, K. (2026, February 12). US gas prices: 2018 to February 2026. Finder. https://www.finder.com/economics/gas-prices
Smith, J. (2026, February 10). US gas prices decrease by as much as 15% — See where your state stacks up. LendingTree. https://www.lendingtree.com/credit-cards/study/us-gas-prices/
U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2026, February). U.S. regular all formulations retail gasoline prices. https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/leafhandler.ashx?n=pet&s=emm_epmr_pte_nus_dpg&f=m
CLAIM 4: “25 Million People” Let Into the Country Under Biden
Trump’s Claim: “Crime numbers are way down, despite the fact that they let in 25 million people, many of whom should not have been allowed into our country with their open border policy.”
Assessment: FALSE / GROSSLY EXAGGERATED
Evidence: The 25 million figure significantly overstates the number of unauthorized immigrants who entered and remained in the United States during the Biden administration. Multiple fact-checking organizations have found similar claims to be false or misleading (Newsweek, 2025; FactCheck.org, 2024).
Actual Data:
- Border Encounters (2021-2024): Approximately 8-11 million encounters at the southern border occurred during Biden’s term, depending on the time frame measured (Department of Homeland Security figures cited in various sources). However, “encounters” are events, not unique individuals, and include people who attempted to cross multiple times.
- Removals and Returns: Of those encountered, approximately 2.8-3.7 million were removed or returned directly from CBP custody through October 2023. The Department of Homeland Security reported that more than 2 million undocumented migrants left the United States between 2021-2025, including about 1.6 million voluntary departures and more than 527,000 formal removals (Newsweek, 2025).
- Releases into U.S.: Through October 2023, approximately 2.5 million people were released into the U.S. with notices to appear in immigration court or other classifications (FactCheck.org, 2024).
- Net Population Change: The unauthorized immigrant population was estimated at 11.2 million in 2021 by the Migration Policy Institute. By June 2025, the total immigrant population (authorized and unauthorized combined) had decreased from 53.3 million in January 2025 to 51.9 million, as departures and deportations outpaced arrivals (Newsweek, 2025).
Why the Claim Is Misleading:
- Conflates “encounters” with successful entries and permanent settlement
- Counts repeat crossers multiple times (the repeat crossing rate rose to 27% in 2021, up from 7% in 2019)
- Ignores millions of removals, returns, and voluntary departures
- The net increase in unauthorized population was nowhere near 25 million
APA Citations:
FactCheck.org. (2024, February). Breaking down the immigration figures. https://www.factcheck.org/2024/02/breaking-down-the-immigration-figures/
Newsweek. (2025, November 27). Fact check: Did 20 million illegal immigrants enter US under Joe Biden? https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-did-20-million-illegal-immigrants-enter-us-under-joe-biden-11121014
Summary Assessment
| Claim | Accuracy Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| B-2 strikes on Iran occurred | ACCURATE | Operation Midnight Hammer, June 22, 2025 |
| Murder rate lowest in 125 years | PARTIALLY ACCURATE | Likely lowest in 65 years (since 1960); 125-year claim involves non-comparable historical data |
| Gas prices below $2 in many places | MISLEADING | National average ~$2.92; lowest state average $2.34; some individual stations may be below $2, but not widespread |
| 25 million immigrants entered under Biden | FALSE | Grossly exaggerated; encounters ≠ successful entries; ignores millions of removals and returns |
Methodology Note
This fact-check prioritizes primary sources (government data, official reports, academic institutions) over secondary fact-checking websites where possible, consistent with journalistic best practices. Claims are assessed using the most recent available data as of February 2026.