Social Security Claims in June 2024 Debate
Both Biden and Trump traded accusations over Social Security during their June 2024 debate:
- Biden's claim: Trump "wants to get rid" of Social Security, referencing Trump's past remarks about cutting "entitlements."
- Trump's clarification: He meant reducing waste and fraud, not cutting benefits.
- Trump's counter-claim: Biden's policies would harm Social Security due to illegal immigration.
Trump's claim lacks evidence, as most undocumented immigrants are ineligible for Social Security and often contribute to the system without receiving benefits.
Fact Check
Claim: Trump and Biden’s claims in June 2024 debate
Description: In the June 2024 debate, both Trump and Biden made several claims regarding social security, immigration policies and economic assertions. Their claims range from Trump’s statements about intending to reduce waste and fraud in social security to Biden’s assertion of job gains under his administration and decreased illegal border crossings due to his policy changes. However, all claims made by the candidates need some form of context or contain elements of exaggeration.
Examining Trump's administration doesn't reveal proposals to dismantle Social Security benefits. During the debate, Trump stated, "I will never let these benefits be cut."
Both candidates' claims appear to be exaggerated political rhetoric rather than factual arguments.
Impact of Immigration Policies
Trump's claims about immigration were largely inflated:
- He alleged Biden "allowed millions of people to come in here from prisons, jails, and mental institutions."
- Official data shows only about 103,700 noncitizens with criminal convictions were arrested between fiscal years 2021 and 2024.
- Trump's assertion of "18 million people" entering illegally is inaccurate. Official statistics indicate about 9.7 million encounters, with approximately 4 million resulting in expulsions or removals.
Biden highlighted a 40% decrease in illegal border crossings, attributing this to his administration's policy changes. Recent data supports this claim, showing a drop to fewer than 2,400 illegal crossings daily after implementing stricter asylum access policies in June 2024.
Biden's statement about Border Patrol endorsement was partially accurate. The National Border Patrol Council endorsed a bipartisan border security bill that Biden supported but has not endorsed Biden himself.
In conclusion, Trump's statements about illegal immigration and its impacts are largely unsupported by evidence, while Biden's claims are more accurate but require additional context for a complete understanding.
Economic Assertions
Trump's economic claims often blended past successes with exaggerations:
- Claimed "greatest economy in history" and "lowest taxes ever"
- Economic growth under Trump averaged 2.67% pre-pandemic, below Clinton's 4% in the 1990s
- Tax cuts implemented, but not historically lowest
- Gasoline price claim of $1.77/gallon omitted pandemic context
Biden's economic assertions were more verifiable:
- Pledged no tax increases for those earning under $400,000
- Highlighted significant job gains (about 6.2 million since taking office)
On inflation:
While Biden's American Rescue Plan contributed to inflationary pressure, economists agree it was not the sole cause. Factors such as pandemic-related supply chain disruptions and global energy price fluctuations also played significant roles.
In summary, both candidates' economic assertions require careful scrutiny, with Trump's claims often more exaggerated than Biden's.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment Situation Summary. 2024.
- Tax Policy Center. An Analysis of Former Vice President Biden's Tax Proposals. 2020.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Southwest Land Border Encounters. 2024.
- Congressional Budget Office. The Budget and Economic Outlook: 2020 to 2030. 2020.
- U.S. Department of the Treasury. Analysis of Growth and Revenue Estimates Based on the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance Tax Reform Plan. 2017.