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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Ad Misleads: Trump Not Charged as Spy

Ad Misleads: Trump Not Charged as Spy

The latest ad from the anti-Trump Lincoln Project promotes the same mistaken argument that Donald Trump himself has made — that the former president has been charged with spying or espionage. Trump was charged under a part of the Espionage Act concerning the willful retention of national defense information. That’s different from spying.

Online Posts Misrepresent Coin Commemorating Trump’s Second Indictment

Online Posts Misrepresent Coin Commemorating Trump’s Second Indictment

A privately owned company called the White House Gift Shop is selling a coin commemorating the second indictment of former President Donald Trump. But, contrary to a misleading tweet from Sen. Bill Cassidy, the online sales company is not affiliated with the White House in Washington, D.C.

Trump’s Distortions of Federal Indictment

Trump’s Distortions of Federal Indictment

In the days leading up to his June 13 arraignment and in a speech several hours afterward, former President Donald Trump distorted what the federal indictment against him said and made faulty comparisons to other politicians’ actions.

Q&A on Trump’s Federal Indictment

Q&A on Trump’s Federal Indictment

On June 9, the Department of Justice unsealed a 44-page indictment against former President Donald Trump detailing allegations not only of mishandling sensitive classified documents after he left office, but of obstructing federal officials who tried to get them back. Here, we answer some questions about the indictment.

Trump’s Dubious Promise to End Birthright Citizenship

Trump’s Dubious Promise to End Birthright Citizenship

Former President Donald Trump misleadingly said that “under Biden’s current policies” children born to parents in the country illegally automatically become citizens. That’s not a Biden policy, but rather it has been the standing interpretation of the 14th Amendment going back more than 100 years, including under Trump.

CNN Says Future Town Halls Will Include Live Audiences, Contrary to Online Posts

CNN Says Future Town Halls Will Include Live Audiences, Contrary to Online Posts

CNN was criticized by some for hosting a town hall with Donald Trump and a live audience that expressed strong support for the former president. Online posts now wrongly claim CNN will have “no more live audiences at town halls.” CNN said the claim is “fabricated” and plans a live audience at a town hall with Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley in June.

Michelle Obama Not a 2024 Presidential Candidate, Contrary to Online Posts

Michelle Obama Not a 2024 Presidential Candidate, Contrary to Online Posts

President Joe Biden has said he will seek a second term, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marianne Williamson have said they will challenge him for the 2024 Democratic nomination. But social media posts falsely claim that the party “just confirmed Michelle Obama will be its nominee.” There is no evidence that the former first lady is a candidate.

FactChecking Trump’s CNN Town Hall

FactChecking Trump’s CNN Town Hall

Former President Donald Trump’s town hall event felt like a lightning round of false and misleading claims — most of which we’ve heard before — on voter fraud, immigration, classified documents and more.

Posts Mislead on Rules for Guns at NRA Convention, Utah GOP Event

Posts Mislead on Rules for Guns at NRA Convention, Utah GOP Event

The three-day National Rifle Association convention in Indianapolis allowed attendees to carry firearms, except for a two-hour period when former President Donald Trump and other leaders spoke in a hall secured by the Secret Service. Yet, social media posts from a Democratic advocacy group misleadingly claimed that “guns were BANNED at the NRA convention.”

Dueling Ads: Trump and DeSantis on Social Security and Medicare

Dueling Ads: Trump and DeSantis on Social Security and Medicare

Former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis both say they do not support cuts to Social Security. But dueling ads from super PACs supporting their presidential bids say past statements or actions suggest they once did, and therefore seniors should not trust them.