Trump's false claims in inaugural speech: A quick fact-check

In his first address after being sworn in on Monday, US President Donald Trump repeated several false and misleading claims he made during his campaign.

These included statements about immigration, the economy, electric vehicles, and the Panama Canal. Additionally, he issued multiple other false claims later at the Capitol’s Emancipation Hall.

Here’s a closer look at the facts behind his remarks.

Biden did not pardon 33 murderers

Claim: Trump claimed, “Biden pardoned 33 murderers... the worst murderers.”

Facts: On December 23, 2022, President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of 37 out of 40 people on federal death row, converting their sentences to life imprisonment. Commutations do not exonerate individuals.

The three federal inmates still facing execution are Dylann Roof, the 2015 Charleston church shooter; Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the Boston Marathon bomber; and Robert Bowers, the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter.

The 2020 election was not rigged

Claim: Trump repeated his assertion that “the 2020 election was totally rigged.”

Facts: The 2020 US presidential election was fair and secure. Biden won both the Electoral College (306 to Trump’s 232) and the popular vote by more than 7 million ballots.

Election recounts and investigations, including those by Trump’s own Attorney General, affirmed the integrity of the results.

Nancy Pelosi did not reject national guard troops on January 6

Claim: Trump alleged that Nancy Pelosi rejected an offer of 10,000 National Guard troops on January 6, 2021.

Facts: There is no evidence that Pelosi rejected such an offer. While Trump discussed National Guard deployments in the days before the Capitol riot, no formal request was made from the White House.

The decision to call in National Guard assistance ultimately lay with the Capitol Police Board, and while Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell requested help once the insurrection began, it took hours for troops to arrive.

False claim about immigrants and crime

Claim: Trump stated that the US government “fails to protect our magnificent, law-abiding American citizens but provides sanctuary and protection for dangerous criminals... who have illegally entered our country.”

Facts: There is no evidence to support the claim that other countries are sending their criminals or mentally ill citizens to the US via illegal immigration.

Inflation did not reach record highs under Biden

Claim: Trump referred to “record inflation” and promised to defeat it.

Facts: Inflation peaked at 9.1% in June 2022 but had decreased to 2.9% by December 2023. Historical periods, such as the early 1980s, saw inflation rates much higher than what was experienced during Biden’s presidency.

Tariffs and the proposed external revenue service

Claim: Trump proposed the establishment of an “External Revenue Service” to collect tariffs, which he claimed would bring “massive amounts of money into our Treasury.”

Facts: Economists agree that American consumers bear much of the cost of tariffs. While tariffs may spur some domestic production, they generally lead to higher costs for US consumers rather than significantly increased revenue for the government.

No electric vehicle mandate exists

Claim: Trump promised to revoke an electric vehicle mandate that does not exist.

Facts: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set greenhouse gas emission limits, which may encourage automakers to increase electric vehicle production by 2032.

However, there is no mandate requiring automakers to sell a specific percentage of electric vehicles, and the limits set by the EPA are not a direct mandate on vehicle sales.

China does not operate the Panama Canal

Claim: Trump claimed, “China is operating the Panama Canal.”

Facts: This claim is false. While a Hong Kong-based consortium operates some ports near the canal, the government of Panama oversees the operation of the canal itself. China does not control the waterway. The US relinquished control of the Panama Canal to Panama in 1999 under the terms of the Torrijos-Carter Treaty.