During Thursday’s Democratic National Convention, Vice President Kamala Harris and several speakers criticized former President Donald Trump on various issues, including abortion, foreign relations, and numerous legal troubles he faces.

However, not everything they claimed was accurate.

The YSL News Fact Check team was on hand to help distinguish fact from fiction and provide additional context where needed.

Kamala Harris asserts: Trump tariffs could cost households $4,000 annually

Harris stated that Trump’s tariffs “would increase expenses for middle-class families by nearly $4,000 per year.”

This claim exaggerates the potential impact economists anticipate from Trump’s suggested 10% tariff on imported items.

While Trump argues this tariff would generate revenue, economists believe the costs would mainly be transferred to consumers, essentially treating it like a tax.

A report by the neutral Tax Policy Center indicated that the tariff, combined with a proposed 60% tariff on Chinese imports from Trump, would reduce the average post-tax income of U.S. households by roughly $1,800.

This aligns closely with existing estimates.

According to the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a research organization, households could incur annual costs of about $1,700 due to the tariff. Meanwhile, the conservative group American Action Forum estimates that these costs could range between $1,700 and $2,350.

– Joedy McCreary

Catch up on our convention fact-checks

We have reviewed the statements from major speakers at both the Republican and Democratic conventions. You can find details on what was accurate, what was not, and the nuances in between from various figures including Donald Trump, JD Vance, Tim Walz, and others.

Kamala Harris claim: Trump immune from criminal prosecution

“Consider the power he will have, especially after the United States Supreme Court just ruled that he would be immune from criminal prosecution.”

In July, a 6-3 ruling by the Supreme Court determined that former presidents, including Trump, have a degree of immunity from criminal prosecution for actions taken while in office. However, this ruling isn’t as straightforward as Harris implies. It specifies that actions taken in an official capacity are protected, while conduct as a candidate is not covered.

The ruling also suggests that presidents can still be prosecuted under certain circumstances related to their duties or for unofficial activities, as mentioned in a prior report by YSL News.

Chief Justice John Roberts, in his majority opinion, mentioned: “The parties before us do not dispute that a former President can be subject to criminal prosecution for unofficial acts committed while in office.” He also acknowledged that some of the behaviors outlined in the indictment involve actions taken by Trump outside of his official role.

In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor argued that the court granted Trump “all the immunity he asked for and more.” Trump holds the distinction of being the first president—current or former—to face criminal charges.

-Chris Mueller

Ruben Gallego claim: VP Harris responsible for veteran benefits expansion, unemployment rate

“Kamala Harris has delivered more benefits to more veterans than ever before and has achieved the lowest veterans unemployment rate in history.”

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it has provided benefits to 1.1 million veterans and their survivors in the current fiscal year, marking an unprecedented achievement.

The VA credits this success to the PACT Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden in August 2022, which is touted as the “most significant expansion of VA Health Care in 30 years.”

This legislation aims to offer more prompt healthcare and benefits to over five million veterans who might have been exposed to harmful substances while serving, including those impacted by burn pits.

However, the assertion gives excessive credit to Harris for actions executed under Biden’s administration. Harris herself acknowledged Biden’s leadership in the passing of the PACT Act during public remarks in 2022.

This issue is particularly significant to Biden, who has linked burn pits to the brain cancer that claimed his late son Beau’s life.

The VA’s website claims that the PACT Act represents “perhaps the largest healthcare and benefit expansion in VA history.” The Veterans of Foreign Wars nonprofit organization identified the bill as one of the most consequential pieces of veterans’ legislation ever enacted.

The unemployment rate among veterans fell to 2.1% as of April 2023, the lowest level since 2000, during the Biden-Harris administration, according to the Military Times. The average rate for veterans throughout 2023 was reported at 2.8%, the lowest since record-keeping began.

The veterans’ unemployment rate was noted at 3% in July, slightly increasing from 2.9% in the prior month, based on data from the Department of Labor.

Nonetheless, attributing this improvement in veterans’ unemployment solely to Harris exaggerates her influence in the issue. YSL News found no evidence that Harris spearheaded initiatives sufficient to warrant such an assertion.

-Andre Byik

Kamala Harris claim: Trump plans to create a ‘national anti-abortion coordinator,’ force reporting on miscarriages and abortions

“He plans to create a national anti-abortion coordinator and force states to report on women’s miscarriages and abortions.”

This allegation does not seem to correspond to any specific initiative or agenda endorsed by Trump. Instead, it references elements of Project 2025, a strategy developed by the Heritage Foundation along with numerous conservative organizations.

The project suggests enhancing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s oversight of abortion data by requiring states currently not reporting this information, such as California, Maryland, and New Hampshire, to do so.

The proposal elaborates on page 455, explaining that the Department of Health and Human Services could enforce compliance by “utilizing every available tool, including budget cuts, to ensure every state reports accurate abortion statistics.” This includes details such as the number of abortions conducted, gestational ages involved, reasons, and the mother’s state of residence. The plan also calls for states to provide information about miscarriages.

As Harris insinuates, it mentions appointing someone with strong pro-life views to act as the “Senior Coordinator” of the “Office of Women, Children, and Families.”

While Democrats argue that Project 2025 represents Trump’s agenda if he regains presidency, Trump has tried distancing himself from it. In a Truth Social post dated July 5, he stated his disagreement with certain aspects of the plan and claimed to have “no idea who is behind it.” Interestingly, Trump has previously embraced various policy proposals advocated by the Heritage Foundation.

During his initial time in office, some of Trump’s allies participated in Project 2025, as previously reported by YSL News.

–Brad Sylvester

Kamala Harris Statement: Trump attempted to cut Social Security and Medicare

“Donald Trump tried to cut Social Security and Medicare.”

This is a milder version of a claim that Harris’ campaign has stated before, including a tweet asserting that Trump aimed to do this “every single year.” It simplifies complex budget actions.

While Trump did not seek to cut general Social Security retirement benefits, he did try – and did not succeed – in reducing spending on Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income, as mentioned by The Washington Post. Approximately 8.5 million individuals receive these disability benefits, but this represents only a small portion of those receiving retirement and survivor benefits.

The Trump administration did propose cuts to Medicare in his budgets for the fiscal years 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, according to The Post. An analysis by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget indicated that 85% of his proposed savings would affect healthcare providers, aimed at lowering costs for seniors.

Trump’s final budget, released in February 2020, included around $500 billion in Medicare spending reductions over the span of 10 years, mainly from decreased payments to hospitals and other healthcare providers, Forbes reported, citing the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

–Chris Mueller

Kamala Harris Assertion: Trump encouraged Russia to invade NATO allies

“Trump, on the other hand, threatened to leave NATO. He told Putin that they could invade our allies, claiming that Russia could, quote, ‘Do whatever the hell they want.’”

This statement first appeared earlier that evening from Senator Mark Kelly and also from President Joe Biden during his State of the Union address. Here’s how we previously reported Kelly’s comment:

The quote cited by Harris is technically correct but greatly oversimplified.

During a campaign rally on February 10 in Conway, South Carolina, Trump suggested he might not support NATO members attacked by Russia if they were not financially contributing enough to the alliance, as previously reported by YSL News.

Trump stated, “One of the presidents of a large country asked, ‘If we don’t pay and are attacked by Russia, will you protect us?’ I replied, ‘You didn’t pay? You’re delinquent?’ He responded, ‘Yes, let’s assume that happened.’ No, I would not protect you.”

He then added, “In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want.”

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg remarked that Trump’s comments might jeopardize lives and compromise the security of NATO countries, including the U.S.

–Chris Mueller and Andre Byik

Kamala Harris Statement: Secured $20 billion for families affected by foreclosure

“(I) delivered $20 billion for middle-class families impacted by foreclosure.”

This refers to a settlement that Harris, while serving as California’s attorney general, negotiated with several major mortgage companies in 2012 to support struggling homeowners following the foreclosure crisis.

The country’s five largest mortgage servicers – Bank of America Corp., Wells Fargo & Co., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Citigroup Inc., and Ally Bank/GMAC Mortgage – were accused of using unlawful methods to wrongfully foreclose on homeowners, according to the Los Angeles Times in 2016. Harris withdrew California from nationwide mortgage settlement discussions in September 2011 when it seemed her state’s share would be about $4 billion.

In her 2012 announcement about the settlement, her office stated that it amounted to $18 billion, with over $12 billion directed to reducing loan principals or providing short sales for approximately 250,000 homeowners who owed more than their homes were worth or were behind on payments. There is a discrepancy regarding the specific dollar figure, as while her office announced it at $18 billion, many media outlets have cited the $20 billion figure that Harris mentioned during her speech.

Ultimately, around $4.5 billion of that settlement was allocated to lessen debts on primary mortgages, reported the Wall Street Journal. The remaining funds were used to reduce second mortgage debts and facilitate short sales, where banks permitted homes to be sold for less than the mortgage amount and wrote off the difference.

– Joedy McCreary

Mark Kelly Claim: Trump said Russia could do ‘whatever the hell they want’

“(Trump) invited Russia to do – and these are his words, not mine – whatever the hell they want.”

As President Joe Biden mentioned during his State of the Union, Kelly references a quote that is technically accurate yet highly simplified.

Trump, during a campaign rally on February 10 in Conway, South Carolina, indicated he might not protect NATO members attacked by Russia if they failed to contribute adequately to the alliance, as previously noted by YSL News.

Trump recounted, “A president of a big country asked, ‘If we don’t pay and are attacked by Russia, will you protect us?’ I said, ‘You didn’t pay? You’re delinquent?’ He said, ‘Yes, let’s say that happened.’ No, I would not protect you.”

He continued, “In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want.”

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg expressed that Trump’s remarks could put lives at risk and weaken the security of NATO members, including the United States.

-Chris Mueller

Al Sharpton Claim: Trump funded newspaper ads calling for the death penalty for five teens

“(Trump) spent a substantial amount on full-page ads demanding the execution of five innocent young teenagers.”

Sharpton is referring to the Central Park Five, a group of Black and Latino adolescents wrongfully convicted of assaulting a white female jogger in Central Park in 1989.

Shortly after the attack, Trump invested $85,000 in full-page ads in The New York Times, The Daily News, The New York Post, and New York Newsday. The ads demanded in large letters, “Bring back the death penalty and bring back our police,” alongside criticism of a “dangerously lenient environment that allows criminals of all ages to assault and rape a defenseless woman and then mock her family’s suffering.”

However, the ads did not explicitly call for the execution of the Central Park Five.

In 2002, the group was exonerated after a convicted murderer, Matias Reyes, confessed to the assault, supported by DNA evidence.

When asked in 2019 if he would apologize to the men for the ads, Trump did not offer an apology.

–Chris Mueller

Marcia Fudge’s Assertion: Trump Faced a Housing Lawsuit Involving Black Families

“He began his career being sued for refusing housing to Black families.”

This lawsuit is factual, but the brief reference does not elaborate on how it was ultimately resolved.

The claim by the former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development pertains to a legal case initiated over 50 years ago. Hillary Clinton, the former Democratic presidential candidate, echoed this accusation during a debate with Trump in 2016.

In 1973, when Trump was in his late twenties, the Justice Department took legal action against him, his father Fred, and their management firm over accusations of racial discrimination in their New York housing projects. Testers from New York City’s human rights division reported that a Black woman who sought to rent an apartment in a Brooklyn complex overseen by Trump’s company was informed that no units were available, while a white woman was offered a selection of two apartments shortly thereafter.

The matter was resolved in 1975, following Trump’s countersuit against the Justice Department for $100 million, alleging false claims. However, this countersuit was dismissed.

NPR highlighted that during the 2016 debate, Trump remarked that there was no admission of guilt involved in the case. As noted, the Trumps accepted a settlement offer that did not require them to admit wrongdoing but obliged them to publish ads in newspapers stating that their properties accepted applications from Black individuals.

“Yes, when I was very young, I entered my father’s company — which was a real estate business in Brooklyn and Queens,” Trump stated. “We were sued, like many, many other companies across the country — it was a federal lawsuit — and we settled the suit with zero, with no admission of guilt.”

– Joedy McCreary

Understanding Our Fact-Checking Process

Have you ever been curious about how fact-checkers perform their duties? We’re here to explain.

Check out our detailed description of our process, including how we identify claims, conduct research, and edit our findings.

If you’ve been wondering who fact-checks the fact-checkers, you may find our op-ed—highlighting our commitment to transparency—interesting. The answer is you! We strive to use a format that enables everyone to verify our work.

-Eric Litke

DNC Update: Rhetoric Intensifies After Temporary Calm Post-Shooting

In the aftermath of an assassination attempt that resulted in Republican nominee Donald Trump sustaining an ear injury, there were widespread appeals for unity and a more restrained discourse.

However, within six weeks of the incident, the tone has reverted back to its previous level.

Vice President Kamala Harris will officially accept the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday night, giving her a chance to respond to Trump’s declaration that he plans to be “not nice” while launching various criticisms against her.

This represents a shift back to the combative tone that briefly softened following the July 13 shooting in Pennsylvania, which claimed one life and left two others gravely injured. Trump mentioned that he modified his closing remarks at the Republican National Convention in July to aim for “a unifying message for the entire country, and even the world,” as he said to the Washington Examiner.

The FBI identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, who was shot dead at the scene by Secret Service agents. However, motives behind the attack remain unclear, leaving many questions and a significant amount of misinformation in its wake.

YSL News has addressed a range of false claims that have emerged in connection with the assassination attempt.

• Fact check summary: Misinformation about the rally assault spreading online
• Claim: An image shows Trump’s suit jacket was hit by a bullet during the Pennsylvania rally shooting (False)
• Claim: Thomas Matthew Crooks is not the alleged shooter at the Trump rally (False)
• Claim: An image shows Thomas Matthew Crooks as the Trump rally shooter (False)
• Claim: Alejandro Mayorkas refused requests for additional security at the Trump rally (False)
• Claim: Butler, Pennsylvania, police identified the Trump shooter as Mark Violets and arrested him at the scene (False)
• Claim: A video suggests the Trump assassination attempt was ‘staged’ and that ‘no bullets were fired’ (False)

– Joedy McCreary

DNC Update: Democrats Connect Trump to January 6 Capitol Insurrection

The January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, along with former President Donald Trump’s alleged involvement, has become a key topic during this week’s Democratic National Convention.

Aquilino Gonell, a former U.S. Capitol police officer, recounted during a convention speech how he was assaulted by rioters wielding a pole affixed to an American flag, attributing the incitement of the violence to Trump.

Trump faces accusations in a federal indictment of urging his supporters to march to the Capitol as part of a bid to compel former Vice President Mike Pence to dismiss the validation of Joe Biden’s electoral victory.

Over 1,200 people have been charged in connection with the Capitol attack. Trump’s case is managed by Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith. Trump has entered a plea of not guilty.

YSL News has refuted numerous claims regarding the January 6 Capitol incident:

• Fact check summary: Evaluation of the facts three years post-January 6 Capitol riot
• Claim: A video shows a comedian impersonating a Trump supporter rather than a leftist rioter
• Claim: No proof that the January 6 committee destroyed documents, contrary to rumors online
• Claim: An image depicts a man later convicted for involvement in the January 6 riot, not a federal agent
• Claim: A video shows pro-Trump rioters possessing floor plans within the Capitol building on January 6

–Andre Byik

DNC Update: Misinformation Surrounding Harris’ Background

Following the Democrats’ decision to have Vice President Kamala Harris replace President Joe Biden as their leading candidate, numerous false or misleading assertions about her began to emerge again.

Many of these claims originated when Harris was selected as Biden’s running mate in 2020. Doubts have been raised regarding her eligibility for the presidency due to her heritage; she has an Indian mother and a Jamaican father. Some narratives falsely suggest that Harris was brought up in Canada, that she is not African-American, and that during her time as a prosecutor, she wrongfully held Black inmates beyond their release dates.

YSL News has clarified various false claims related to Harris’ background:

• • Fact check summary: Biden’s departure and Harris’s entry lead to a surge of false claims
  • Claim: Kamala Harris was raised in Canada, is not African-American, and unlawfully held Black prisoners beyond their release dates (Partly false)
  • Claim: Kamala Harris is ineligible to succeed Biden because of her parents’ citizenship (Untrue)

– Joedy McCreary

DNC Overview: Democrats and Republicans Clash Over Election Security Issues

As the 2024 elections approach, disputes regarding the security and integrity of the voting system persist between Democrats and Republicans.

A bill that was approved in July by House Republicans along with some Democrats mandates proof of citizenship for federal election voters, despite evidence indicating that non-citizen voting is almost non-existent.

This legislation gained traction amidst repeated, unfounded assertions by former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, claiming that the 2020 election was unfairly manipulated against him. He reiterated this claim in a video presented during his party’s convention in July. Nevertheless, state-level recounts and audits from the 2022 midterm elections uncovered no signs of widespread voter fraud.

Trump’s campaign, along with the Republican National Committee led by his daughter-in-law, announced plans to mobilize 100,000 individuals in key states to promote “transparency and fairness,” an initiative opponents criticize as potentially intimidating to voters.

YSL News has fact-checked multiple false allegations regarding election integrity:

• Fact check roundup: False assertions about election fraud arose during the 2022 midterms
• Claim: Wisconsin issues a complimentary ID card allowing ‘illegals’ to vote (Untrue)
• Claim: Biden cannot withdraw Nevada, Wisconsin ballots (Untrue)
• Claim: Minnesota ballot envelopes reflect voters’ political affiliations (Untrue)
• Claim: 105% of Michigan’s population is registered to vote (Untrue)
• Claim: A software contract permits officials to alter election outcomes (Untrue)
• Claim: Malware and remote access led to printer issues; 200,000 ‘ejected’ ballots in Arizona (Untrue)
• Claim: A chart indicates fraud in the Michigan Attorney General’s race (Untrue)
• Claim: A live stream blackout in Nevada signifies election fraud (Untrue)
• Claim: Voter fraud due to Texas voting machines adding voters as polls close (Untrue)
• Claim: An image of 2022 midterm ballots in the trash proves fraud (Untrue)
• Claim: Democrats utilized 47 million mail-in ballots to manipulate every election (Untrue)
• Claim: Joe Biden did not legitimately win the presidential election (Untrue)

– Joedy McCreary

DNC Overview: Project 2025 and Its Extensive Guide

Vice President Kamala Harris has alerted voters about the perceived threats of Project 2025 since her emergence as the likely Democratic presidential candidate.

This initiative, driven by the Heritage Foundation and various conservative groups, resulted in a comprehensive 900-page guide for the next Republican presidential administration. Fully executing the recommendations in this document would significantly reshape the federal government.

While many of Trump’s associates are involved in this project, Trump himself claims to not be part of it.

He has labeled its recommendations as “extreme” and “completely absurd,” although he has not clarified which parts he disagrees with.

Several Democratic leaders, including Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina and Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta of Pennsylvania, denounced Project 2025 and sought to associate it with Trump during their convention addresses. Some presenters, including comedian Kenan Thompson, even brought an oversized physical copy of the guide to denounce it on stage.

YSL News has addressed several inaccurate claims about Project 2025:

• Claim: Page 451 of Project 2025 defines the “only valid family” as consisting of a working father and a stay-at-home mother (Untrue)
• Claim: Project 2025 is a scheme from Trump (Untrue)
• Claim: Project 2025 mandates women to possess “period passports” (Untrue)

-BrieAnna Frank

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DNC Overview: Harris Was Not a ‘Border Czar,’ But Immigration Policy Debate Continues

In 2021, President Joe Biden revealed that Harris would spearhead the administration’s diplomatic initiatives with Mexico and Central American nations Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador aimed at curtailing migration to the southern U.S. border. During this time, Harris stated that the administration “must tackle the root causes driving people to make the journey, as described by the president, to come here.”

However, Harris was never officially appointed to oversee the southern border nor designated as the “border czar,” which contradicts various social media claims. Immigration remains a major concern for voters, particularly as the number of migrant encounters at the southern border has surged during Biden’s presidency.

Trump has vowed the most extensive deportation operation in U.S. history if he is re-elected. He also promised to reinstate strict immigration measures from his initial term, restrict asylum access at the U.S. southern border, and terminate automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. to immigrant parents.

In February, Republican lawmakers blocked an immigration reform bill aimed at revising the nation’s immigration and border strategies. Biden attributed the bill’s failure to Trump’s opposition. Following this, Biden issued executive orders to introduce new limitations on asylum eligibility and expedite the green card acquisition process for specific spouses and children of U.S. citizens.

• Claim: Kamala Harris was ‘assigned to manage the border’ (Untrue)
• Claim: 51 million ‘illegals’ entered the U.S. during Biden’s and Harris’s administration (Untrue)
• Claim: Biden’s executive action conferred citizenship on 1 million immigrants illegally residing in the U.S. (Untrue)
• Claim: Almost 11,000 “illegals” were processed in Eagle Pass, Texas, in a single day in mid-March 2024 (Untrue)
• Claim: The Texas National Guard deployed tanks to the Mexican border (Untrue)

– Chris Mueller