In Philadelphia, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump held their first debate for the upcoming November 5 election.

The YSL News Fact Check Team examined the candidates’ statements, providing additional context on critical topics like abortion, immigration, gun control, and inflation.

Continue reading for our assessment of their claims that were exaggerated, misleading, or inaccurate. We rely on primary documents, reputable nonpartisan sources, data, and other research tools to evaluate the truthfulness of these statements.

Donald Trump’s Statement: 2020 Election Lawsuits Failed Due to ‘Technicality’

“They said we didn’t have standing. That’s the other thing. They said we didn’t have standing. A technicality.”

Trump has frequently and inaccurately insisted that his loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 election was “rigged.” He reiterated this during the debate, claiming his lawsuits regarding the election results failed solely on the basis of “standing,” a legal term referring to one’s right to file a lawsuit related to the matter in question.

However, this assertion is incorrect. Many lawsuits launched by Trump and his associates were reviewed by judges, including 30 cases that were examined on their merits, as reported by YSL News. Almost all of those cases, except one, ended in failure.

A group of eight conservative legal experts published a report in 2022 that evaluated evidence in 64 cases across six key states and found that Trump and his backers did not present proof of widespread election fraud.

“These cases provided the forums in which Trump and his supporters could and should have proven their claims,” the report stated. “This report shows that those efforts failed due to a lack of evidence, not because of incorrect rulings or biased judges.”

Of the 64 cases initiated by Trump and his allies, 20 were dismissed before a merits hearing, 14 were voluntarily withdrawn, and 30 were heard in court.

-Andre Byik, Erin Mansfield

Kamala Harris Claim: Over 800,000 New Manufacturing Jobs Created Under Biden

“We have created over 800,000 new manufacturing jobs.”

This assertion, similar to one made by President Joe Biden in 2023, has become inaccurate. As of now, the U.S. has added around 739,000 seasonally adjusted manufacturing jobs since Biden took office in January 2021, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Earlier reports indicated job growth exceeding 800,000, but the Labor Department revised this estimate downwards during its annual data revision. They noted that 115,000 fewer manufacturing jobs were created during the year starting from March 2024. The final revision will be provided in February 2025.

– Joedy McCreary

Harris Claim: Supreme Court Ruling on Trump’s Immunity from Misconduct

“The United States Supreme Court recently ruled that the former president would essentially be immune from any misconduct if he were to enter the White House again.”

This statement overstates the specific ruling.

Harris refers to a Supreme Court ruling from July, which decided in a 6-3 vote that presidents, including Trump, have some immunity from prosecution for actions taken during their time in office. However, the ruling is more nuanced than Harris implies. It safeguards “official” actions by presidents while stating that actions taken during a campaign do not receive such protection.

The court’s ruling allows for limited prosecution of presidents under certain circumstances, specifically regarding their obligations “within the outer limits” of presidential duties or related to unofficial conduct, as previously reported by YSL News. Trump does not have blanket immunity from all actions.

“The President enjoys no immunity for his unofficial acts, and not everything the president does is considered official. The president is not above the law,” wrote Chief Justice John Roberts in the ruling’s majority opinion.

Trump is the first president, either current or former, to face criminal charges.

–Brad Sylvester, Chris Mueller

Donald Trump Statement: Migrants Eating Pets in Ohio

“In Springfield, (migrants are) eating the dogs. The people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there.”

This claim mirrors accusations made by Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, who alleged that Haitian immigrants are stealing and consuming pets in Ohio.

However, Springfield city officials, including the city manager, have stated that there is no evidence to support claims of pets being harmed or eaten by Haitian immigrants, according to YSL News.

In August, there was an incident in Canton, Ohio, about 170 miles from Springfield, involving a woman who was arrested for allegedly killing and eating a cat, but she was not a Haitian immigrant, as reported by the Cincinnati Enquirer.

-Andre Byik

Donald Trump Statement: Biden Received $3.5 Million from the Wife of Moscow’s Mayor

“Between (Joe Biden) and his son, they receive money from Ukraine and various countries, and then people question why he is loyal to them, especially Ukraine and China. Why did he get $3.5 million from the wife of the mayor of Moscow? What was her reason for sending that amount?”

Trump has previously made similar allegations, notably during his first debate against Joe Biden in 2020. This claim refers to a report issued that same year by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, which was led by Republicans.

According to a highlighted section in that report, “Hunter Biden received a wire transfer of $3.5 million from Elena Baturina, the spouse of the former Moscow mayor,” as reported by YSL News. Another section of the report references the transfer being linked to a company: “Rosemont Seneca Thornton, an investment firm co-founded by Hunter Biden, received the $3.5 million from Baturina.” The report cites a confidential document filed with the committee but offers no further explanation.

Hunter Biden’s attorney, George Mesires, stated to CNN that his client was not an owner of Rosemont Seneca Thornton.

“Hunter Biden did not have an interest in and was not a ‘co-founder’ of Rosemont Seneca Thornton, making the assertion that he was paid $3.5 million incorrect,” Mesires stated.

Trump has previously attempted to connect this claim to Joe Biden, who is Hunter Biden’s father.

–Chris Mueller

Stay Updated on Our Convention and Debate Fact-Checks

We fact-checked the prominent speakers during the Republican and Democratic conventions. Review here regarding what was confirmed, what was false, and the gray areas from figures such as Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, JD Vance, Tim Walz, and many others.

• DNC Day 4: Kamala Harris | Fact-check live blog
• DNC Day 3: Tim Walz | Fact-check live blog
• DNC Day 1: Joe Biden | Fact-check live blog
• RNC Day 4: Donald Trump | Fact-check live blog
• RNC Day 3: JD Vance | Fact-check live blog
• Trump/Biden Presidential Debate: Assessing what was accurate (and what was not)

-Eric Litke

Donald Trump Statement: No American Deaths in Afghanistan During an 18-Month Period of His Presidency

“For a span of 18 months, our troops faced no fatalities (in Afghanistan).”

Trump made this assertion while discussing his negotiations with the Taliban before the tumultuous U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.

Although Trump did not specify which 18-month period he meant, the Defense Department’s Defense Casualty Analysis System shows that there was no period during his presidency without U.S. military deaths in Afghanistan.

In 2017, there were 14 deaths reported – both “hostile” and “non-hostile.” In 2018, there were 15, followed by 23 in 2019, and 11 in 2020.

PolitiFact highlighted that there was an 18-month timeframe from February 2020 to August 2021 during which there were no U.S. service member deaths “in combat,” but this timeframe includes President Joe Biden’s administration.

This assertion has been refuted by various independent fact-checkers.

-Andre Byik

Donald Trump Statement: Kamala Harris was the First Candidate to Withdraw from the 2020 Presidential Race

“When she ran, she was the first to exit the race because she failed.”

This statement is inaccurate.

While Harris did run for president in 2020 without success, she was not the first Democratic candidate to drop out. Over a dozen Democrats contended for the party’s nomination, which was won by President Joe Biden.

Harris ended her campaign on December 3, 2019, due to insufficient financial support. Other Democratic candidates who exited prior to her included Rep. Eric Swalwell from California, former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, Rep. Seth Moulton from Massachusetts, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand from New York, former New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, former Ohio Representative Tim Ryan, former Texas Representative Beto O’Rourke, former Pennsylvania Representative Joe Sestak, and former Montana Governor Steve Bullock.

–Brad Sylvester

Kamala Harris Statement: Trump Invited Taliban Leaders to Camp David

“And (Trump) at that time invited the Taliban to Camp David, a place with significant meaning for Americans.”

While Harris is correct, it’s important to highlight that the meeting never transpired.

In September 2019, Trump announced a planned meeting with Taliban leaders and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at Camp David to continue peace discussions. However, the meeting was canceled after the Taliban claimed responsibility for a car bombing that claimed 12 lives, including an American.

Both Democratic and Republican leaders criticized Trump for considering bringing the Taliban to the U.S., particularly to Camp David, a historical presidential retreat. He also faced backlash for the timing, as the meeting was set for just days before the 18th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

–Chris Mueller

Donald Trump Statement: Harris Advocated Taking Guns from All Gun Owners

“She has a plan to take away everyone’s guns.”

This statement is false and echoes a previous claim we have debunked regarding Harris wanting to “end the Second Amendment.”

Although Harris supports stricter gun control laws, there is no credible evidence supporting any initiative to confiscate firearms from all gun owners.

Her campaign policy includes gun control proposals such as banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, implementing universal background checks, and instituting red-flag laws, but does not mention confiscating firearms from all citizens.

The campaign website credits the Biden-Harris administration for achieving “the first significant gun safety reform in decades,” referencing a bipartisan bill signed by President Joe Biden in June 2022, a month after the tragic mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. This legislation increases background checks for gun purchasers aged 18 to 21,

is advocating for states to establish more effective “red flag” laws and suggests that individuals in dating relationships should also be added to the list of domestic abusers prohibited from purchasing firearms.

– Joedy McCreary

Donald Trump assertion: Worst inflation in US history occurred under Biden

“Biden is responsible for the worst inflation we’ve ever seen.”

The highest annual inflation rate since the consumer price index was created was 17.8% in 1917, as reported by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.

Although inflation rates have generally been higher during Biden’s presidency compared to Trump’s, they are still significantly lower than that historical peak.

The peak inflation rate under Biden reached 9.1% in June 2022, while the highest under Trump was 2.9% in June and July 2022, according to consumer price index statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Biden’s administration has maintained an average annual inflation rate of around 5.7%, in contrast to Trump’s average of 1.9%, based on an analysis from Investopedia.

-BrieAnna Frank

Donald Trump assertion: Harris avoided meeting with Netanyahu during his Congressional address

“She wouldn’t even meet with Netanyahu for his important speech to Congress because she was at a sorority party.”

This statement is somewhat misleading. While it’s accurate that Harris, acting as vice president, did not oversee Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress on July 24 due to a prior engagement, as reported by YSL News, the event she attended was the Zeta Phi Beta sorority’s national convention in Indianapolis, noted by the Indianapolis Star. This sorority is one of the oldest historically Black Greek-letter organizations in the U.S.

However, Harris did meet with Netanyahu at the White House the day after the address, as recounted by various news organizations. During that meeting, the vice president reaffirmed her commitment to the security of Israel and its people, according to a White House statement.

-BrieAnna Frank

Kamala Harris assertion: Trump predicted a ‘bloodbath’ if he loses the presidential election

“Donald Trump has indicated that if the election outcome is unfavorable to him, it will result in a bloodbath.”

Harris’s statement misrepresents what Trump said, as Trump clarified shortly thereafter. She refers to a comment made by Trump during a rally in Vandalia, Ohio, in March.

During his speech about the auto industry, Trump remarked that losing the election would lead to a “bloodbath” for that sector.

“We’re going to impose a 100% tariff on every single car that enters the country, and you won’t be able to sell those models if I’m elected,” Trump explained. “If I lose, it will be a bloodbath for the entire industry, and that will be the least of it.”

The complete context indicates that he was using “bloodbath” in a metaphorical sense regarding the auto industry, not suggesting actual violence if he loses the election.

“If you watch the tape, he was specifically discussing the auto industry and tariffs,” said Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump’s campaign, when speaking to the Washington Post. “Biden’s policies are leading to an economic disaster for the auto sector and workers.”

–Brad Sylvester

Kamala Harris assertion: Trump allowed Putin to ‘do whatever he wants’

“It is widely recognized that he remarked about Putin having the freedom to act in Ukraine as he pleases.”

This is technically correct but simplifies Harris’s statement. She made a similar assertion during her recent address at the Democratic National Convention.

This refers to comments Trump made at a campaign rally in South Carolina on February 10, where he suggested he might withhold assistance to NATO allies under attack by Russia if they were not meeting their financial obligations, as previously reported by YSL News.

“A leader from a significant country asked me, ‘If we don’t pay and Russia attacks us, will you defend us?’ I replied, ‘You didn’t pay? You’re in default?’ He said, ‘Let’s say that occurred.’ No, I would not protect you.”

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

Trump’s remarks at the time prompted NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to caution that such statements could jeopardize lives and weaken the safety of NATO allies, including the United States.

-Chris Mueller

Donald Trump assertion: The Department of Justice influenced his criminal prosecutions

“All of these cases were initiated by them against their political opponent.”

Trump has consistently claimed that President Joe Biden and his administration orchestrated his legal troubles.

However, according to the Constitution, the administration had no jurisdiction over New York’s prosecution of Trump, who faced 34 felony charges for falsifying business records connected to a hush money payment made to an adult film actress during the lead-up to the 2016 election.

This also applies to his case in Georgia, where he and others have pleaded not guilty to charges related to attempts to overturn the 2020 election. This case currently awaits an appeals court decision regarding a ruling that permits Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to continue pursuing it.

“In instances of state prosecutions, it is district attorneys accountable to the local electorate,” explained Allan Lichtman, a history professor at American University. “The federal government has no influence in these situations.”

Moreover, when the Justice Department had the chance to act on the hush money issue, it opted not to proceed.

The federal classification documents case against Trump was dismissed in July, with U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon ruling that Justice Department Special Prosecutor Jack Smith – who was appointed in November 2022 to create a disconnect between the inquiry and the administration – was improperly appointed. In August, Smith introduced a new indictment related to Trump’s federal election interference case to comply with the Supreme Court’s July ruling, which granted Trump substantial immunity concerning actions performed during his presidency.

Trump is set for sentencing in New York on November 26, just three weeks post-election.

– Joedy McCreary

Claim: Crime Rates Have Increased Under Biden and Harris

“Crime here is up and through the roof.”

This assertion from Trump contradicts the most recent official statistics.

Earlier this year, the FBI released initial findings indicating a significant drop in violent crime during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the previous year, continuing a trend that began after a surge during the pandemic. Rates for murder and rape decreased by 26%, robbery decreased by 18%, and aggravated assault decreased by 13%, according to an Associated Press report. However, some experts have indicated that these figures are preliminary and may exaggerate the decrease.

According to Axios, many U.S. cities noted a reduction in homicides from 2023 to 2024. In a study of 204 cities conducted by AH Datalytics, a criminal justice consulting firm, the number of murders in the first quarter of 2024 declined by almost 20%.

The latest FBI information from 2022 indicates that the nation’s violent crime rate stands at 370 incidents per 100,000 people, marking it as the third-lowest rate in the past 50 years, surpassed only by 2014 and 2019, according to PolitiFact. The final violent crime statistics for 2023 are expected to be released by the FBI in October.

-Chris Mueller

Kamala Harris’ Claim: Project 2025 Proposes National Monitoring of Abortions

“In his Project 2025, there would be a national abortion monitor that would be tracking your pregnancies, your miscarriages.”

This statement greatly exaggerates the monitoring suggested in Project 2025.

The plan advocates for anti-abortion initiatives, criticizing the abortion surveillance and reporting systems used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as “insufficient.”

The proposal requests the Department of Health and Human Services to utilize all available resources to ensure that states accurately report the number of abortions occurring within their jurisdictions, the gestational age at the time of the procedure, the reasons for the abortion, the mother’s state of residence, and the methods used. However, this is not equivalent to “monitoring your pregnancies,” as it appears to call for states to submit overall counts, not track individual cases.

Furthermore, it emphasizes that accurate statistical data concerning abortion, survivors of abortion, and maternal deaths associated with abortion is crucial for timely and reliable public health and policy evaluation.

Harris also inaccurately characterizes Project 2025 as solely Trump’s proposal. While Trump allies have contributed to it, Trump has expressed that he does not endorse every facet of the project and was not deeply involved in its development.

-Andre Byik

Donald Trump’s Claim: Tim Walz Supports Ninth-Month Abortions (Updated)

• Corrections & Clarifications: This item was revised on Sept. 11 to provide clarity on the timeline and actions taken by Walz regarding abortion as Minnesota’s governor, including enacting a law removing gestational limits on abortions.

“Her vice-presidential choice says that abortion in the ninth month is perfectly acceptable.”

There is no proof that Walz has ever made such a statement, although he did sign a law that eliminated gestational limits on abortions.

In 2022, Walz stated that he backed maintaining the timelines set by existing laws, which permitted elective abortions until the point of viability—approximately 24 weeks, according to the Guttmacher Institute. This viability standard was subsequently removed from state law in 2023 through legislation he signed.

Walz has taken additional actions to safeguard abortion rights in Minnesota. In January 2023, he enacted a law that enshrined the right to abortion and reproductive healthcare into state law, following the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade. Later, Walz signed legislation protecting individuals traveling to Minnesota for abortion services, along with those providing such care, from legal consequences arising from other states.

However, YSL News found no record of Walz making statements in support of abortions during the ninth month of pregnancy.

As per the Guttmacher Institute and Kaiser Family Foundation, there are currently no restrictions or bans on abortion based on gestational limits in Minnesota.

Nationally, merely 1% of all abortions happen at or after 21 weeks of pregnancy, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

-BrieAnna Frank

Donald Trump’s Claim: The Economy and Stock Market Performed Well Under Trump Despite COVID-19

“We left you a stock market and economy that was stronger than before the pandemic.”

While Trump is correct about the stock market’s performance, the overall economy was in worse shape at the time of his exit than it was prior to the pandemic.

As of January 2021, when Trump left office, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (a key stock market indicator) had risen approximately 8% (around 2,300 points) from February 2020, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic declaration.

However, the economy was still recovering from the devastating effects of the pandemic. The GDP of the U.S. had decreased compared to its pre-pandemic levels, and the unemployment rate had surged as millions of Americans lost their jobs. The unemployment rate was 3.5% in February 2020 compared to 6.4% when Trump exited office in January 2021, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

-Brad Sylvester

Kamala Harris’ Claim: Trump’s Administration Left a Historic Trade Deficit

“The Trump administration resulted in a trade deficit, one of the highest we’ve ever seen in American history.”

This statement is accurate.

During Trump’s tenure, the country’s trade deficit reached its highest level since 2008, despite his promise to reduce it in his 2016 campaign. In 2020, the U.S. goods and services trade deficit rose to $679 billion, up from $481 billion in 2016, prior to Trump’s administration, as reported by Politico. A trade deficit occurs when a nation imports more goods and services than it exports.

Nonetheless, the U.S. has experienced higher trade deficits in the past, including a record $764 billion in 2006 during George W. Bush’s presidency. In 2007, it dropped to $711 billion, remained fairly stable at around $711 billion in 2008, then plummeted to $395 billion in 2009 due to the recession, as per Factcheck.org, which cited U.S. Census Bureau data.

-Chris Mueller

Kamala Harris’ Claim: Trump Tariffs Would Increase Family Costs by $4,000 Annually

“Economists have stated that the tariffs proposed by Trump would lead to middle-class families incurring approximately $4,000 more per year.”

During her address at the Democratic National Convention, Harris mentioned Trump’s suggested tariffs, which range from 10% to 20% on imported products. Her projections are among the highest of various economic forecasts.

Trump has characterized these tariffs as a method to generate revenue, but economists argue that the costs will largely be passed onto consumers, essentially functioning as a tax. However, there is a lack of consensus on the specific financial burden that families would incur.

A neutral study by the Tax Policy Center indicates that these tariffs, including a proposed 60% duty on Chinese imports, could reduce the average post-tax income of American households by approximately $1,800. In contrast, the Peterson Institute for International Economics estimates that the larger tariff would raise household costs by over $2,600 annually.

On the other hand, a conservative examination by the American Action Forum aligns more closely with Harris’s claim, suggesting that the 20% tariff, along with the 60% tariff on Chinese imports, could lead to a tax increase of about $3,900 for a typical middle-class family.

– Joedy McCreary

Donald Trump’s Assertion: Illegal Immigrants Have the Highest Crime Rates

“(Illegal immigrants are) destroying our nation. They pose a danger. They are the most criminally active, and we need to remove them.”

A 2023 study from the National Bureau of Economic Research reveals that undocumented immigrants are actually 60% less likely to be incarcerated than the wider population born in the U.S.

This study, co-authored by Stanford University researcher Ran Abramitzky, utilized U.S. Census data and concentrated on immigrant men aged 18 to 40, including those of varying legal statuses, as explained in a related news release.

In a February 24 report, Alex Nowrasteh, the vice president for economic and social policy studies at the Cato Institute, analyzed homicide conviction rates among those who entered the U.S. illegally versus native-born Americans in Texas. He found that the former had a lower homicide conviction rate (2.4 per 100,000) compared to native-born individuals (2.8 per 100,000) in 2015.

-Andre Byik

Donald Trump’s Claim: Inflation Reached 21% Under Biden

“We face inflation like few have witnessed, likely the worst in our history. It was at 21%.”

This statement is incorrect according to the consumer price index data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The peak year-over-year inflation rate during Biden’s term was 9.1% in June 2022. As of July 2024, the rate stood at 2.9%.

In comparison, Trump experienced a maximum inflation rate of 2.9% during his presidency, specifically in June and July 2018, while the lowest rate was just 0.1% in May 2020 amidst the COVID-19 crisis.

-BrieAnna Frank

Understanding Our Fact-Checking Process

Curious about how fact-checkers operate? We’re here to explain.

Take a look at our process guide to understand how we select claims, investigate them, and conduct editing. This includes details about our coverage of live events such as tonight’s debate.

If you’ve ever wondered who oversees the fact-checkers, check out this op-ed that discusses our commitment to transparency. The answer is you! We structure our approach to enable everyone to verify our findings.

-Eric Litke

Debate Overview: Recent Claims About Donald Trump

Former President Donald Trump has historically been a focal point of misinformation online.

This was particularly evident during the summer of 2024, as rumors circulated about his connections to Project 2025, an assassination attempt in July, and an unprecedented conviction on 34 counts in a New York hush money trial.

Here are some of YSL News’s latest fact checks concerning Trump’s statements:

• Claim: Trump claimed to have engaged with a ‘Civil War soldier’ (False)
• Claim: An image suggested Secret Service agents weren’t using earpieces during a Trump assassination attempt (Altered)
• Claim: Trump suggested that mpox would be used to justify electoral fraud and lockdowns (False)
• Claim: Trump mistakenly addressed North Carolina at a Pennsylvania rally (False)
• Claim: Trump stated cereal costs $100 per pound during a press conference (False)
• Claim: An image purported to show Trump asleep at the 2017 NATO summit (False)
• Claim: An image depicted a ‘Trump train’ truck crashing into a bridge (Altered)
• Claim: Trump was unable to land at Bozeman, Montana, due to an airport debt of $12,000 (False)

-BrieAnna Frank

Where to Access Our Fact Checks

Along with live events such as tonight’s debate, the YSL News Fact Check Team publishes roughly 100 checks each month regarding the most viral and important claims circulating online. Here’s how to access our work.

• Subscribe to our Checking the Facts newsletter for the latest updates delivered to your inbox each morning.
• Follow our Facebook page to receive updates in your feed.
• This landing page consistently features our most recent publications.

-Eric Litke

Debate Overview: Recent Claims About Kamala Harris

Since the Democrats nominated Vice President Kamala Harris to take President Joe Biden’s place on the ticket, numerous false or misleading claims about her have emerged.

These criticisms often focus on her background, her vice presidential record, or her campaign policies. Some date back to Biden selecting Harris as his running mate in 2020, while newer accusations revolve around her management of immigration issues and her stance on gun control and taxation alongside her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

Among the recent false or misleading claims related to Harris that have been rebutted by YSL News include:

• Fact check roundup: Biden’s exit and Harris’s entry prompted a surge of false claims
• Claim: Kamala Harris was raised in Canada, is not African-American, and detained Black prisoners past their release dates (Partly false)
• Claim: Kamala Harris cannot succeed Biden due to her parentage (False)
• Claim: Kamala Harris was ‘put in charge of immigration’ (False)
• Claim: An image claimed to show Kamala Harris’s Communist Party membership card (False)
• Claim: Harris asserted she would ‘abolish the Second Amendment’; Walz supported an AR-15 ban (False)
• Claim: A post implied Harris’s plan would include a tax on unrealized capital gains for everyone (Missing context)
• Claim: Image shows Kamala Harris referring to a teen as ‘racist’ (Manipulated)
• Claim: Kamala Harris indicated that young individuals should not have children due to climate change (Incorrect)

– Joedy McCreary

Follow our video series on TikTok and Instagram

The video fact-check series from YSL News began in March, showcasing our most significant findings, which include dismantling viral misinformation and verifying important political events.

New fact-check videos are released weekly on YSL News’s social media platforms and website.

Here are some of our latest fact-check videos:

• Video: Analyzing the claims made by Kamala Harris during her DNC speech
• Video: Assessing Donald Trump’s address on the final night of the RNC
• Video: No, Tim Walz did not attack Ann Coulter following her insult towards his son
• Video: Debunking three viral false claims regarding the Trump rally shooting

–Andre Byik

Debate context: Immigration remains a crucial issue, even as border encounters decrease

Immigration has consistently been a critical topic for voters during the ongoing presidential campaigns. Under President Joe Biden’s administration, unauthorized border crossings have surged, exceeding 2 million annually from 2021 to 2023, as reported by Customs and Border Protection. However, there has been a recent decline in illegal crossings—or “encounters”—at the southern border, reaching the lowest figures in nearly four years just months after Biden introduced comprehensive asylum restrictions.

It’s worth noting that Vice President Kamala Harris was never officially appointed as the ‘border czar’ or given direct oversight of border matters, despite social media claims. This hasn’t deterred former President Donald Trump and other Republicans from criticizing her immigration strategies. In 2021, Biden designated Harris to spearhead diplomatic initiatives with Mexico along with the Central American nations of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador to control migration at the southern border. Harris emphasized the need to “tackle the root causes” driving individuals to migrate to the U.S.

Trump has declared intentions to launch the most extensive deportation campaign in U.S. history if he returns to office. He also plans to revive stringent immigration policies from his previous term, restrict access to asylum at the southern U.S. border, and end automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. to immigrant parents.

In February, Republican lawmakers obstructed an immigration reform bill aimed at overhauling the nation’s immigration and border regulations. Biden and Harris have attributed the bill’s defeat to opposition from Trump. Should she be elected, Harris has committed to reinstating the bill and signing it into law.

• Claim: Kamala Harris was ‘given control of the border’ (Incorrect)
• Claim: 51 million ‘illegals’ entered the U.S. during Biden and Harris’s terms (Incorrect)
• Claim: Biden’s executive order provided citizenship to 1 million undocumented immigrants (Incorrect)
• Claim: Nearly 11,000 ‘illegals’ were processed in Eagle Pass, Texas, in one day in mid-March 2024 (Incorrect)
• Claim: The Texas National Guard has sent tanks to the border with Mexico (Incorrect)

–Chris Mueller