President Trump’s Inauguration Day: Fact-Checking Key Claims
A Speech Full of Bold Claims and Announcements
Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States featured a fiery speech filled with striking claims and ambitious promises. From announcing plans to “take back” the Panama Canal to blaming record inflation on government overspending, his address was a whirlwind of statements that sparked widespread attention. Among his assertions, he claimed that China now controls the Panama Canal, that America’s emergency response system is broken, and that immigrants from foreign prisons and mental institutions are being given sanctuary in the U.S. Let’s unpack these claims and see how they align with the facts.
Claim 1: Taking Back the Panama Canal
What Trump Said:
“A short time from now, we are going to be… taking back the Panama Canal. The U.S. spent more money on the project than ever before and lost 38,000 lives. China is now operating the canal, and American ships are being severely overcharged.”
The Facts:
Trump’s claim exaggerates the number of lives lost and misrepresents the canal’s current status. Historical records reveal that approximately 5,600 workers, not 38,000, died during the U.S.-led construction of the canal. Many of these were Caribbean laborers from nations like Antigua, Barbados, and Jamaica. Furthermore, the assertion that China operates the canal is inaccurate. While a Hong Kong-based consortium won a bid to operate ports near the canal in 1997, the canal itself remains under Panamanian control, as per the terms of the 1977 treaty that transferred it to Panama.
Claim 2: Record Inflation and Overspending
What Trump Said:
“The inflation crisis was caused by massive overspending and escalating energy prices. I will direct my cabinet to defeat this record inflation.”
The Facts:
While inflation did peak at 9.1% in the summer of 2022—marking a four-decade high—it was far from the highest inflation in U.S. history. For context, inflation reached 23.7% in June 1920. Moreover, as of December 2024, inflation had declined to 2.9%, contradicting Trump’s narrative of ongoing “record inflation.” His assertion that inflation is solely the result of government overspending and energy prices oversimplifies the issue, as other economic factors, including supply chain disruptions and global market fluctuations, contributed to the crisis.
Claim 3: Criminal Immigrants in the U.S.
What Trump Said:
“Our government fails to protect law-abiding citizens but gives sanctuary to dangerous criminals, many of whom came from prisons and mental institutions and entered the US illegally.”
The Facts:
There is no evidence to support Trump’s claim that immigrants from foreign prisons and mental institutions are being given sanctuary in the U.S. In fact, research consistently shows that immigrants, including asylum seekers and those with work permits, are less likely to commit crimes than native-born citizens. Studies, including those conducted by the conservative Cato Institute, have debunked the notion that immigrants are driving crime rates in the U.S., refuting Trump’s assertion.
Trump’s inauguration speech may have been high on rhetoric, but the facts paint a different picture. While his claims resonate with some audiences, a closer examination reveals inaccuracies and oversights that deserve attention.
