Listen to the article
Fact Check: Trump’s State of the Union Address Contains Multiple Falsehoods
President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday evening included several claims that don’t align with factual evidence, according to a CNN analysis of his statements.
The presidential address, a constitutionally mandated communication to Congress, contained multiple assertions about economic performance, gas prices, and inflation that contradict official data and market realities.
Among the most notable inaccuracies was Trump’s claim that his administration has secured “$18 trillion in investments pouring in from all over the globe” during his 12 months in office. This figure significantly overshoots even the White House’s own published data, which lists “$9.7 trillion” in “major investment announcements” – itself a substantial exaggeration.
A detailed CNN investigation conducted in October revealed the administration’s calculations included trillions in vague investment pledges and statements about “bilateral trade” or “economic exchange” rather than actual confirmed investments in the United States. Many of the counted commitments didn’t even qualify as formal pledges.
Trump’s statements about current gasoline prices also failed to match reality. He told Congress that gas prices are “now below $2.30 a gallon in most states, and in some places, $1.99 a gallon.” According to AAA data from Tuesday, no state had an average gas price below $2.37 per gallon, and only two states had averages below $2.50.
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, noted during the speech that among the approximately 150,000 gas stations the company tracks nationwide, only four stations (about 0.00003% of the total) were selling gas below $2 per gallon, excluding special discounts.
Trump further claimed he “even saw $1.85 a gallon for gasoline” during a recent visit to Iowa. However, AAA data from January 27, the day of his Iowa appearance, showed the state’s average price for regular gasoline was $2.57 per gallon. GasBuddy found just four stations in Iowa (0.19% of the 2,036 tracked) selling gas at $1.97 per gallon.
A CNN reporter present at that Iowa event noted that an attendee fact-checked Trump in real-time, shouting “$2.63” when Trump mentioned the $1.85 figure. The gas station directly outside Trump’s speaking venue was charging $2.69 per gallon.
The president also made false assertions about inflation, claiming he “inherited inflation at record levels” and that the Biden administration delivered “the worst inflation in the history of our country.” Official data contradicts both statements.
The year-over-year inflation rate in December 2024, Biden’s last full month in office, was 2.9%, increasing slightly to 3.0% in January 2025 when Trump took over. The most recent rate for January 2026 is 2.4%. While inflation did reach a 40-year high of 9.1% in June 2022 under Biden, this was far below the all-time record of 23.7% set in 1920. Moreover, inflation had steadily decreased during Biden’s final two-and-a-half years.
Trump’s broader economic characterization that he inherited a “stagnant economy” which is now “roaring like never before” also doesn’t align with economic indicators. The U.S. economy grew 2.2% in 2025, lower than any year of the Biden presidency, which saw 2.8% growth in 2024. The fall 2025 government shutdown likely contributed to reduced growth in late 2025.
Additionally, unemployment has actually increased during Trump’s return to office, rising from 4.0% in January 2025 to 4.3% in January 2026.
While the administration can point to the inflation rate’s decline from 3.0% to 2.4% over the past year as a positive development, the overall economic picture doesn’t support Trump’s characterization of transforming a moribund economy into an unprecedented boom.
CNN continues to analyze additional claims from the president’s address as part of its ongoing fact-checking efforts.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
8 Comments
This in-depth investigation raises serious questions about the reliability of the White House’s economic reporting. I hope the media and public continue to scrutinize these claims rigorously to get to the truth.
Absolutely. Fact-checking is crucial for maintaining public trust and ensuring citizens have access to truthful information, especially around high-stakes policy decisions.
Fascinating fact-check on the President’s claims. It’s concerning to see such apparent exaggerations and distortions of economic data. I’ll be interested to see how this analysis is received and whether it prompts any clarifications or corrections from the administration.
I agree, it’s important to hold leaders accountable and ensure their public statements are grounded in facts and evidence. Transparency and accuracy should be paramount, especially on consequential economic issues.
This report highlights the importance of diligent, impartial fact-checking, even (or especially) when it comes to high-profile political rhetoric. Maintaining an informed and engaged citizenry requires separating fact from fiction.
I agree completely. Fact-based journalism is essential for a healthy democracy, holding leaders accountable and empowering the public to make informed decisions.
Given the potential impact of these economic statements, I’m glad to see such thorough, data-driven analysis. It will be interesting to see how this shapes the ongoing policy debates and public discourse.
Discrepancies between official data and the administration’s claims are certainly concerning. I hope this spurs more rigorous scrutiny of economic policy statements to ensure accuracy and transparency.