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Fact-checking the first Trump, Clinton presidential debate

National

Joshua Gillin

By Joshua Gillin September 26, 2016

Aaron Sharockman

By Aaron Sharockman September 26, 2016

PolitiFact has 18 fact-checkers working tonight's first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. See the live blog from the debate below and see all our new fact-checks at PolitiFact.com.

Live fact-checking the first presidential debate

Listed in tweets.

stated on October 9, 2017 in Internet posts:

A viral image shows LeBron James wearing a T-shirt that reads, "We march, y’all mad. We sit down, y’all mad. We speak up, y’all mad. We die, y’all silent."

false

false

stated on October 9, 2017 in a headline:

"President Trump signs executive order stripping NFL of ‘non-profit’ status."

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pants-fire

AsAmericanAsApplePie.org

stated on October 8, 2017 in a headline:

"Jason Aldean gig canceled after he sells out to liberals on ‘SNL’."

pants-fire

pants-fire

FreedomJunkshun.com

stated on November 6, 2017 in a headline:

"Supreme Court issues its first bench warrant ever."

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on November 7, 2017 in an Internet post:

Says the University of Florida "requests to cancel rivalry game" against Florida State University.

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pants-fire

YourNewsWire.com

stated on November 5, 2017 in an Internet post:

"Texas Church shooter was Antifa and wanted to start (a) ‘communist revolution.’ "

pants-fire

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Sebastian Gorka

stated on November 1, 2017 in an appearance on 'Hannity':

Says Jake Tapper said Allahu Akbar was a "beautiful phrase" after a terrorist attack in New York.

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pants-fire

stated on October 6, 2017 in Internet posts:

"California Democrat Maxine Waters charged on 3 counts."

barely-true

barely-true

stated on October 29, 2017 in Internet posts:

Says actor Morgan Freeman said, "Jailing Hillary" is the best way to "restore public faith in government."

pants-fire

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FreedomJunkshun.com

stated on October 28, 2017 in a headline:

"Hillary Clinton leaves the country as Mueller indictment is announced."

pants-fire

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FreedomJunkshun.com

stated on October 27, 2017 in a headline:

"Breitbart leaks names of four Dems being charged in Mueller’s Russia probe."

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stated on October 4, 2017 in a Facebook post:

"People who die from a home invasion make up a sad but minuscule .04% of all gun murders in the U.S. And over a third of them are killed by their own gun that the criminal has either stolen or wrestled from them."

barely-true

barely-true

stated on October 23, 2017 in a headline:

"Tulsa school closes after brutal fire."

pants-fire

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AsAmericanAsApplePie.org

stated on October 16, 2017 in a headline:

"Hillary (Clinton) caught on tape laughing about (Hurricane) Irma ‘wiping out all of those Florida hillbillies’."

pants-fire

pants-fire

AsAmericanAsApplePie.org

stated on October 15, 2017 in a headline:

"San Juan city council votes unanimously to impeach Trump-hating mayor."

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on October 9, 2017 in Internet posts:

A viral image shows LeBron James wearing a T-shirt that reads, "We march, y’all mad. We sit down, y’all mad. We speak up, y’all mad. We die, y’all silent."

false

false

stated on October 9, 2017 in a headline:

"President Trump signs executive order stripping NFL of ‘non-profit’ status."

pants-fire

pants-fire

AsAmericanAsApplePie.org

stated on October 8, 2017 in a headline:

"Jason Aldean gig canceled after he sells out to liberals on ‘SNL’."

pants-fire

pants-fire

FreedomJunkshun.com

stated on November 6, 2017 in a headline:

"Supreme Court issues its first bench warrant ever."

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on November 7, 2017 in an Internet post:

Says the University of Florida "requests to cancel rivalry game" against Florida State University.

pants-fire

pants-fire

YourNewsWire.com

stated on November 5, 2017 in an Internet post:

"Texas Church shooter was Antifa and wanted to start (a) ‘communist revolution.’ "

pants-fire

pants-fire

Social Media
stated on June 16, 2025 in social media posts:

“Governor Tim Walz has DELETED every post he made praising Minnesota (assassin) Vance Boelter.”

By Madison Czopek • June 18, 2025
X posts
stated on June 16, 2025 in X posts:

Image shows accused shooter Vance Boelter wearing a “Resist” shirt.

By Loreben Tuquero • June 18, 2025
X posts
stated on June 9, 2025 in an X post:

Image shows an antifa debit card that can “automatically be funded after looting, rioting and gang stalking.”

By Gabrielle Lazor • June 17, 2025
X posts
stated on June 14, 2025 in an X post:

Video shows the New York Mets “showed a Pride flag instead of the American flag” during the national anthem.

By Gabrielle Lazor • June 17, 2025
Mike Lee
stated on June 15, 2025 in a post on X:

The suspect in the Minnesota lawmakers’ shootings was driven by “Marxist” ideology.

By Madison Czopek • June 16, 2025
Gavin Newsom
stated on June 10, 2025 in posts on X:

California has lower homicide rates than Alabama, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

By Louis Jacobson • June 16, 2025
X posts
stated on June 9, 2025 in an X post:

Video shows Marine Corps attack helicopter over Los Angeles in response to immigration raid protests.

By Gabrielle Lazor • June 16, 2025
Facebook posts
stated on June 15, 2025 in Facebook post:

Photos show Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift participated in a “No Kings” rally.

By Ella Moore • June 16, 2025
X posts
stated on June 12, 2025 in an image:

Says Karoline Leavitt said, “America cannot function if President Trump has to deal with co-equal branches of government having the ability to check his power.”

By Ella Moore • June 13, 2025
Social Media
stated on June 10, 2025 in an ad on Craigslist:

Companies called “T-Mellon Events” and “Fight Fite Fight LLC” are offering to pay “seat fillers” in Washington, D.C, on June 14.

By Gabrielle Lazor • June 13, 2025