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PolitiFact Live! for May 18

National

Aaron Sharockman

By Aaron Sharockman May 18, 2017

PolitiFact staffers discuss the truth behind the week in news. The show airs live at 11:30 a.m. ET Thursday on Facebook.

Discussed in the video.

stated on December 20, 2019 in the sixth Democratic presidential debate:

Says Pete Buttigieg ran statewide in Indiana and "lost by 20 points."

true

true

stated on October 29, 2018 in a post on Facebook:

"As some of you may know I am the recent $3.4 million lotto winner. I’d like to spread some positivity so I’m sending $1,000 to the first 100k people that share this."

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on February 7, 2018 in a blog post:

"FBI RAIDS OBAMA – Find Massive Secret That Was Hidden For YEARS."

false

false

Instagram posts

stated on November 1, 2024 in a post:

Dominion Voting Systems employee Eric Coomer told an Antifa meeting he “made sure” Donald Trump wouldn’t win.

false

false

stated on October 29, 2024 in a post:

“Joe Rogan says he will not be voting for Trump after having him on the podcast.”

false

false

stated on August 5, 2021 in a viral image:

Says there are fewer than 2,000 confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S.

false

false

stated on June 21, 2021 in a post on Facebook:

Says President John F. Kennedy said, “There are people in Washington, D.C., in positions of power to whom the border is just a nuisance, and I think some of them believe that illegal immigration is a moral good. It is not.”

false

false

stated on October 7, 2020 in a post on Facebook:

“Shredded Pennsylvania Mail in ballot Applications were discovered in a trailer. The applications were for @realDonaldTrump.”

false

false

stated on October 4, 2020 in comments on ABC's "This Week":

Says Joe Biden stays in his basement.

false

false

stated on August 14, 2020 in a post on Facebook:

“As of the last 24 hours this is the protocol regarding masks: Masks should only be used by healthcare workers, caretakers or by people who are sick with symptoms like fever and cough.”

false

false

stated on June 30, 2020 in a post on Facebook:

An image from the St. Louis protest is “what MSM (mainstream media) won’t show you. Peaceful demonstrator pointing weapon at homeowner.”

false

false

stated on June 24, 2020 in a Facebook post:

Tennis star Serena Williams wrote that she’s “sick of COVID-19. I’m sick of black vs. white. I’m sick of Democrats vs. Republicans. I’m sick of gay vs. straight. I’m sick of Christians vs atheists. I’m REALLY sick of the media.”

false

false

stated on June 12, 2020 in a post on Facebook:

Says Tim Tebow “kneeled in protest of abortion during the National Anthem in 2012. He was praised by fans as being a ‘model American.’”

false

false

stated on February 29, 2020 in posts on Twitter and Facebook:

Says Sen. Chuck Schumer deleted a Feb. 5 tweet criticizing President Donald Trump’s decision to ban some forms of travel to and from China.

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on February 29, 2020 in a post on Facebook:

“Bernie Logic: Nobody can live on $7 an hour. We must raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Also we must raise the tax rate to 52%. $15 an hour * 52% = $7.80. $15 an hour - $7.80 = $7.20. $7.20 an hour!!!”

false

false

stated on December 20, 2019 in the sixth Democratic presidential debate:

Says Pete Buttigieg ran statewide in Indiana and "lost by 20 points."

true

true

stated on October 29, 2018 in a post on Facebook:

"As some of you may know I am the recent $3.4 million lotto winner. I’d like to spread some positivity so I’m sending $1,000 to the first 100k people that share this."

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on February 7, 2018 in a blog post:

"FBI RAIDS OBAMA – Find Massive Secret That Was Hidden For YEARS."

false

false

Instagram posts

stated on November 1, 2024 in a post:

Dominion Voting Systems employee Eric Coomer told an Antifa meeting he “made sure” Donald Trump wouldn’t win.

false

false

stated on October 29, 2024 in a post:

“Joe Rogan says he will not be voting for Trump after having him on the podcast.”

false

false

stated on August 5, 2021 in a viral image:

Says there are fewer than 2,000 confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S.

false

false

X posts
stated on June 2, 2025 in an X post:

Target “opts out of Pride month and replaced its Pride collection with an America First Summer display.”

By Gabrielle Lazor • June 6, 2025
Liz Oyer
stated on April 30, 2025 in a TikTok post:

“President Trump has granted pardons that have wiped out over $1 billion in debts owed by wealthy Americans who have committed fraud and broken the law.”

By Louis Jacobson • June 6, 2025
Russell Vought
stated on June 1, 2025 in an interview on CNN's "State of the Union":

“One out of every $5 or $6 in Medicaid (payments) is improper.”

By Louis Jacobson • June 4, 2025
Kathy Hochul
stated on May 5, 2025 in a television interview:

The state budget contains the largest middle class tax cut in 70 years.

By Jill Terreri Ramos • June 1, 2025
Viral image
stated on May 26, 2025 in an X post:

Image shows Ben & Jerry’s is selling “Free Palestine” and “From the River to Sea” ice cream flavors.

By Maria Briceño • May 30, 2025
Brenden Jones
stated on April 2, 2025 in a speech:

“Contractors are being rejected” from providing Hurricane Helene relief in North Carolina because of racial “quotas” required by the state.

By Paul Specht • May 30, 2025
Mike Johnson
stated on May 25, 2025 in a "Face the Nation" episode:

“We are not cutting” the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

By Loreben Tuquero • May 29, 2025
Donald Trump
stated on May 25, 2025 in a press gaggle:

Harvard University “refuse(s) to tell us” who its international students are.

By Maria Ramirez Uribe • May 28, 2025
TikTok posts
stated on May 24, 2025 in una publicación en TikTok:

El gobernador de Florida Ron DeSantis firmó ley que prohíbe a inmigrantes ilegalmente en el país echar gasolina.

By Maria Briceño • May 28, 2025
Social Media
stated on May 25, 2025 in social media posts:

The Republican tax and spending bill will let President Donald Trump “delay or cancel elections — legally.”

By Amy Sherman • May 28, 2025

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