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PolitiFact's 2019 Lie of the Year coverage

National

Katie Sanders

By Katie Sanders December 16, 2019

Lie of the Year: Donald Trump's incessant claim that whistleblower got his Ukraine call 'almost completely' wrong

A look back at Lie of the Year, 2009-2018

The Silence of the Year: Hunter Biden and Burisma

10 of Donald Trump's false claims during impeachment

2019 Lie of the Year Readers’ Poll results

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See stories.

stated on October 22, 2015 in an op-ed in Breitbart:

"Even after Syrian troops began to shoot protesters in the streets with live ammunition in 2011, Clinton labeled Bashar al-Assad a ‘reformer.' "

half-true

half-true

stated on October 15, 2015 in a video shared on social media:

Says CNN deleted an online poll showing Bernie Sanders won the first Democratic presidential debate to help out Hillary Clinton.

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on October 4, 2015 in tweets:

Says Donald Trump’s "Make America Great Again" hats were made in China.

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on July 15, 2021 in Facebook posts:

An image shows President Joe Biden touching Olivia Rodrigo’s shoulders during a White House press briefing.

pants-fire

pants-fire

Mitch McConnell

stated on September 18, 2020 in a statement:

On confirming a Supreme Court nominee in a presidential election year.

full-flop

full-flop

Instagram posts

stated on September 19, 2020 in a faked screenshot:

Says Ruth Bader Ginsburg tweeted, “I have information that will lead to the arrest of Hillary Clinton.”

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on September 7, 2020 in a post:

Photo shows “some of the firefighters in California fighting fires 24/7 to save people's lives and property.”

false

false

stated on September 11, 2020 in a post:

“KXL Radio in Portland reported today that Firefighters are now being shot at by suspected Antifa and BLM members.”

false

false

stated on February 1, 2020 in a post on Facebook:

Says the CEO of Camping World told Trump supporters “Frankly, don’t shop at my business.”

barely-true

barely-true

stated on June 18, 2017 in a tweet:

"The new Rasmussen Poll, one of the most accurate in the 2016 Election, just out with a Trump 50% Approval Rating. That's higher than O's #'s!"

barely-true

barely-true

stated on June 4, 2017 in a tweet:

"At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is ‘no reason to be alarmed!’ "

false

false

stated on May 1, 2017 in her new book:

Says John Quincy Adams said, "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader."

false

false

stated on February 12, 2017 in an interview on ABC's "This Week":

"This issue of busing voters in to New Hampshire is widely known by anyone who’s worked in New Hampshire politics. It’s very real, it’s very serious."

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on July 19, 2016 in a speech at the Republican convention:

As a senator, Hillary Clinton "paid women less than the men" in her office.

barely-true

barely-true

stated on January 19, 2016 in a town hall in Underwood, Iowa:

"I have a D-minus voting record from the NRA."

mostly-true

mostly-true

stated on October 22, 2015 in an op-ed in Breitbart:

"Even after Syrian troops began to shoot protesters in the streets with live ammunition in 2011, Clinton labeled Bashar al-Assad a ‘reformer.' "

half-true

half-true

stated on October 15, 2015 in a video shared on social media:

Says CNN deleted an online poll showing Bernie Sanders won the first Democratic presidential debate to help out Hillary Clinton.

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on October 4, 2015 in tweets:

Says Donald Trump’s "Make America Great Again" hats were made in China.

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on July 15, 2021 in Facebook posts:

An image shows President Joe Biden touching Olivia Rodrigo’s shoulders during a White House press briefing.

pants-fire

pants-fire

Mitch McConnell

stated on September 18, 2020 in a statement:

On confirming a Supreme Court nominee in a presidential election year.

full-flop

full-flop

Instagram posts

stated on September 19, 2020 in a faked screenshot:

Says Ruth Bader Ginsburg tweeted, “I have information that will lead to the arrest of Hillary Clinton.”

pants-fire

pants-fire

Howard Lutnick
stated on July 20, 2025 in an interview with CBS' "Face the Nation":

Tariffs are “going to pay off our deficit.”

By Louis Jacobson • July 22, 2025
TikTok posts
stated on July 19, 2025 in a post on TikTok:

“The White House just announced that Trump only has four days left” because of his chronic venous insufficiency.

By Madison Czopek • July 21, 2025
Lori Chavez-DeRemer
stated on July 17, 2025 in a post on X:

Under President Donald Trump’s newly signed tax law, “Those making less than $50,000 receive the largest (tax) cuts.”

By Louis Jacobson • July 21, 2025
Gavin Newsom
stated on July 14, 2025 in a podcast interview:

“California provides $83.1 billion more than we receive from the federal government. Texas? Receives $71.1 billion more than they provide to the federal government. 71% of the U.S. GDP comes from blue counties.”

By Louis Jacobson • July 18, 2025
Donald Trump
stated on July 15, 2025 in comments to reporters:

The Jeffrey Epstein files “were made up by Comey. They were made up by Obama. They were made up by Biden.”

By Grace Abels • July 18, 2025
TikTok posts
stated on July 12, 2025 in una publicación en TikTok:

El sheriff del condado Kerr, Texas dijo, “que se debe solicitar la residencia permanente para el equipo de rescate mexicano que rescató a su familia”.

By Maria Briceño • July 16, 2025
TikTok posts
stated on June 30, 2025 in a TikTok post:

"People tracking the ICE deportation flights have found” the agency is throwing migrants into the middle of the ocean.

By Maria Briceño • July 15, 2025
X posts
stated on July 12, 2025 in an X post:

The Kerr County, Texas, sheriff “said he would apply for a green card for the Mexican rescue team that saved his family.”

By Maria Briceño • July 14, 2025
Ron DeSantis
stated on June 27, 2025 in a press briefing:

There is “zero impact” from Alligator Alcatraz on the Florida Everglades.

By Gabrielle Lazor • July 11, 2025
Kevin Hassett
stated on July 6, 2025 in an interview with CBS News' "Face the Nation":

A Congressional Budget Office estimate of people who stand to lose insurance from President Donald Trump’s tax and spending law said “about 5 million … have other insurance,” so “if they lose one (type of coverage), they're still insured.”

By Louis Jacobson • July 11, 2025

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