“African American poverty has reached its lowest rate ever, lowest rate ever.”
— President Trump, at a rally in Lebanon, Ohio, Oct. 12
“Hispanic American poverty has reached an all-time low.”
— President Trump, at a rally in Houston, Oct. 22
“Hispanic American homeownership recently hit its highest rate in much more than a decade.”
— President Trump, at a rally in Houston, Oct. 22
“Homeownership is up for African Americans — way up, every category. They’re doing better than they did with the past administration or the Democrats.”
— President Trump, in an interview with the Daily Caller, Sept. 3
“You look at median income for African Americans. It’s at the best it’s ever been in the history of our country.”
— President Trump, in an interview with Shannon Bream on Fox News, Oct. 10
“Hispanic American median household income — Hispanic Americans — think of it — median income reached an all-time high.”
— President Trump, at a rally in Houston, Oct. 22
“What do you have to lose?” was the question then-candidate Trump regularly posed to minority voters. Speaking directly to Hispanic and African American voters who tend to lean Democratic, his argument was simple: Democrats had not succeeded in advancing your economic prospects — so why not give Republicans a shot?
Fast-forward two years. Now president, Trump claims he has been successful. As evidence, he points to the “lowest [poverty] rate ever,” an “all-time high” median income and booming homeownership rates for Hispanics and African Americans.
Regular readers of The Fact Checker know we tend to award Two Pinocchios to anyone who gives sole credit to a president for the state of the economy. That’s because the U.S. economy is complex, and the decisions of companies and consumers often loom larger than the acts of government officials. The economy is doing well, and, as we’ve previously reported, many of the positive trends started before Trump took office.
View the complete November 26 article by Meg Kelly on The Washington Post website here.