Just over a year into his second term, President Donald Trump addressed the nation from the U.S. Capitol during his latest State of the Union speech.
With midterm elections coming up and his approval ratings under pressure, the speech was seen as an important moment for his presidency. A recent ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll showed that 60% of Americans disapprove of his performance — the highest disapproval rating of his second term so far.
During his speech, Trump spoke strongly about immigration, inflation, crime, health care, Iran and foreign policy. However, several of his claims were fact-checked live by ABC News. Here is a clear and simple breakdown of what he said and what the facts show.
Immigration Claims Under Scrutiny
Trump said that “zero illegal aliens” had entered the United States in the past nine months. This claim is false.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data:
- In 2024, there were over 1.5 million encounters at the southern border.
- In 2025, that number dropped sharply to under 28,000.
- In 2026, crossings remain low but are not zero.
So while border crossings have reduced significantly under his administration, they have not stopped completely.
Trump also claimed that most undocumented immigrants are “drug lords and murderers.” However, data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shows:
- 26% of detainees had criminal convictions.
- 26% had pending charges.
- 47% had no criminal record.
This means nearly three-fourths of detainees did not have criminal convictions.
Inflation and Economy: Mixed Reality
Trump claimed his administration has reduced core inflation to its lowest level in more than five years. This claim is partly true.
When Trump began his second term, inflation stood at 3%. It has now dropped to 2.4%. That is positive news.
However, lower inflation does not always mean lower prices. Many Americans are still paying more for:
- Ground coffee (up 34% in one year)
- Energy (up 6.3%)
- Fresh produce and beef (affected partly by tariffs)
So while inflation is down, daily expenses remain high for many families.
$18 Trillion Investment Claim Raises Questions
Trump said he secured $18 trillion in global investment commitments in 12 months. There is no clear evidence supporting this number.
The White House website mentions $9.6 trillion in investments — including both actual investments and commitments. But:
- The U.S. GDP is around $31 trillion.
- Some announced figures appear to include economic exchange agreements rather than confirmed investments.
For example, a $1.2 trillion deal with Qatar was described as economic exchange, not direct investment.
Prescription Drug Prices: Not So Simple
Trump claimed he reduced drug prices from the highest in the world to the lowest. This needs more context.
It is true that Americans pay much higher drug prices than people in other wealthy countries — sometimes 2.7 to 4 times more.
Trump’s “most favored nation” pricing idea aims to link U.S. drug prices to the lowest price paid in other countries. However:
- The policy has faced legal challenges.
- It has not widely reduced prices.
- Some discounts are limited to cash-paying or uninsured patients.
Experts say large price reductions seen recently were partly due to laws passed before his second term.
Health Care Plan Lacks Clear Details
Trump also introduced what he called “The Great Healthcare Plan,” saying he wants to stop payments to big insurance companies and give money directly to people.
However:
- The plan lacks detailed funding explanations.
- It is unclear how much money people would receive.
- It may continue some insurer payments similar to earlier policies.
Health policy experts say it is too early to judge its impact.
Election Fraud Claim Debunked
Trump claimed cheating in U.S. elections is “rampant.” This is false.
State audits in Georgia, Iowa, Ohio and other states found very few cases of noncitizen voting.
For example:
- Georgia found 20 noncitizens registered among 8.2 million voters.
- Only nine cast ballots.
Research shows that large-scale voter fraud claims are usually based on misunderstandings or incorrect data.
Crime in Washington, D.C.
Trump said crime in Washington, D.C. is at its lowest level ever and that murders dropped close to 100% in January.
Police data shows:
- Violent crime is down 29%.
- Homicides are down 67% compared to last year.
- Two homicides were reported in January — not zero.
Crime has reduced significantly, but calling it the “lowest ever” is exaggerated.
Iran Nuclear Program Claims
Trump said the U.S. “wiped out” Iran’s nuclear program and that Iran has never said it would avoid nuclear weapons.
Both claims are mostly false.
While U.S. airstrikes damaged key nuclear sites, international inspectors say:
- Highly enriched uranium remains.
- Around 972 pounds are still unaccounted for.
Iranian leaders have publicly stated multiple times that they do not intend to develop nuclear weapons.
Foreign Policy and Ending Wars
Trump claimed he ended eight wars within ten months.
While he helped broker ceasefires in several regions, many conflicts:
- Have seen renewed violence.
- Did not result in long-term peace treaties.
- Are still ongoing in different forms.
One clearer diplomatic success appears to be between Armenia and Azerbaijan, where both sides credited U.S. efforts.
Somali Community Fraud Claim
Trump claimed the Somali community stole $19 billion from taxpayers. There is no evidence supporting this.
The Justice Department has charged 92 individuals in a Minnesota fraud case involving around $300 million in pandemic relief funds. Of those, 82 were Somali Americans.
However, Minnesota is home to nearly 100,000 Somali Americans. The charged individuals represent a very small fraction of that population.
