Trump's First Address to Congress: Key Claims Fact-Checked

President Donald Trump addressed a joint session of Congress, outlining his administration's efforts in workforce reduction, economic reorganization, and foreign policy realignment. The speech, lasting approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, faced opposition. Key points included Trump's commitment to tariffs, particularly against Canada, Mexico, and China, aimed at "protecting the soul" of the country. Several claims made during the address were subsequently fact-checked. Trump's assertion about Social Security databases containing millions of people aged 140-149 receiving payments was deemed false. Similarly, his claim of finding "hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud" was refuted, with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) showing significantly lower savings than claimed. Statements regarding immigration, such as the number of illegal border crossings and their composition, were also challenged. Trump's figures on fentanyl entering the U.S. from Mexico and Canada were found to be exaggerated. Economic claims, including the impact of tariffs and inflation under the Biden administration, were also scrutinized and rated as mostly false. Claims about the cost of the Paris climate accord and public sentiment about the country's direction were also fact-checked.