Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly made unverified statements—about NATO defense spending, Ukraine aid, migrant numbers, and war resolutions—prompting refutations from CNN, AP News, and official data.
Trump Targets Biden’s Record
In a speech, Trump accused President Joe Biden of never emphasizing the U.S. “world’s strongest army,” a claim CNN refuted using Biden’s 2023 remarks, wherein Biden said the U.S. military is “the strongest in the history of the world.” In 2025, Biden’s Department of Defense stated the U.S. is “simply the greatest military force in history.” Trump also alleged Biden provided Ukraine with $350 billion, contradicting figures from the U.S. government’s Inspector General. By June 2025 the U.S. had disbursed about $94 billion (with another $93 billion earmarked for U.S. and European use, not in Ukraine). CNN cited a German think‑tank estimating $135 million more planned for Ukraine.
Lies Unbacked by Evidence
Trump claimed 25 million migrants entered the U.S. under Biden, yet federal records show fewer than 11 million had arrived by December 2024, the end of Biden’s first term. He also repeated that the 2020 election was fraudulently altered and that Russia would not attack Ukraine if elections had not been skewed. Trump’s allegations that Democratic Republic of Congo and Venezuela opened criminal courts allowing unchecked inmate migration to the U.S. lack supporting documentation.
Claim of War Resolutions
Trump asserted he resolved seven wars, citing conflicts such as Congo‑Rwanda, Kosovo‑Serbia, Egypt‑Ethiopia, and Serbia‑Kosovo. American media note that the Trump administration did not end the Congo‑Rwanda conflicts; the 2021 peace accord omitted the rebel coalition the Rwandan-backed insurgents sought. AP News highlighted that while Trump negotiated broad agreements, many components were never implemented. His statements about peace between Albania and Azerbaijan are also contradicted by reports of actual tensions, whereas he mistakenly referred to peace with Cambodia.
NATO Defense Spending Claims
Trump claimed he persuaded NATO members to spend 5% of GDP on defense and had pushed for the 2% target. The 2% benchmark was actually set by NATO defense ministers in 2006 and reaffirmed in 2014, before Trump’s first term. In 2020, only nine members met the 2% threshold, underscoring the discrepancy between Trump’s statements and NATO’s history.
Record of False Statements
After his first term, The Washington Post reported 30,573 false or misleading claims by Trump, averaging 21 per day during his service.
