President Donald Trump’s presidency was marked by a staggering surge in falsehoods, with The Washington Post Fact Checker team recording 30,573 misleading claims over his term. What began as 492 suspect claims in his first 100 days ballooned to an average of 21 per day by the end of his presidency.
The frequency of these untruths is shocking. Trump’s claims escalated dramatically, from six per day in his first year to a jaw-dropping 39 per day in his final year. Incredibly, he made over 500 false claims in a single day just before the 2020 election, revealing an alarming disregard for truth.
The Washington Post's Trump claims database stands as a powerful indictment, holding him accountable for this tidal wave of misinformation. Recognised as one of the top journalism projects of the decade, this database offers an essential resource to expose and challenge the lies that defined Trump’s tumultuous time in office.
This can’t be the future of politics, unless we put into law the safeguards needed to protect our democracy we risk getting a trump at home. Regardless of who sits in Number 10, every politician should be bound by law to tell the truth.
As you read the news this summer reporting on the US elections, and grimace at the endless fake news, remember we have a chance to stop it.
If we legally ban politicians from lying, we can turn the tide. But we need your help.
This summer we are especially asking you to become a member of the campaign to ban lying.