Fact check: Trump makes false claims about inflation and birthright citizenship

Inflation Misstatements During CNBC Interview

During a recent CNBC interview, former President Donald Trump inaccurately described inflation trends and birthright citizenship policies. When asked about economic conditions, Trump asserted that inflation had dropped to 5% under his leadership, contradicting data showing a lower rate. CNBC anchor Joe Kernen corrected him, noting that inflation had stabilized at around 3% by the time Biden left office. Trump dismissed this, insisting the rate had fallen to 5%, but the figures clearly showed otherwise.

The inflation rate in January 2025, the month of Trump’s inauguration, was 3.0%. By December 2024, Biden’s final full month in office, it had slightly decreased to 2.9%. Even so, the rate had not reached 5% since early 2023. Trump later claimed that his victory in the November 2024 election caused the decline, stating, “And I started getting prices down from right after November 5.” However, the year-over-year inflation rate actually rose from 2.6% in October 2024 to 2.7% in November 2024, before settling at 2.9% in December. Prices did not decrease immediately following his election.

Birthright Citizenship Claim: A Repeated Misconception

Trump also reiterated a longstanding claim that “no country in the world” grants birthright citizenship except the United States. This assertion has been widely debunked, with evidence showing that approximately 30 countries automatically confer citizenship to individuals born on their soil. Notable examples include Canada, Mexico, and most South American nations. CNN and other media outlets previously refuted this statement during Trump’s 2015 campaign and his first term in 2018.

“No it wasn’t. It was down to 5%, it wasn’t down to 3%.”

“No country in the world” offers birthright citizenship other than the United States.