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Live fact-checking the first 2020 Democratic presidential debate

National
Elizabeth Warren speaking
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., speaks at the American University Washington College of Law in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. (AP)
Aaron Sharockman
By Aaron Sharockman
June 25, 2019
By PolitiFact Staff
June 25, 2019

PolitiFact is live fact-checking the first Democratic presidential debate. Follow along with our live coverage below. 

Our Sources

Sources for live tweets are embedded via link in each post

Browse the Truth-O-Meter

More by Aaron Sharockman
Instagram posts
stated on November 1, 2024 in a post:
Dominion Voting Systems employee Eric Coomer told an Antifa meeting he “made sure” Donald Trump wouldn’t win.
False
By Aaron Sharockman • November 3, 2024
Threads posts
stated on October 29, 2024 in a post:
“Joe Rogan says he will not be voting for Trump after having him on the podcast.”
False
By Aaron Sharockman • November 3, 2024
Viral image
stated on August 5, 2021 in a viral image:
Says there are fewer than 2,000 confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S.
False
By Aaron Sharockman, Tom Kertscher • August 9, 2021
Facebook posts
stated on June 21, 2021 in a post on Facebook:
Says President John F. Kennedy said, “There are people in Washington, D.C., in positions of power to whom the border is just a nuisance, and…
False
By Aaron Sharockman • June 22, 2021
Bloggers
stated on October 7, 2020 in a post on Facebook:
“Shredded Pennsylvania Mail in ballot Applications were discovered in a trailer. The applications were for @realDonaldTrump.”
False
By Aaron Sharockman • October 8, 2020
Jason MIller
stated on October 4, 2020 in comments on ABC's "This Week":
Says Joe Biden stays in his basement.
False
By Aaron Sharockman • October 4, 2020
Facebook posts
stated on August 14, 2020 in a post on Facebook:
“As of the last 24 hours this is the protocol regarding masks: Masks should only be used by healthcare workers, caretakers or by people who…
False
By Aaron Sharockman • August 18, 2020
Facebook posts
stated on June 30, 2020 in a post on Facebook:
An image from the St. Louis protest is “what MSM (mainstream media) won’t show you. Peaceful demonstrator pointing weapon at homeowner.”
False
By Aaron Sharockman • July 1, 2020
Facebook posts
stated on June 24, 2020 in a Facebook post:
Tennis star Serena Williams wrote that she’s “sick of COVID-19. I’m sick of black vs. white. I’m sick of Democrats vs. Republicans. I’m sick of…
False
By Aaron Sharockman • June 24, 2020
Facebook posts
stated on June 12, 2020 in a post on Facebook:
Says Tim Tebow “kneeled in protest of abortion during the National Anthem in 2012. He was praised by fans as being a ‘model American.’”
False
By Aaron Sharockman • June 19, 2020
X posts
stated on February 29, 2020 in posts on Twitter and Facebook:
Says Sen. Chuck Schumer deleted a Feb. 5 tweet criticizing President Donald Trump’s decision to ban some forms of travel to and from China.
Pants on Fire!
By Aaron Sharockman • February 29, 2020
Viral image
stated on February 29, 2020 in a post on Facebook:
“Bernie Logic: Nobody can live on $7 an hour. We must raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Also we must raise the tax…
False
By Aaron Sharockman • February 29, 2020
Amy Klobuchar
stated on December 20, 2019 in the sixth Democratic presidential debate:
Says Pete Buttigieg ran statewide in Indiana and “lost by 20 points.”
True
By Aaron Sharockman • December 20, 2019
Facebook posts
stated on October 29, 2018 in a post on Facebook:
“As some of you may know I am the recent $3.4 million lotto winner. I’d like to spread some positivity so I’m sending $1,000 to…
Pants on Fire!
By Aaron Sharockman • October 31, 2018
Bloggers
stated on February 7, 2018 in a blog post:
“FBI RAIDS OBAMA – Find Massive Secret That Was Hidden For YEARS.”
False
By Aaron Sharockman • March 30, 2018

Live fact-checking the first 2020 Democratic presidential debate

Clear
Social Media
stated on July 14, 2026 in a social media post:
“Congress just picked the one version of clock reform America has already tried, hated, and repealed.”
True
By Alex Min • July 20, 2026
Sherrod Brown
stated on July 1, 2026 in an X post:
Since the passage of the “Jon Husted-backed” HB 6, Ohioans’ residential utility rates have gone up $663 a year.
Half-True
By Gracey Abernethy • July 20, 2026
Jon Ossoff
stated on June 27, 2026 in a campaign speech:
President Donald Trump and U.S. Rep. Mike Collins “doubled health insurance premiums for more than a million Georgians and threw 300,000 Georgians off their insurance altogether.”
Mostly True
By Ben Brasch • July 16, 2026
Donald Trump
stated on July 8, 2026 in remarks at a press conference:
The AI industry needs “more energy than the entire country produces right now … In fact some people say almost double.”
Mostly False
By Louis Jacobson • July 14, 2026
X posts
stated on July 12, 2026 in X posts:
A photo showing Mitch McConnell and his wife is from his 2023 hospitalization or is AI generated.
False
By Caleb McCullough • July 13, 2026
Donald Trump
stated on July 8, 2026 in remarks to reporters:
President Joe Biden “raised the cost of housing by 40 and 50% — the cost of (a) rental — because they were housing illegal aliens in all of those empty units.”
Mostly False
By Carsten Oyer • July 10, 2026
Paul Renner
stated on July 2, 2026 in a debate:
Jay Collins sponsored a bill to give AI hyperscale data centers “permanent tax incentives.”
Half-True
By Samantha Putterman • July 9, 2026
Donald Trump
stated on July 1, 2026 in remarks to reporters:
“You know why I’m profiting? Because the stock market’s going up. … I’m profiting because I have a lot of money and a lot of…
Mostly False
By Louis Jacobson • July 7, 2026
Abdul El-Sayed
stated on June 14, 2026 in an X post:
Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers “took a $14 million payout as a pharma lobbyist.”
Pants on Fire!
By Caleb McCullough • July 2, 2026
Donald Trump
stated on June 30, 2026 in a Truth Social post:
“The United States Supreme Court just ruled against men playing in women’s sports.”
Half-True
By Caleb McCullough • July 1, 2026
Mike Collins
stated on June 17, 2026 in an advertisement:
U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff “cast the deciding vote for the inflation disaster,” referring to the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.
False
By Ben Brasch • June 29, 2026
Tommy Tuberville
stated on June 24, 2026 in an interview with Fox News:
Says benefits of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act are “going to go to a lot of people that are here illegally to build…
False
By Alex Min, Louis Jacobson • June 26, 2026
Move Indigo
stated on June 1, 2026 in a statement:
New York state law allows citizens with dual residences to choose where they want to vote.
True
By Jill Terreri Ramos • June 26, 2026
Graham Platner
stated on June 17, 2026 in an ad:
Sen. Susan Collins “sided with Trump, giving billionaires and corporations a hand out, paid for by cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.”
False
By Amy Sherman • June 25, 2026
Donald Trump
stated on June 23, 2026 in a speech in Macungie, Pennsylvania:
In the past 13 months, “The typical 401(k) … is up almost $30,000.”
Mostly False
By Louis Jacobson • June 25, 2026
David Jolly
stated on June 11, 2026 in a speech:
Florida is “49th in avoidable hospital costs.”
Mostly True
By Samantha Putterman • June 24, 2026
Marsha Blackburn
stated on June 19, 2026 in an X post:
The Obama Presidential Center is “requiring photo ID to enter.”
False
By Alex Min • June 23, 2026
Susan Collins
stated on June 12, 2026 in an interview with the media:
The Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling on abortion “has not had an impact on the state of Maine in that Maine actually expanded its law.”
Mostly True
By Amy Sherman • June 23, 2026
Jon Ossoff
stated on June 17, 2026 in an ad:
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Collins “admitted” that President Donald Trump is in the Epstein files.
Mostly False
By Ben Brasch • June 18, 2026
Bernie Sanders
stated on June 12, 2026 in an X post:
“Today, Elon Musk, a trillionaire, pays the same amount into Social Security as someone making $184,500.”
Mostly True
By Caleb McCullough • June 17, 2026
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