Says Wisconsin "hadn’t been won by a Republican since Dwight D. Eisenhower, in 1952. And I won Wisconsin. … Ronald Reagan, remember, Wisconsin was the state that Ronald Reagan did not win."
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President Trump made some interesting comments Thursday June 28, 2018, at Foxconn about Wisconsin's history when voting for Republicans. But records show otherwise. Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
President Trump makes some interesting claims about Wisconsin's Republican voting history
On a warm June afternoon, President Donald Trump proudly presided over the groundbreaking of Foxconn’s new $10 billion operation in Mount Pleasant, Wis.
Shovelsful of dirt were tossed and speeches were made hailing the company’s decision to build its complex in Wisconsin.
In the midst of it all, Trump took a moment to hail his own 2016 victory in Wisconsin, a win that was vital to securing the presidency.
Wisconsin, Trump said on June 28, 2018, "hadn’t been won by a Republican since Dwight D. Eisenhower, in 1952."
He went on:
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"And I won Wisconsin. And I like Wisconsin a lot, but we won Wisconsin. And Ronald Reagan, remember, Wisconsin was the state that Ronald Reagan did not win."
(He made a nearly identical claim the night before, at a rally in Fargo, N.D.)
Say what, Mr. President?
A look at the numbers
According to the American Presidency Project, the following Republicans have won Wisconsin’s presidential vote since 1952:
1956: Dwight D. Eisenhower
1960: Richard M. Nixon
1968: Richard M. Nixon
1972: Richard M. Nixon
1980: Ronald Reagan
1984: Ronald Reagan
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2016: Donald Trump
The Republican presidential dry spell stretched from the 1988 election, when Democrat Michael Dukakis won Wisconsin, through 2012 when Democrat Barack Obama won Wisconsin.
But it did not stretch back to Eisenhower.
And, for the record, the one state Reagan lost in 1984 was neighboring Minnesota, not Wisconsin.
Our rating
Trump said Wisconsin "hadn’t been won by a Republican since Dwight D. Eisenhower, in 1952." and that "Wisconsin was the state that Ronald Reagan did not win."
Election records show that Trump is wrong on both counts.
Very wrong.
The president might want to find another applause line for Wisconsin, because Republican candidates not named Trump won the state six times since Eisenhower’s 1952 win.
We rate his claim Pants on Fire.
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PolitiFact Rating:
PolitiFact Rating: Pants on Fire
Wisconsin "hadn’t been won by a Republican since Dwight D. Eisenhower, in 1952. And I won Wisconsin. … Ronald Reagan, remember, Wisconsin was the state that Ronald Reagan did not win."
Donald Trump
President of the United States
Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Our Sources
PolitiFact National, "Fact-checking Donald Trump’s rally in North Dakota," June 28, 2018.
The Hill, "Trump incorrectly says Reagan didn’t win Wisconsin," June 28, 2018.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Historical trends in play this election," Nov. 7, 2016.
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President Trump makes some interesting claims about Wisconsin's Republican voting history
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