Trump's First 100 Days: Claims and Fact-Checks Unveiled

This article fact-checks key assertions made by Trump regarding gas prices, egg costs, border crossings, government waste savings, and job creation.

President Trump celebrated his first 100 days in office during a rally in Michigan, claiming it has been "the most successful first 100 days of any administration in the history of our country, according to many, many people." However, many of his assertions have been scrutinized for accuracy.

One notable claim was regarding gasoline prices, with Trump stating, "gasoline prices are down by a lot" since he took office. As of April 29, the average price per gallon of regular gas was $3.16, slightly higher than the $3.125 recorded on his inauguration day. Additionally, Trump claimed that prices had "just hit $1.98 in a lot of states," but evidence of such low prices is lacking, as no state reported an average below $2.67.

On the topic of eggs, Trump claimed that "the cost of eggs is down 87%." This assertion is incorrect. When he took office, the average price for a dozen large eggs was approximately $4.95, which subsequently surged to around $6.23 in March, primarily impacted by an ongoing bird flu crisis. While wholesale prices have fallen, they only dropped by about 52%, contradicting the president’s statement.

Addressing immigration, Trump asserted that "for two months in a row, we have set all-time records for the lowest number of illegal border crossings ever recorded." This claim aligns with the latest statistics, which show 7,181 encounters in March and 8,346 in February, the lowest monthly figures since 2000. However, experts suggest that these figures indicate the lowest crossings since the late 1960s, rather than all-time lows.

Further, Trump acknowledged the savings attributed to Elon Musk's initiative at the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), stating, "They've saved over $150bn on waste, fraud and abuse." While the Doge website indicates total savings of $160bn, questions arise about the transparency and documentation of these claimed savings, as only about 40% is itemized with supporting evidence.

Lastly, regarding job creation, Trump stated, "In three months we have created 350,000 jobs." This figure aligns closer to the official data that shows an addition of 345,000 jobs within his first two months. However, it's worth noting that during the same period last year under President Biden, job gains were significantly higher at 468,000.

In conclusion, while some of Trump's assertions hold water, others do not withstand scrutiny. Reporting by BBC Verify highlighted the nuances and discrepancies within his celebrated claims, offering a comprehensive context for viewers interested in U.S. politics.