Donald Trump’s subsequent press conference of the week took place on Thursday at his Bedminster, New Jersey, at his sport course. During his almost hour-long statement, Trump criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the market and immigration, particularly targeting his 2024 vote competitors, Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Loan rates
Trump’s claim: Trump said that the cost of a typical monthly mortgage has doubled since he left office, asserting that mortgage rates were “around 2%” during his tenure and are now “at 10%.”
Fact check: Trump’s claim that mortgage rates were around 2% when he was in office is partially accurate; 30-year fixed mortgage rates were at 2.6%. However, his assertion that rates have reached 10% is false, reported ABC News. As of Thursday, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported rates at 6.49%, the lowest in over a year.
Condoms in rooms
Trump’s claim: Trump accused Governor Walz of approving a bill that mandates tampons in boys’ bathrooms in Minnesota public schools, calling it “terrible.”
Fact check: This claim is misleading, as reported by ABC News. In 2023, Walz signed a law requiring public schools to provide menstrual products in bathrooms for students in grades 4 to 12. The law does not specifically mandate tampons in boys’ bathrooms; it requires products to be available to “all menstruating students,” leaving implementation to individual schools.
Borders fights
Trump’s claim: Trump alleged that Harris has allowed more than “20 million” people into the United States since taking office.
Fact check: This claim is false. According to reports by ABC News, the US Customs and Border Patrol data shows there have been 9.9 million immigration encounters during the Biden administration. When including estimates of those not stopped by border officials, the number is closer to 11.6 million, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
