Fact-Checking Trump’s Address to Congress

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“President Trump’s speech to Congress contained exaggerations and falsehoods about the economy, government efficiency, and tariffs. The speech, the longest in modern history, justified executive actions and touted purported accomplishments.

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The president repeated familiar exaggerations and falsehoods about the economy, the Department of Government Efficiency and tariffs.

March 5, 2025Updated 8:54 a.m. ET

President Trump’s speech on Tuesday was the longest presidential address to Congress in modern history.Doug Mills/The New York Times

President Trump, in a speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, ticked off a list of purported accomplishments and justifications for his many executive actions that have upended domestic and foreign policy. The speech, the longest presidential address to Congress in modern history, clocked in at over an hour and 40 minutes and was replete with familiar exaggerations and falsehoods.

Mr. Trump overstated the amount of what he called fraud uncovered by the Department of Government Efficiency, misled about energy and environmental policy, and justified sweeping tariffs with hyperbolic claims about world trade, among other statements.

Here’s a fact check.“