Stand up for the facts!

Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy.
We need your help.

More Info

I would like to contribute

$

Live fact-checking the first 2020 presidential debate: Donald Trump vs. Joe Biden

Elections National
Fact-checking debate politifact logo
(Jillian Banner/Poynter)
By PolitiFact Staff
September 29, 2020

UPDATE: See our fact-checks from the first debate here. 

PolitiFact, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, has been fact-checking presidential politics since 2007 and has rated more than 18,000 individual claims on our Truth-O-Meter.

Follow along below for our live coverage. PolitiFact is also partnering with WRAL, our PolitiFact North Carolina affiliate, to present a live video stream with live fact-checking. If you prefer to stream the debate live, click here.

This page will update automatically.

Our Sources

Listed in the live feed.

Browse the Truth-O-Meter

More by PolitiFact Staff
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
stated on December 8, 2021 an interview with Hugh Hewitt
Gas prices were "$1.86 when I left" the White House.
False
By PolitiFact Staff • December 8, 2021
Louise Slaughter
Louise Slaughter
stated on September 5, 2017 a tweet
Rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program "will harm our economy."
True
By PolitiFact Staff • September 10, 2017
Bloggers
Bloggers
stated on March 2, 2017 a headline
"Doctors who discovered cancer enzymes in vaccines all found murdered."
Pants on Fire!
By PolitiFact Staff • April 4, 2017
David Menchetti
David Menchetti
stated on November 28, 2016 testimony before the Illinois House Labor and Commerce Committee
"The causation standard in Indiana is exactly the same as it is in Illinois."
True
By PolitiFact Staff • December 19, 2016
Kasim Reed
Kasim Reed
stated on September 16, 2016 a White House press conference
"If you look at any real analysis," the Trans-Pacific Partnership is "going to generate better-paying jobs that are more stable."
Half-True
By PolitiFact Staff • September 30, 2016
Kasim Reed
Kasim Reed
stated on November 17, 2015 press release
While the smoking rate nationally has fallen, more than 18 percent of Georgians still light up.  
Mostly True
By PolitiFact Staff • November 30, 2015
NextGen Climate Action Committee
NextGen Climate Action Committee
stated on August 8, 2014 a campaign ad
Says Rick Scott "is letting Duke (Energy) keep collecting billions" despite troubled power plants.
Half-True
By PolitiFact Staff • August 13, 2014
Georgia Department of Transportation
Georgia Department of Transportation
stated on July 19, 2011 a press release
The Northwest Corridor highway project in Cobb and Cherokee counties "is expected to create over 9,700 jobs statewide."
False
By PolitiFact Staff • August 10, 2011
Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
stated on June 5, 2008 in a news release
Obama couldn't have afforded his home without Rezko's help.
False
By PolitiFact Staff • June 17, 2008

There’s no “gotcha” here

Clear
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
stated on January 7, 2026 a press briefing
Says “90% of health care spending treats chronic disease.”
False
By Grace Abels • February 19, 2026
stated on January 14, 2026 a statement
New York ranks No. 1 in the nation for individual tax burden.
Mostly True
By Jill Terreri Ramos • February 17, 2026
Social Media
Social Media
stated on February 14, 2026 social media posts
The Epstein files “expose Ellen DeGeneres” as a cannibal.
Pants on Fire!
By Loreben Tuquero • February 16, 2026
X posts
X posts
stated on February 12, 2026 an X post
Savannah Guthrie's husband’s company is listed as a "co conspirator" in the Epstein files, “in case you're wondering why now of all times for (her) mother to be 'kidnapped.'"
False
By Maria Briceño • February 16, 2026
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
stated on February 8, 2026 an interview on NBC
Crime in Minneapolis “is down 25, 30% because we’ve removed thousands of criminals from the area.”
Mostly False
By Amy Sherman • February 13, 2026
stated on January 20, 2026 an op-ed
“New Yorkers pay 49% more than the national average for electricity.”
Mostly True
By Brooke Johnpier • February 13, 2026
Claudia Tenney
Claudia Tenney
stated on January 16, 2026 a post on X
Said she has led the House effort to build a large Micron semiconductor facility near Syracuse.
Half-True
By Andrew McGurl • February 13, 2026
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
stated on February 3, 2026 remarks in the Oval Office
"The crime rate now is the lowest it's been since 1900. That's 125 years."
Half-True
By Louis Jacobson • February 12, 2026
Social Media
Social Media
stated on February 8, 2026 publicaciones en redes sociales
“Durante su presentación en el Super Bowl, Bad Bunny le regaló su premio Grammy a Liam Conejo Ramos”, el niño de 5 años que fue detenido por ICE.
False
By Samantha Putterman • February 9, 2026
Social Media
Social Media
stated on February 8, 2026 social media posts
An image shows Bad Bunny wearing a dress and burning the U.S. flag.
Pants on Fire!
By Loreben Tuquero • February 9, 2026
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
stated on January 27, 2026 remarks at a restaurant in Iowa
“We right now have more factories and plants being built in our country than we've ever had before.”
Half-True
By Louis Jacobson • February 9, 2026
Social Media
Social Media
stated on February 8, 2026 posts
During the Super Bowl halftime show, “Bad Bunny brought Liam Conejo Ramos onto the stage,” the 5-year-old detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis.
False
By Samantha Putterman • February 9, 2026
Social Media
Social Media
stated on February 5, 2026 social media posts
An image shows Jeffrey Epstein “still alive and walking the streets of Tel Aviv,” Israel.
Pants on Fire!
By Loreben Tuquero • February 6, 2026
Gretchen Whitmer
Gretchen Whitmer
stated on February 2, 2026 a Substack
Under Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, there are “fewer families living in poverty” than under her predecessor.
Half-True
By Amy Sherman • February 6, 2026
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
stated on stated on November 17, 2025 in remarks at George Washington University:
HHS Secretary RFK Jr. said ‘we’re not cutting science’ or research. NIH grant cuts show that’s wrong
Pants on Fire!
February 5, 2026
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
stated on February 2, 2026 an interview with Dan Bongino
Among Somalis in Minnesota, “92% of them don’t work.”
Pants on Fire!
By Amy Sherman, Louis Jacobson • February 2, 2026
X posts
X posts
stated on January 31, 2026 an X post
Images show New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as a child with his mother, Mira Nair, and Jeffrey Epstein.
Pants on Fire!
By Maria Briceño • February 2, 2026
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
stated on January 21, 2026 remarks
In artificial intelligence, “We're leading China by a lot.”
Half-True
By Loreben Tuquero • January 29, 2026
Jared Moskowitz
Jared Moskowitz
stated on January 22, 2026 an X post
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s “backlog of unanswered disaster assistance applications has exploded to the largest in its history.”
Mostly True
By Samantha Putterman • January 28, 2026
JD Vance
JD Vance
stated on January 22, 2026 a press conference
"Right now we're focused on Minneapolis because that's where we have the highest concentration of people who have violated our immigration laws."
False
By Amy Sherman • January 28, 2026
Load More