Key Takeaways:
- President Trump claimed gas prices dropped to $1.98 a gallon and egg prices fell sharply under his leadership.
- Fact-checker Daniel Dale says these claims are false.
- Gas prices are nowhere near $1.98, and egg prices are at a record high.
- The White House failed to provide evidence for Trump’s claims and added more false statements.
Trump’s Claims on Gas and Egg Prices Fact-Checked—What’s True?
President Donald Trump recently made big claims about gas and grocery prices getting cheaper. But fact-checker Daniel Dale says most of these claims are false. Let’s break it down.
Gas Prices: Trump’s Claim vs. Reality
Trump said gas prices have dropped to $1.98 a gallon. However, Daniel Dale, who checks facts for CNN, says this is not true. According to Dale, no state in the U.S. had gas prices below $2.70 last Wednesday and Thursday.
Trump’s supporters might argue that he wasn’t talking about average gas prices but maybe some individual gas stations. But Dale checked with GasBuddy, a company that tracks gas prices across the U.S. They found zero gas stations selling gas for less than $2.19. So Trump’s claim about $1.98 gas is completely false.
The White House’s Response Made It Worse
When Dale asked the White House for proof of Trump’s gas price claim, their response made things even worse. They said, “If big-city reporters went to Middle America, they’d see gas prices at record lows.” Dale checked this too and found it was also false. Gas prices in Middle America are not at record lows. In fact, prices are much higher than Trump claims.
Egg Prices: Another False Claim
Trump also claimed that egg prices have dropped by 87% to 94% since he took office. Dale says this is ridiculous.
In March, the average price of eggs hit a record high of $6.23 per dozen. This is about 26% higher than egg prices when Trump returned to office in January.
While wholesale egg prices have dropped 52% since Trump took office, this doesn’t mean retail prices (what people pay) have dropped that much. In fact, retail prices are much higher than Trump claims.
If egg prices had dropped 93%, as Trump said, eggs would cost less than $0.38 per dozen today. Clearly, that’s not the case.
Why These Claims Matter
Trump’s claims about gas and egg prices are part of a larger issue. Many Americans are struggling with high living costs, especially with egg shortages caused by a bird flu outbreak.
Trump’s false claims about fixing these problems might be an attempt to win over voters ahead of the 2024 election. But Dale says voters should be careful about believing these claims without checking the facts.
Conclusion Daniel Dale’s fact-checking shows that Trump’s claims about gas and egg prices are not true. Gas prices are much higher than $1.98, and egg prices are at a record high. Stay informed and always check the facts before believing claims about food or gas prices!