Former US President Donald Trump (76) is running for president again. In his Mar-a-Lago estate in the state of Florida, he gives a speech – full of tips against Joe Biden (79) and lies about alleged Trump successes.
Trump begins the speech by saying, “America’s comeback starts now.” It’s the only moment in the speech where Trump seems energetic.
Teleprompter Trump is silent
Quietly extinguished and calm, the ex-president reads his words from the teleprompter. His mood differs significantly from speeches of recent years.
The speech has nothing to do with the fiery spectacle of words before the storm of the Capitol. But Trump remains true to one thing: he bombards his listeners with lies and exaggerations.
The tax cut lies
Trump falsely claims that he passed by far the largest tax cut and reform in our country’s history. But his 2017 tax cut falls short of several others.
Then he boasts that he was the origin of the “greatest economy”. That is also wrong. Average annual growth was lower under Trump — and that was even before the pandemic — than under former presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan.
The gas price lies
Then Trump etches against current gas prices. The reason for this, according to him, is: “The war against American energy” of the Biden administration.
But the reasons for the price increase are the coronavirus pandemic and supply disruptions caused by the Russian war in Ukraine.
The inflation lie
Trump then promises his potential voters “unity.” Minutes later, Trump says, “We will defeat the radical left Democrats who are trying to destroy our country from within.”
Trump also claims inflation was “zero” under him. Inflation fluctuated between 1.6 and 2.3 percent during the four years of his tenure. That comes from government data.
The interim lie
He also claims that Republicans won a majority in Congress during the midterm elections. There is no independent result on this yet. This could still happen, but it’s not confirmed. Trump nevertheless calls it his supposed success.
Trump assures his voters that he will win easily in 2024 because “everyone can see what a bad job has been done in those two years”. Trump calls Biden and the Democrats “the radical leftist lunatics”.
Shortly after the announcement of the candidacy, most American TV channels turned off the live speech – and classified the accumulated lies.