Special Poll
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was fact-checked by The Washington Post on her claim during a New York Times interview that the U.S. saw fewer migrants during President Joe Biden’s administration compared to President Donald Trump’s first term. Pelosi expressed, “We weren’t clear enough in stating that fewer individuals entered under President Joe Biden than under Donald Trump. If this is what [Senators] Bernie [Sanders] and Joe Manchin are pointing out, then I concede that our message was not sufficiently clear.”
The fact-check published on Wednesday contradicted Pelosi’s statement, establishing that significantly more migrants had entered the U.S. under Biden than under Trump, by a factor of at least four. Pelosi’s aide later clarified that her reference was towards deportation figures, citing a Reuters report projecting that Biden’s deportations for fiscal year 2024 could surpass any year under Trump. However, over their respective terms, Biden is projected to have fewer deportations than Trump.
The Washington Post further criticized Pelosi’s claim, giving it “Four Pinocchios” after reviewing more detailed immigration data, indicating a substantial misrepresentation of facts.
Additionally, Pelosi speculated about the Democratic presidential race dynamics in the same interview, suggesting that if Biden had withdrawn earlier, Vice President Kamala Harris might have had a stronger candidacy. “Had the president stepped aside sooner, it might have allowed other candidates to enter the race. Nevertheless, I believe Kamala Harris would have still emerged victorious, possibly with a more robust early campaign,” Pelosi conjectured.
Over the weekend, MSNBC host Symone Sanders Townsend took Pelosi to task for her influence on the presidential race, commenting, “If Nancy Pelosi won’t say it, I will — despite her strategic acumen and ability to navigate Congress as Speaker, where was her judgement this election cycle? She played a significant role in the high-profile struggles faced by the president this time around.”