Fact-checkers deliver mixed verdict on Trump's State of the Union claims

Fact-checkers back some of Trump's immigration and crime statements but dispute his 'eight wars' claim and voter fraud assertions

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Fact-checkers from outlets like PolitiFact, FactCheck.org, and The New York Times delivered a mixed assessment of President Donald Trump's 2026 State of the Union address. They confirmed some of his claims on immigration and the national murder rate but disputed his statements about voter fraud, Medicaid, and the number of foreign conflicts he ended.

Why it matters

The fact-check analysis underscores the challenge Trump faces in making bold claims that grab headlines but may not always align with verifiable facts, as he looks to keep Republicans in power in the 2026 midterm elections.

The details

Fact-checkers acknowledged Trump's assertion that 'zero illegal aliens' were admitted to the U.S. was accurate, as illegal border crossings have dropped significantly during his second term. However, they disputed his claim that the Biden administration allowed 12,000 murderers to enter the country illegally. On crime, they confirmed Trump's statement that the national murder rate is at a historic low. Regarding foreign policy, fact-checkers said Trump's claim of ending 'eight wars' was 'exaggerated' and 'inflated.' They also challenged his assertions about widespread voter fraud, noting that noncitizen voting is 'infinitesimally small.'

  • In January 2026, authorities encountered about 10,000 migrants attempting to cross the U.S. southern border illegally, down from over 60,000 in January 2025.

The players

Donald Trump

The 46th President of the United States, who delivered the 2026 State of the Union address.

PolitiFact

A nonpartisan fact-checking organization that reviewed claims made by President Trump in his State of the Union address.

FactCheck.org

A project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center that fact-checks statements made by public figures, including President Trump.

The New York Times

A prominent American newspaper that also fact-checked claims from President Trump's State of the Union speech.

David Becker

An election expert who runs the nonprofit Center for Election Innovation and Research and was cited by NPR on the issue of noncitizen voting.

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What they’re saying

“Even states that are looking everywhere to try to amplify the numbers of noncitizens … when they actually look, they find a surprisingly, shockingly small number.”

— David Becker, Election expert (NPR)

“Trump made a rapid-fire series of false claims about US elections.”

— Daniel Dale, CNN reporter (CNN)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This fact-check analysis highlights the challenge President Trump faces in making bold claims that may not always align with verifiable facts, as he looks to keep Republicans in power in the 2026 midterm elections.