In a recent 2 hour discussion Elon Musk and Donald Trump interview on the platform X, made several claims on topics ranging from climate change to immigration. As a Republican presidential candidate, Trump returned to familiar themes, but some of his statements raised eyebrows due to their inaccuracy as per BBC. Here’s a closer look at his claims and the reality behind them.
How quickly are sea levels expected to rise?
Claim:
“The biggest threat is not global warming, where the ocean is going to rise one eighth of an inch over the next 400 years.”
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Verdict:
False. Trump’s assertion vastly underestimates the expected rise in sea levels. The World Meteorological Organization reports that global sea levels have risen by nearly 4.8mm per year (0.19 inches) in the last decade alone, far exceeding Trump’s figure. Projections by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggest sea levels could rise between 0.28 to 1.01 meters by 2100, which could have devastating effects on low-lying areas around the world.
Has the border seen 20 million crossings?
Claim:
“I think 20 million people have come across the border… I think millions are coming every month.”
Verdict:
Exaggerated. While immigration at the southern border has surged, Trump’s numbers are inflated. Official data from US Customs and Border Protection indicates over 10.1 million encounters with illegal migrants since January 2021, with more than 8 million of these occurring at the southern border. However, these figures include multiple encounters with the same individuals and do not necessarily reflect the number of people who successfully entered the US. The peak of border crossings occurred in December 2023 with around 250,000 migrants, not the millions per month as Trump suggests.
Is bacon really five times more expensive?
Claim:
“I think we have the worst inflation we’ve had in 100 years… bacon costing four or five times more than it did a few years ago.”
Verdict:
Misleading. Inflation under President Biden did reach a peak of 9.1%, the highest in 41 years—not 100 years, as Trump claims. As for bacon prices, they have increased by 17% since Trump left office, not the four to five times he mentioned. The average cost for a pound of bacon was $5.83 in January 2021 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and has risen to $6.83 , reflecting a significant but not unprecedented increase.
Did Trump actually build hundreds of miles of border wall?
Claim:
“I built hundreds of miles of wall” to protect the southern border.
Verdict:
Partially True. Trump did oversee the construction of more than 450 miles of border wall, according to US Customs and Border Protection. However, it’s important to note that only 85 miles of this were entirely new sections of wall; the rest involved replacing or reinforcing existing barriers. While construction was halted under President Biden, a section of wall in southern Texas was later approved, highlighting the ongoing complexity of border security.
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Conclusion
In summary, Trump’s conversation with Elon Musk featured a mix of exaggerations, misleading statements, and partial truths. While some of his points were rooted in reality, others strayed far from the facts, illustrating the importance of fact-checking in political discourse.
