Fact Checkers EXPOSE Trump’s Factually Flawed Economic Speech (VIDEO)

After getting hammered in the press last week, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump sought a chance to right the ship Monday with an economic policy speech at the Detroit Economic Club.

A Dire Portrait Of America

In a departure from his usual off-the-cuff style, Trump’s economic speech seemed wooden at first. Rehearsed, even. The presidential candidate launched straight into a story. He insinuated that the nation was no longer looking out for its best interests:

“When we were governed by the America First policy, Detroit was absolutely booming. Engineers, builders, laborers, shippers, and countless others went to work each day, provided for their families, and lived out – totally – lived out the American Dream. But for many living in this city that dream has long ago vanished, when we abandoned the policy of America first we started rebuilding other countries instead of our own.”

After painting a bleak picture of present day Detroit, Trump went on to recite some grim statistics about the city:

“Today, Detroit has per capita income of under $15,000 dollars. About half of the national average.”

“…40 percent of the city’s residents live in poverty. Over two-and-a-half times the national average.”

“…The unemployment rate is almost twice the national average.”

You may be wondering about the veracity of those assertions. NPR quickly delivered a report fact-checking these and other statements. Technically, they are true (and the highly exaggerated claims don’t come until later in the speech).

Highlighting the issues and coming up with solutions are two different matters. What did Trump have in the way of answers? Before getting to his own policies, Trump wasted no time pointing the finger at Hillary Clinton:

“Every policy that has failed this city and so many others is a policy supported by Hillary Clinton.”

Donald Trump’s Economic Vision

After a few more jabs at Clinton (and Democratic leadership in general), Trump finally started to outline his own economic vision. First, a three-bracket tax plan:

“My plan will reduce the current number of brackets from 7 to 3, and dramatically streamline the process. We will work with House Republicans on this plan, using the same brackets they have proposed: 12, 25 and 33 percent.”

Donald Trump called for regulatory reform, stating that he had but one goal in this regard:

“I want jobs and I want wealth to stay in America. Motor vehicle manufacturing is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the country and even in the world. The U.S. economy today is twenty-five percent smaller than it would have been without the surge of regulations since 1980.”

He also harped on trade reforms, in particular, his distaste for the Trans-Pacific Partnership:

“Hillary Clinton’s Trans-Pacific Partnership will be an even bigger disaster for the auto industry, believe me, even bigger and even worse than NAFTA.”

Trump used the rest of the speech to paint himself as the harbinger of change. A defender of the working man. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, though. The crowd interrupted with jeers and protest.

He may have exaggerated many of his claims during the speech as well. NBC, The Associated Press, and Business Insider all released fact-checking reports sharply criticizing his words.

You can watch the speech in its entirety here:

https://youtu.be/eMLs9XkrVj0

Featured Image: Screenshot Via YouTube Video.