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Facts Matter: Harris, Trump deliver false claims during fiery debate

The first debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump included memorable moments, along with some false information.

As the presidential candidates squared off on Tuesday, Harris focused on Trump’s term as president, claiming, “Trump left us the worst unemployment since the Great Depression.”

But that’s not quite right, according to ABC News. And the claim lacks context.

While Trump was in the White House, the unemployment rate spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic and peaked at 14.8% in April 2020, the highest level since the Great Depression. But the next administration wasn’t “left” with this rate.

By the time President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris took office, in January 2021, the unemployment rate had dropped to 6.4%.

The lowest rate during Trump’s term was 3.5%, while the lowest rate under Biden has been 3.4%.

Trump repeated debunked claim

While discussing immigration during the debate, former President Trump made a startling claim: "In Springfield (Ohio), they're eating the dogs, the people that came in, they're eating the cats. They're eating, they're eating the pets of the people that live there,” Trump said.

But this is completely false, according to PolitiFact. This claim had been debunked before the debate.

In a Sept. 9 fact check, PolitiFact looked into recent social media posts claiming Haitian immigrants were eating pets and wildlife in Springfield, Ohio. The post included stories of neighbors finding their pets slaughtered and ducks being killed at local parks.

These false claims were shared by various social media users, including X owner Elon Musk and Republican vice president candidate JD Vance.

Springfield city spokesperson Karen Graves told PolitiFact the city has not received any information to substantiate these claims.

“In response to recent rumors alleging criminal activity by the immigrant population in our city, we wish to clarify that there have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community," Graves said.

Account didn’t belong to accused shooter

A gunman opened fire at a high school in Winder, Georgia, on Sept. 4, killing two students and two teachers.

Authorities said Apalachee High School students Christian Angulo, 14, and Mason Schermerhorn, 14, along with teachers Cristina Irimie, 53, and Richard Aspinwall, 39, were killed by 14-year-old Colt Gray, who has been charged with murder.

Following the tragic event, claims about the shooting began showing up on social media.

One post apparently included a screenshot of an X profile for the accused shooter. The image includes a gun emoji and a person wearing a Kamala Harris hat, along with a text.

That account was deleted, but an archived version of the post shows a person who appears to be backing Donald Trump, with the text, “MAGA, ANTIFASH, TRUMP 24.”

But neither of the accounts are real, according to PolitiFact.

Before the Sept. 4 shooting, this account appeared to belong to a user named “S. Poster,” and it included the statement, “To any lawyers, journos, cops & the CIA: this content is all fake and made up.”

Hells Angels not in motorcycle clip

A recent social media post claims the Hells Angels are headed to Colorado.

“Hell (sic) Angels are on the way to Aurora, Colorado, to save the city after gangs from Venezuela took over apartments and destroyed places there!” read a Sept. 1 Instagram post that included a video showing a large group of motorcycle riders.

But that’s false, according to USA Today. The ride in the video happened nearly a month before any reports of gang violence in Colorado.

The Rocky Mountain chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club responded to the false claim in a Sept. 4 Instagram post.

“A social media rumor claiming that the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club – HAMC – is headed to Aurora, Colorado to violently confront Venezuelan immigrants has gone viral. The HAMC strongly denies the foundation and validity of these absolutely ridiculous and false claims,” the post read.

Reports of gang activity at an apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado., began in August. Interim Aurora Police Chief Heather Morris had previously said that property in question was not being “taken over” by gang members, USA Today reported.

The clip of motorcycle riders is actually from a July 7 TikTok post, and the user who posted it told USA Today it had nothing to do with the reports of violence in Colorado.

"This video (is) not Hells Angels. This is (Brazilian motorcycle club) Insanos 18 MC,” the user said.

• Bob Oswald is a veteran Chicago-area journalist and former news editor of the Elgin Courier-News. Contact him at boboswald33@gmail.com.

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