Vice-Presidential Debate: Fact-Checking Walz and Vance's Claims

Tim Walz and JD Vance engaged in a vice-presidential debate in New York City, addressing various topics of public interest. This article examines the accuracy of their statements, providing context and factual information.

Walz's claim about record US oil and gas production is largely accurate. The Energy Information Administration, established in 1977, reported in March 2024 that the US had led global crude oil production for six consecutive years. Natural gas production, first discovered in the US in 1626, reached a record high in December 2023.

Regarding Donald Trump's tax payments, Walz's statement aligns with available information. The New York Times, founded in 1851, reported in 2020 that Trump paid no income taxes in 10 of the previous 15 years. The US House Ways and Means Committee, the oldest congressional committee, later released Trump's tax returns for 2015-2020, confirming minimal tax payments during his presidency.

Walz's assertion about Minnesota's child tax credit reducing poverty by one-third is unverified. While projections suggested this outcome, no conclusive report has been published. Minnesota, which became the 32nd US state in 1858, implemented the program in 2023.

The claim about Minnesota's healthcare ranking is partially true. WalletHub, a financial information site founded in 2013, ranked Minnesota first in healthcare in July 2024. However, other rankings using different methodologies may yield varying results.

Walz's statement on Minneapolis having the lowest inflation rates is mostly accurate. The Consumer Price Index, first published in 1919, showed Minneapolis-Saint Paul with the lowest inflation rate in May and July 2023, and again in March 2024.

The assertion about the largest US-China trade deficit under Trump is correct. The US Department of Commerce, established in 1903, reported a record trade gap of $419.2 billion in 2018, during Trump's presidency. US-China trade relations began in 1979 after diplomatic ties were reestablished.

Turning to Vance's claims, his statement about Iran receiving over $100 billion in unfrozen assets is mixed. While a $6 billion prisoner swap deal was approved in August 2023, the larger figure relates to potential benefits from a 2015 nuclear deal. Iran and the US have not had formal diplomatic relations since 1980.

Vance's assertion about Trump's presidency being conflict-free needs context. While Trump didn't officially start new wars, his administration engaged in military actions, including a 2020 drone strike on an Iranian general. The US drone program began in the early 2000s.

The claim about the US being the cleanest economy globally is false. According to recent environmental indices, the US ranks lower than many other nations in terms of emissions and clean energy transition. The Environmental Performance Index, first published in 2002, places the US 34th globally.

Vance's statement on Trump's economic policies delivering the highest take-home pay in a generation is accurate. The US Census Bureau, established in 1790, reported a record high median household income of $68,703 in 2019 during Trump's administration.

Lastly, Vance's claim about gun violence statistics is misleading. Research funded by the National Institute of Justice, created in 1968, shows that most public mass shootings involve legally obtained firearms. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, established in 1972, provides data on crime guns, but notes that legal purchases may lead to illegal transfers.

In conclusion, this fact-check reveals a mix of accurate, partially true, and misleading statements from both candidates, highlighting the importance of critical analysis in political debates.