IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

Fact-Checking Hillary Clinton's Speech

Fact-checking Hillary Clinton's convention speech.
Image: US-VOTE-DEMOCRATS-CONVENTION
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton arrives on stage during the fourth and final night of the Democratic National Convention at Wells Fargo Center on July 28, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty ImagesSAUL LOEB / AFP - Getty Images

So what did Hillary Clinton get wrong in her acceptance speech Thursday night? And what did she get right?

CLINTON'S CLAIM: "Most of all, don't believe anyone who says: 'I alone can fix it.' Those were actually Donald Trump's words in Cleveland. And they should set off alarm bells for all of us."

THE FACTS: Yes, Trump did say those words in his convention speech last week: "Nobody knows the system better than me, which is why I alone can fix it." But on NBC's "Meet the Press" last weekend, Trump said that using the words "I alone" meant a contrast with Clinton, not that he would do it by himself. "I'll tell you, part of it was I'm comparing myself to Hillary. And we know Hillary, and we look at her record," he told NBC's Chuck Todd.

CLINTON'S CLAIM: "Our economy is so much stronger than when they [the Obama administration] took office. Nearly 15 million new private-sector jobs.”

THE FACTS: Since Oct. 2010, the U.S. economy has added nearly 14 million jobs (both private-sector and public-sector) for 69-straight months. And since early 2010, the Labor Department says that 14.8 million private-sector jobs have been created. But that doesn't account for the jobs LOST during the Great Recession during Obama's presidency. The net job growth is 10 million overall jobs.

CLINTON'S CLAIM: "If you believe that we should say 'no' to unfair trade deals ... then join us."

THE FACTS: Clinton now says that she opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade agreement, but she championed it when serving as President Obama's secretary of state, even calling the agreement the "gold standard" in trade deals. "This TPP sets the gold standard in trade agreements to open free, transparent, fair trade, the kind of environment that has the rule of law and a level playing field. And when negotiated, this agreement will cover 40 percent of the world's total trade and build in strong protections for workers and the environment," she said in Nov. 2012.

CLINTON'S CLAIM: "[Trump] also talks a big game about putting America First. Please explain to me what part of America First leads him to make Trump ties in China, not Colorado."

THE FACTS: Correct. Trump has justified that, telling CNN: "A lot [of my ties] are made in China, because they've manipulated their currency to such a point where it's impossible for our companies to compete."