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AI points out statement Trump made during State of the Union address that is ‘flatly false’
AI has highlighted the "flatly false" statement President Donald Trump made during his State of the Union address.
On Tuesday (February 24), Trump delivered the longest-ever State of the Union speech, lasting one hour and 48 minutes.
To his left sat Republican supporters, who supported his comments on immigration, border security, and the economy with repeated standing ovations and chants of “USA, USA, USA," and to his right were Democrats, largely seated and silent throughout the address.
Those watching from the balconies were guests, which included athletes, veterans, individuals affected by Trump’s immigration crackdown, people who benefited from his tax policies, and survivors of crimes documented in the Epstein files.
Trump’s Tariff Claims
A major portion of the 79-year-old's address focused on tariffs and the economy.
Despite a recent Supreme Court ruling striking down his sweeping import taxes, Trump made clear he intends to continue using tariffs aggressively.
"I used these tariffs, took in hundreds of billions of dollars to make great deals for our country, both economically and on a national security basis," he said.
"Everything was working well. Countries that were ripping us off for decades are now paying us hundreds of billions of dollars...Everybody knows it. Even the Democrats know it."
"We made deals...There was no inflation, tremendous growth....And then just four days ago, an unfortunate ruling from the United States Supreme Court, it just came down," he continued. "So, despite the disappointing ruling, these powerful countries saving, is saving our country the kind of money we're taking in."
Trump then added that tariffs are "paid for by foreign countries," and would "replace the modern-day system of income tax, taking a great financial burden off the people that I love".
AI Calls Claim "Economic Fiction"
However, the YouTube channel I Ask AI turned to ChatGPT to fact-check the claim, and the chatbot concluded it is “flatly false” to suggest that tariffs are paid by foreign governments.
"Tariffs are paid by importers," AI said. "Those costs get passed to consumers. That's how pricing works."
"You can argue tariffs serve strategic goals. Fine. But pretending they're free money extracted from abroad is economic fiction. And the idea they could replace income taxes, that's not serious math," AI added.
Another Key Detail Disputed
Trump was also challenged over another false claim during the address, this time involving 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, whose mother, Anna, attended the speech as an unannounced guest of the president.
“Last summer, 23-year-old Iryna was riding home on the train when a deranged monster, who had been arrested over a dozen times and was released through no cash bail, stood up and viciously slashed a knife through her neck and body," he said. “No one will ever forget, the people on that train."
"No one will ever forget the expression of terror on Iryna’s face as she looked up at her attacker in the last seconds of her life. She died instantly," he said.
“She had escaped a brutal war only to be slain by a hardened criminal, set free to kill in America," Trump said. Turning directly to Iryna’s mother, he added: “Mrs. Zarutska, tonight I promise you that we will ensure justice for your magnificent daughter, Iryna."
However, during the speech, the president claimed that DeCarlos Brown, the man accused of murdering Iryna, "came in through open borders".
Reporting from The Charlotte Observer stated that the 34-year-old was born in Charlotte. His mother told the outlet he graduated from West Mecklenburg High School and worked at a local Subway.
She also said her son suffered from schizophrenia and that she and her husband had attempted to get him mental health treatment, but were allegedly turned away.
Brown has been charged with violence against a railroad carrier and mass transportation system resulting in death. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.