President Joe Biden delivered his third State of the Union address to a split Congress on Thursday, March 7, with Republicans controlling the House and Democrats controlling the Senate.
Biden touched on the Israel-Hamas war, the nation’s economy and healthcare, among other issues.
Following Biden’s address, Alabama Sen. Katie Britt, the youngest Republican woman elected to the Senate, delivered a response for the GOP.
The VERIFY team fact-checked claims from Biden’s address and the GOP response.
THE CLAIM
President Biden: “Inflation has dropped from 9% to 3%, the lowest in the world.”
THE SOURCES
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- International Monetary Fund
- Trading Economics
- The Financial Times
- U.K. Office for National Statistics
- Bank of Canada
- https://www.verifythis.com/watch
Inflation rates have indeed dropped from 9.1% to 3.1% in the United States, which is among the lowest in the world. However several countries have lower rates.
WHAT WE FOUND
In June 2022, the annual inflation rate in the United States was 9.1%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The most recent inflation number, from January 2024, shows that annual rate has fallen to 3.1%.
Data from multiple sources show that number is lower than in much of the world, including some other major powers. The United Kingdom, for instance, reported a 4.2% inflation rate in January 2024.
However, several countries – including major powers – reported lower inflation rates. Canada, for instance, reported 2.9% inflation in January.
THE CLAIM
President Biden: “Former President [Trump] told Putin, ‘Do whatever you want.’”
THE SOURCES
THE ANSWER
Trump said at a February rally that he would encourage Russia to “do whatever the hell they want” when discussing NATO countries that don’t pay enough for defence.
WHAT WE FOUND
Former President Donald Trump said during a rally in Conway, South Carolina, on Feb. 10 that, while he was president, he warned NATO allies that he “would encourage” Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to countries that are “delinquent.”
Trump told a story at the rally about an unidentified leader of a NATO country who asked him whether the U.S. would defend member countries against Russia if they don’t pay enough for defence.
“One of the presidents of a big country stood up and said, ‘Well, sir, if we don’t pay and we’re attacked by Russia, will you protect us?’ I said, ‘You didn’t pay, you’re delinquent.’ He said, ‘Yes, let’s say that happened.’ No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want.”
THE CLAIM
Biden: “The Alabama Supreme Court shut down IVF treatments across the state.”
THE SOURCES
- Alabama Supreme Court ruling in Le Page v. Center for Reproductive Medicine
- Jill Lens, professor of law at the University of Arkansas and a reproductive rights expert
- Katie O’Connor, director of federal abortion policy at the National Women’s Law Center
THE ANSWER
No, Alabama did not shut down IVF treatments across the state.
WHAT WE FOUND
On Feb. 16, the Alabama Supreme Court decided that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law. The ruling did not make IVF treatments illegal in the state, University of Arkansas law professor and reproductive rights expert Jill Lens and Katie O’Connor, director of federal abortion policy at the National Women’s Law Center told VERIFY.
While the ruling did not ban IVF treatments, it could have made them difficult to access.
Facing pressure to get IVF services restarted in the state, on March 6 Alabama’s governor signed legislation into law shielding doctors from potential legal liability raised by the court ruling.
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Thanks for your thoughts, comments and opinions, will be in touch. Peter Clarke