At a rally in Iowa, U.S. President Donald Trump presented various statistics to his supporters, aiming to showcase the achievements of his first year back in office. Among his claims were that 80 percent of Americans back his immigration enforcement efforts and that mass deportations had led to a 78 percent decrease in crime rates in Memphis, Tenn., within two months. Given Trump’s history of spreading misinformation, a closer examination is warranted to verify the accuracy of these figures.
U.S. Trade Deficit:
During his speech, Trump asserted that his policies had reduced America’s trade deficit by 77 percent, contrasting it with what he described as “the largest trade deficit in world history” under his predecessor, Joe Biden. However, recent data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis for November 2025 reveals that the U.S. trade deficit actually expanded by nearly 95 percent since the previous month, marking the most significant increase since March 1992.
Tariffs Revenue:
Trump highlighted the revenue generated through tariffs, claiming that the U.S. had collected “hundreds of billions” of dollars. The most recent data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows that tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act yielded an estimated $133.5 billion US between February 4 and December 14, 2025, with the total projected to approach $150 billion US based on average daily collections.
Wages:
Trump credited his administration with raising real wages by over $2,000 after just one year, contrasting it with unspecified losses incurred during Biden’s tenure. Recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates a growth in median weekly earnings for full-time wage and salary workers, from $1,159 per week in 2024 to $1,204 in 2025.
Mortgage Rates:
Trump mentioned that mortgage interest rates were at a three-year low and new mortgage applications had surged by 30 percent, without specifying the timeframe. As of Jan. 22, mortgage rates were indeed at their lowest in three years, according to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. Mortgage applications had risen by 28.5 percent as of Jan. 14, though a subsequent update reported an 8.5 percent decrease from the previous week.
Crime Reduction:
Trump asserted that his administration’s efforts had significantly reduced crime nationwide by targeting criminals. He claimed a 78 percent drop in crime in Memphis, Tenn., and a 54 percent decline in New Orleans. Analysis by the Council on Criminal Justice showed decreases in various crime types across 40 major U.S. cities in 2025, attributing the trend to a mix of societal changes and policy interventions.
Support for Immigration Enforcement:
Trump cited a recent Harvard CAPS Harris poll indicating that 80 percent of respondents supported deporting criminal aliens. However, the poll specifically asked about deporting immigrants who committed crimes while being in the country illegally, garnering 80 percent approval. Another poll indicated public concern over the aggressiveness of ICE’s unauthorized immigration handling efforts, with 59 percent feeling they were excessive.
