Podcaster and comedian Andrew Schultz couldn’t contain his laughter this week when former President Donald Trump attempted to defend his own honesty during an appearance on Schultz’s Flagrant podcast. When Trump claimed he was “basically a truthful person,” Schultz burst into hysterics for several seconds, highlighting the skepticism many have towards Trump’s assertion.
Fact-checkers have repeatedly challenged Trump’s statements during his time in office, with records showing a staggering level of dishonesty. According to a report by the Washington Post, Trump made over 30,000 false or misleading statements during his four-year term, which ended in January 2021.
What’s particularly notable, as reported by the Post, is that Trump’s dishonesty escalated as his presidency progressed. “Trump averaged about six [false] claims a day in his first year as president, 16 claims a day in his second year, 22 claims a day in his third year — and 39 claims a day in his final year,” the Post wrote at the time. The report further detailed that it took Trump 27 months to reach the 10,000-claim mark, an additional 14 months to surpass 20,000, and then less than five months to exceed 30,000.
Schultz’s reaction to Trump’s defense of his honesty highlights the ongoing skepticism and scrutiny the former president faces over his claims. Despite Trump’s insistence on his truthfulness, his record tells a different story, with fact-checkers documenting thousands of instances where his statements did not align with reality. The moment on Schultz’s podcast underscores the continuing debate over Trump’s credibility as he remains a prominent figure in American politics.