AP FACT CHECK: Trump's bogus claims about Biden win, vaccine
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is rebelling against Democrat Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election with denial, delay and outright misrepresentation.
Trump raged about widespread cases of fake ballots that aren't so and undertook legal challenges that even state GOP election officials say can't overcome Biden’s lead. Over the weekend, he also misrepresented Georgia's process for verifying signatures on absentee ballot envelopes.
Meanwhile, as the coronavirus surged nationwide, Trump said little about public safety measures. Instead he tried to take full credit for drugmaker Pfizer Inc.’s news that its COVID-19 vaccine may be 90% effective and suggested the mission was basically done.
His assertions on both matters are untrue.
A review of the past week's claims:
VACCINE DISTRIBUTION
TRUMP, on Pfizer’s announcement: “As soon as April, the vaccine will be available to the entire general population with the exception of places like New York state where for political reasons the governor decided to say — and I don’t think it’s good politically, I think it’s very bad from a health standpoint — but he wants to take his time with a vaccine. ... We can’t be delivering it to a state that won’t be giving it to its people immediately.” — remarks Friday.
TRUMP: “I LOVE NEW YORK! ... The problem is, @NYGovCuomo said that he will delay using it, and other states WANT IT NOW... We cannot waste time and can only give to those states that will use the Vaccine immediately. Therefore the New York delay.” — tweet Saturday.
THE FACTS: That’s a misrepresentation. New York’s separate review doesn’t guarantee a protracted delay.
Trump is referring to a state panel of experts that Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D-N.Y., announced in September...