Newport News Rally a Reminder to Virginians that Trump Can’t Be Trusted as Campaign Heads into Debate Week

From the Democratic Party of Virginia:

Newport News Rally a Reminder to Virginians that Trump Can’t Be Trusted as Campaign Heads into Debate Week

RICHMOND – President Trump’s rally in Newport News last night was a string of lies, false claims, and broken promises, the latest reminder to Virginians that Trump cannot be trusted as he prepares to take the stage for the first general election debate on Tuesday.

Trump tried to rewrite his failed record last night, telling Virginians lies about his stance on health care, COVID-19 response, and even his treatment of military families:

Claim: “We are bringing the price of health insurance way down.”

Reality: The week after the election, the Trump administration will go before the Supreme Court in a case to have the Affordable Care Act struck down, his latest effort to get rid of the law. If the ACA is repealed, at least 22 million people would face increased premiums due to losing expanded access to Medicaid or cost-sharing reductions for the individual marketplace. Repealing the ACA would also cause premiums to shoot up by as much as 100% or more for the 130 million and counting Americans under 65 who have pre-existing conditions.

Claim: “I give us an A or A+” on pandemic response.

Reality: Over 204,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus, including more than 3,100 in Virginia, and accounts for over a fifth of global coronavirus deaths despite having less than 5% of the global population. Due to Trump’s pandemic response, the unemployment rate in Virginia is 6.1%, more than twice what it was at the start of the year.

Claim: “We will always support our incredible Gold Star families.”

Reality: Trump’s 2017 tax giveaway gave a massive tax hike to Gold Star families while cutting taxes for the wealthiest Americans.

But last night’s lies are nothing new for Virginians. After all, Trump has a track record of coming into the commonwealth and holding rallies filled with promises he’ll never keep. Take a look at just some of the lies he’s told to the faces of Virginians:

Promise: “We’re going to have that great health care program. But we’re going to take care of everyone, we’re going to take care of people. And people are going to pay much less and get it so good.” [Trump Campaign Rally, Richmond VA, 10/14/15]

Reality: If Republicans successfully overturn the Affordable Care Act, 642,000 Virginians could lose their health coverage, nearly doubling the state’s number of uninsured residents. Without the ACA’s protections, as many as 3.4 million Virginians with preexisting conditions could have been denied coverage or charged higher rates.

Promise: “We’re not gonna cut Social Security. We’re not gonna cut Medicare.” [Trump Campaign Rally, Manassas VA, 12/2/15]

Reality: Trump’s budgets have proposed cutting billions of dollars from Social Security programs, and hundreds of billions from Medicare and Medicaid. More than 1.2 million Virginians rely on their hard-earned Medicare benefits, and one out of every four Virginia children are covered through Medicaid.

Promise: “Your taxes will go way way down under a Trump administration.” [Trump Campaign Rally, Virginia Beach VA, 10/22/16]

Reality: Trump’s tax scam will end up hiking taxes on more than 1 million Virginians while handing a windfall to powerful special interests.

Promise: “Your jobs will come back under a Trump administration. Your incomes will go up under a Trump administration.” [Trump Campaign Rally, Virginia Beach VA, 10/22/16]

Reality: Trump’s tax scam incentivizes corporations to ship even more jobs overseas.

Promise: “We’re going to build up our military stronger than it’s ever been before. Ever, ever, ever, ever.” [Trump Campaign Rally, Norfolk VA, 10/31/15]

Reality: Trump diverted over $77 million in funding from Hampton Roads military projects toward his obsession with building a border wall.

“Last night President Trump lied about his broken economy, his disastrous COVID response, and his attempts to take away health care for Virginians with pre-existing conditions, and the only surprise is that he didn’t lie even more,” said DPVA Press Secretary Hannah Muldavin. “Virginians across the Commonwealth are sick and tired of Trump’s broken promises, and going into Tuesday night’s debate, they all know Trump can’t be trusted.”