Fact check on the debate between Tim Walz and JD Vance: Who lied, who told the truth? |

During a recent debate, politicians made numerous claims on issues ranging from U.S. energy production to health care to gun violence, prompting scrutiny over their veracity. While some claims, such as the U.S.’s maintenance of record oil production and Trump’s influence on the trade deficit, stand up to scrutiny, others—such as claims about Iran’s access to assets and gun violence statistics—represent more nuanced realities. This fact check takes a closer look Truth behind these statements reveals a complex mix of accuracy and exaggeration.
Statements by Tim Walz
CLAIM: Walz explained that the United States is producing more natural gas and oil than ever before.
WHAT WE KNOW: This statement is largely true. In March 2024, the US Energy Information Administration confirmed that the country was the largest producer of crude oil for six consecutive years, breaking production records. The agency also reported that no other country is expected to surpass the U.S. production level of 13.0 million barrels per day any time soon. The U.S. averaged 12.9 million barrels per day in 2023. Additionally, dry natural gas production reached an all-time high in December 2023, although it is expected to decline in 2024 for the first time since 2020.
CLAIM: “Donald Trump has paid no federal taxes in 10 of the last 15 years, including his final year as president.”
WHAT WE KNOW: This claim is mostly correct based on public records. In 2020, The New York Times revealed that Trump had paid no federal income taxes in 10 out of 15 years due to significant reported losses. However, he paid $750 in federal taxes in his first year in office and the year he won the election. Trump dismissed these reports as “fake news.” Documents later released by the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee showed that he paid no income tax in his final year as president, although he paid some form of tax in all four years.
CLAIM: Minnesota’s child tax credit has reduced child poverty by a third.
WHAT WE KNOW: This remains uncertain. Minnesota’s 2023 child tax credit should reduce child poverty by a third, according to a forecast from Columbia University’s Center on Poverty & Social Policy. However, there is no concrete report confirming whether this goal has been achieved. The governor’s office released figures showing more than $545 million was distributed to over 215,000 families, but no detailed analysis of the impact on poverty was released.
CLAIM: Minnesota ranks first in healthcare.
WHAT WE KNOW: That’s true, depending on the source. WalletHub, a financial information site, ranked Minnesota as the best health care system in the U.S. in a 2024 report based on factors such as cost, health care accessibility and quality. Other rankings, such as those from Forbes, also place Minnesota at the top, but results may vary depending on the specific metrics used by different evaluators.
CLAIM: Minneapolis experienced the lowest inflation rates.
WHAT WE KNOW: This is usually accurate in certain time periods. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the Minneapolis-Saint Paul region experienced the lowest inflation rate in the U.S. in May and July 2023 and March 2024, based on the 12-month percentage change in the consumer price index.
CLAIM: Walz said Trump has created the largest trade deficit in U.S. history with China.
WHAT WE KNOW: That’s true. Under Trump’s presidency, the U.S. trade deficit with China reached a record $419.2 billion in 2018, up from the previous record of $375.5 billion in 2017. This followed a series of tariffs Chinese goods, which led to retaliatory tariffs on US products.
Statements by JD Vance
CLAIM: Vance claimed that Iran received over $100 billion in unfrozen assets thanks to the Kamala Harris administration.
WHAT WE KNOW: This is a mixed claim. In August 2023, a prisoner exchange deal between the United States and Iran resulted in the release of $6 billion in Iranian assets previously frozen in South Korea. However, after a Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, the US announced that Iran would not have access to these funds in the foreseeable future. While previous negotiations related to the 2015 nuclear deal could have given Iran access to $100 billion in frozen assets, this figure comes from an earlier context and is not directly related to the current administration.
CLAIM: Vance claimed that no major conflict occurred under Trump’s presidency.
WHAT WE KNOW: This requires more context. Although Trump did not officially lead the US into a new war, his term in office was marked by several military conflicts, including the assassination of the Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and rocket attacks on Syria. Trump also made inflammatory statements, particularly toward North Korea, and raised the possibility of significant military action.
CLAIM: The USA is the cleanest economy in the world.
WHAT WE KNOW: That’s wrong. According to the EU Global Atmospheric Research Emissions Database 2024, the US was the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases after China. In 2023, the US emitted 11.25% of global greenhouse gases, far less than China at 30.1%. On a per capita basis, the U.S. also had higher emissions than several other countries, although countries like Canada and Russia emitted more per capita. The United States ranked 19th in the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Energy Transition Index.
CLAIM: Vance suggested that Kamala Harris’ policies have led to more energy production in China and increased production abroad.
WHAT WE KNOW: Vance may have been referring to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which encourages domestic energy production and manufacturing. It is still too early to determine the law’s full impact on U.S. manufacturing, but early research suggests it has supported domestic clean energy development. China, which dominates the global battery and solar panel supply chain, was excluded from certain subsidies under the law, raising tensions.
CLAIM: Trump’s economic policies led to the highest take-home pay in a generation.
WHAT WE KNOW: That’s true. Median household income in the U.S. reached a record high of $68,703 in 2019, the largest increase since the Census Bureau began tracking these numbers in 1967. The increase was attributed to increased employment and higher full-time employment.
CLAIM: Most gun violence in the United States involves illegally purchased firearms.
WHAT WE KNOW: This is a bit misleading. Research into public mass shootings between 1966 and 2019 found that 77% of firearms used were purchased legally, while only 13% were purchased illegally. Many guns used in school shootings were stolen from family members. Although many firearms used in crimes were initially purchased legally, they often later changed hands illegally.
With contributions from Reuters