The Republican nominee claimed to be an environmentalist and a crime expert all in the same week, but the numbers didn’t add up

Military and law enforcement personnel

“I’m proud of the fact that I’ve always treated the working people of this country with dignity and respect, especially our military and law enforcement personnel.” – 11 October, interview with Fox News

The lies Trump told this week: taxes, bankruptcy and the great 'depression' Read more

Trump has not always treated members of the military and law enforcement with respect. Last year he insulted John McCain, who endured torture as a prisoner of war in Vietnam; this summer he derided the Muslim parents of a soldier who died in the Iraq war; he has called top generals “embarrassing to our country” and said they have been “reduced to rubble”; and he has repeatedly impugned the ethics of federal investigators and even public safety officers such as fire marshals.

Crime

“You look at the crime and you wonder why. And by the way, do you know, it was just announced that murder is the highest it’s been in our country in 45 years?” – 11 October, Panama City, Florida

“We have the highest murder rate in this country in 45 years. More people are being murdered now than being murdered in 45 years.” – 12 October, Lakeland, Florida

Trump has distorted an FBI statistic to make a false claim: in September the agency reported that murders and non-negligent manslaughter rose in the US by 10.8% in 2015, the largest single-year increase since 1971. That is not the same as saying there are more murders in the US than at any point since 1971: 15,696 murders were reported in 2015, down from 1991 and 1993 highs of 24,703 and 24,526. There were more murders in 1971 (17,780) than in 2015.

The murder rate declined 42% from 1993 to 2014, even though the population increased by a quarter.

During this week’s debate Trump almost cited the statistic accurately, saying: “We have an increase in murder within our cities, the biggest in 45 years.” But the FBI figure is a national one, not restricted to cities.

Murders up 10.8% in biggest percentage increase since 1971, FBI data shows Read more

Climate change

“Climate change. Now I want, and just so you know, do you know that I’ve won numerous environmental awards? I’m a believer in the environment. It’s gotta be within reason. I’m a believer.” – 12 October, Ocala, Florida

Trump has claimed off and on to be an environmentalist since at least 2008, when he was battling with officials in Scotland to build a golf course and resort on land that had been home to a variety of wildlife. He has maintained for years that the US should drill for oil wherever possible – an opinion that falls well out of line with even the moderate environmentalism of Hillary Clinton, who has taken oil and gas exploration on a case-by-case basis.

He has claimed to have received environmental awards since 2011, though the only award that could be found seems to be a 2007 prize given to the Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey by the Metropolitan Golf Association Foundation. That award was received by the grounds director, Greg Nicoli, for preserving 45 acres of bird habitat on the property. A few years later, Trump cut down a small forest in Virginia for the sake of another golf course, and in May of 2011 New Jersey’s department of environmental protection fined him for repeated violations. He has also called for dismantling basic Environmental Protection Agency programs and rules.

Trump has repeatedly said he does not believe in climate change, which is more pertinent to the environment than a New Jersey golf course. In 2014 he called it a “hoax”, and in 2012 he claimed it was invented by China to trick Americans into caring about environmental regulations.

Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.

The Earth is warming at an “unprecedented rate”, Nasa reported in August, sea ice is disappearing, and more than 97% of climate scientists agree that the climate is warming dangerously. Researchers are already drawing links between such climate change and disasters such as Louisiana’s deadly flooding in September.

Endorsements

“And by the way, ICE just gave us their endorsement, first time ever, and the border patrol, all the agents, 16,500 agents just gave us their support.” – 12 October, Lakeland, Florida



Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a government agency. It does not endorse political candidates. A union representing about 7,600 ICE officials endorsed Trump in September. A group representing 16,500 of 21,000 border patrol agents similarly endorsed Trump. This does not represent all the agents.