Opening Night of the Democratic National Convention

In a torch-passing speech, President Joe Biden vowed that he would be “the best volunteer” to help the campaign of his vice president, Kamala Harris. Biden also touted his accomplishments and took shots at the Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump. Several claims by Biden, and some from other Democrats at the Chicago convention, missed the mark.

Biden misleadingly cited “historic joblessness” in talking about his Inauguration Day in 2021. The economy was still struggling then, but many of the jobs lost in the early months of the pandemic had been regained.

Sen. Dick Durbin claimed that former President Trump “lost millions of jobs in America.” But that ignores the reason for the job losses: a global pandemic.

Biden said he created “a record 16 million new jobs.” That’s a record number increase for any president in their first 43 months. But on a percentage basis, which accounts for population growth, there was a slightly larger increase in employment under President Jimmy Carter.

Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez said Trump is “threatening to slash Medicare,” while Biden claimed that Trump wants to cut Medicare and Social Security. But Trump has consistently said he will not cut either program.