Fact Checking the First 2024 GOP Presidential Debate

The eight candidates at Wednesday's 2024 Republican primary debate had a lot to say, leaving plenty for media outlets to fact check.

Culture War: Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) suggested the Department of Justice (DOJ) called parents complaining at school board meetings "domestic terrorists." That label came from a letter from the National School Boards Association to the DOJ, rather than from the DOJ itself.

Government Spending: Nikki Haley suggested that "Donald Trump added $8 trillion to our debt." The number is accurate, but several trillion dollars of that was tied to bipartisan COVID-19 relief. 

Abortion: Former Vice President Mike Pence said a 15-week abortion ban is "supported by 70 percent of the American people." A recent AP-NORC (Lean Left bias) poll says roughly half of Americans think abortions should be banned at 15 weeks. In April 2022, a Wall Street Journal (Center bias) poll found that "more American voters favor the idea of a 15-week abortion ban than oppose it."

The Climate: Haley suggested at one point that China and India top the U.S. in carbon emissions. According to multiple sources, China tops the U.S. in total emissions, but the U.S. emits more per capita.

Bias in Coverage: Left- and center-rated fact-checkers often focused on claims about the climate, abortion, and COVID-19. Some also highlighted claims former President Donald Trump made in his interview with Tucker Carlson (Right bias). Right-rated fact checkers tended to focus more on claims about government spending.