Fact-checking the December Republican Debate

During the fourth debate of the 2024 Republican presidential primary, several candidates including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Ambassador Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, made false, misleading or context-lacking claims. Former President Donald Trump did not take part in the debate. A fact check of the candidates' claims is presented here.

Ramaswamy on January 6 insurrection

During the GOP debate on Wednesday, Ramaswamy railed against the alleged "deep state" and endorsed a widely discredited conspiracy theory concerning the January 6, 2021, insurrection.

This conspiracy theory surfaced during the summer of 2021 through a collection of articles and TV segments from pro-Trump media outlets. It falsely alleges that the US government planned the US Capitol attack, using undercover FBI agents to incite violence in order to blame Trump supporters and tarnish Trump's reputation.

Supporting this theory is a web of unproven claims, half-truths, and inaccurate information from Trump supporters who are determined to clear him of any responsibility for the deadly assault.

FBI Director Wray emphasized that the violence at the Capitol on January 6 was not orchestrated by FBI sources or agents. The Justice Department has convicted about 850 rioters for crimes related to January 6, with most pleading guilty and admitting their support for Trump.

Ramaswamy has a track record of spreading false information about the events of January 6. During a recent campaign event in Iowa, he inaccurately stated that "the cops were just letting them in," in reference to the rioters. This specific lie was previously fact-checked by CNN in January 2022.

Haley on her proposal about social media platforms requiring name identification

Haleys rivals attacked her policy proposal to push social media platforms to require name identification on social media and ban anonymous posts on the platforms.

Haley originally suggested banning anonymous speech for all social media users, but later revised her proposal to target foreign actors online. She suggested requiring verified names for all social media posts, stating on Fox News in November that "every person on social media should be verified by their name. It's a national security threat."

After facing criticism from right-wing media and her political opponents for her initial proposal, Haley revised her stance the next day. She suggested that instead of US citizens, foreign-based individuals should be prohibited from posting anonymously on social media. However, she did not outline the specifics of how she planned to enforce this regulation on social media companies.

DeSantis on the Biden administrations banking policy

DeSantis alleged that the Biden administration is pushing for a "central bank digital currency," alleging that the president aims to eliminate physical cash and cryptocurrency, ultimately infringing on individuals' privacy.

Biden administration has not yet put forward a formal proposal for a "central bank digital currency," but it has initiated a government study on the future of money and cryptocurrency. In March 2022, President Biden signed an executive order mandating government agencies to produce reports evaluating the potential risks and rewards of establishing a "central bank digital currency" or a digital dollar.

Six months later, the Biden administration unveiled a framework for its strategy on digital currency, urging agencies to pursue additional research. The Federal Reserve has not yet made a decision on whether to adopt a digital currency.

Haley on banks lending mortgages

During the GOP debate on Wednesday, Haley mentioned that younger individuals are struggling to afford a home and expressed concern that banks are not providing them with loans. She stated that regulations have made it difficult for banks to offer mortgage loans to this demographic.

Haley's claims lack necessary context. Mortgage rates have surged as the Federal Reserve tightens monetary policy to combat historic inflation. In August, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage exceeded 7%, peaking at 7.79% in October. Most recently, mortgage rates averaged 7.22%.

Mortgage rates are often influenced by the yield on 10-year US Treasuries, which fluctuate based on a combination of predictions about the Federal Reserve's actions, the actual decisions of the central bank, and investor responses. As Treasury yields increase, mortgage rates also rise.

The US housing market has become the least affordable since 1984, due in part to high mortgage rates, historically low inventory, and tighter credit standards. Following financial turmoil and rising interest rates, banks and lenders have tightened their lending standards, leading to increased rejection rates for credit applications. In October 2023, rejection rates grew to 20.1%, up from 18% in 2022, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Mortgage credit availability has reached a 10-year low, leading to a significant decrease in loan demand. Homebuyers are facing greater difficulty in qualifying for and securing loans, although banks are still issuing mortgage loans.

From CNNs Alicia Wallace

DeSantis on gender affirming care

During the debate, DeSantis stated that he passed a bill in Florida to prevent gender mutilation of minors, calling it child abuse. However, most major medical associations consider gender affirming care to be medically necessary and evidence-based, contradicting DeSantis' claim.

Gender affirming care, a comprehensive approach to assisting individuals in transitioning to their true gender identity, is not considered "abuse" or "mutilation" by the medical community. It is a widely endorsed practice by leading medical associations, including the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, all of which support the clinical appropriateness of gender-affirming care for both children and adults.

Studies have demonstrated that gender-affirming care can significantly enhance an individual's mental health and overall well-being.

Gender-affirming care is essential for the overall health and well-being of transgender and nonbinary children and adolescents, according to the US Health and Human Services Department Office of Population Affairs. In May, DeSantis passed a law that imposes greater obstacles for adults seeking this treatment and prohibits it for children.

Research indicates that delaying or denying care for children can worsen stressors and health problems. According to the US Office of Population Affairs, gender-affirming treatment enhances self-esteem and overall quality of life, while peer-reviewed studies demonstrate its positive impact on general well-being. The American Academy of Pediatrics also asserts that gender-affirming care is appropriate and nonjudgmental, and based on individualized, scientifically proven effectiveness in a safe clinical environment.

Contrary to misconceptions, surgery is not considered "mutilation" and is not a necessary step for every transgender or nonbinary individual. In fact, experts recommend surgery as one of the later stages in gender-affirming care. Prepubertal children are not eligible for any medical or surgical interventions, and only a small percentage of adolescents might opt for procedures like top surgery. Genital reassignment surgery is exclusively reserved for adults, per guidelines from the Endocrine Society and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. Reports indicate high satisfaction rates and reduced psychological distress in adults who have undergone these surgeries.

From CNNs Jen Christensen

DeSantis on oil drilling

DeSantis pledged at the GOP debate on Wednesday to increase domestic energy production in order to reduce gas prices for consumers.

However, DeSantis' assertion that boosting domestic oil production will necessarily lead to lower gas prices is not entirely accurate.

Under President Biden, US oil production has surged to a new high this year, surpassing the output seen during the administration of former President Donald Trump. According to CNN, the US is now the leading oil producer in the world, exceeding the previous annual record set in 2019 by about half a million barrels per day.

Experts have informed CNN that gas prices in the US are heavily influenced by the global oil market, making true energy independence in terms of gas prices unattainable. As a global commodity, the price of oil worldwide directly impacts gas prices in the US and cannot be disassociated from events such as Russia's conflict with Ukraine or decisions made by OPEC to reduce oil production.

Bob McNally, president of Rapidan Energy Group and former George W. Bush White House official, pointed out that the US consumes a different type of oil than it produces during an interview with CNN last year. McNally likened the light crude produced in the US to champagne and compared the heavy crude it imports to coffee. He also mentioned that US oil refineries are designed to separate the heavy and gunky crude that is consumed in the country.

DeSantis on Oct. 7 attack in Israel

DeSantis asserted during a conversation on US policy towards Israel that the death toll from Hamas' deadly October 7 attacks in Israel was approximately 1,200 people.

There is limited historical data on terrorist attacks in the US dating back to 1776. However, the University of Maryland's Global Terrorism Database has comprehensive information on attacks in the US since 1970.

According to the US State Department, Hamas killed at least 32 American citizens in a large-scale attack in southern Israel. Data from the Global Terrorism Database supports this claim and suggests that it would have been one of the top 10 deadliest terrorist attacks in the US.

During the Hamas attack in October, several US citizens were kidnapped. Although four American hostages have been freed since the beginning of the conflict, the White House has confirmed that one American woman and seven men are still missing. This information was reported by CNN's Marshall Cohen.

DeSantis on China and land purchases in Florida

DeSantis said during Wednesday nights GOP debate in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, "I banned China from buying land in the state of Florida."

The law signed by DeSantis this year prohibits most land purchases in Florida by Chinese entities and individuals who are not US citizens or permanent residents. However, it does not completely ban all land purchases by these entities and individuals, despite what DeSantis may have suggested to debate viewers.

The law includes a provision that allows Chinese individuals with asylum status in the US or on a non-tourist US visa to buy a residential property of up to two acres, as long as the property is more than five miles away from a military installation. This information was reported by CNN's Kaanita Iyer and Daniel Dale.

DeSantis on progressives calling for the US to take in refugees from Gaza

DeSantis claimed some progressive members of Congress, known as "the Squad," called for the US to "import 300,000 people from the Gaza strip."

It is misleading to suggest that some progressives have proposed a specific number for the US to accept refugees. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has emphasized the historic role of the United States in accepting refugees and allowing people to restart their lives here.

The UN's report in October indicated that over 300,000 individuals have been forced to leave Gaza, but CNN did not uncover any evidence that members of the "Squad" supported the acceptance of a specific number of refugees.

Christie on his record on school policy in New Jersey

During the Republican debate on Wednesday, Christie refuted the claim that he had signed a law characterized by the moderator as requiring schools to "accept a child's preferred gender identity, even if the minor's parents objected," effectively allowing "the serious issue to remain a secret between the school and the child."

Christie's claim was that the law was put into effect and regulated in 2018 after he left office and that he did not issue the guidelines as the moderator was suggesting. What Christie actually did was sign a bill into law in 2017 that required the states education commissioner to create guidelines for schools to manage their transgender student population, including policies for addressing names, pronouns, and dress consistent with gender identity. Prior to signing the bill, Christie had stated that each school should handle the matter on its own, and he signed the bill without comment.

The guidance mentioned by the moderator was not released during Christie's tenure. It was actually released in 2018 under the subsequent governor, Democrat Phil Murphy. This information comes from CNN's Jen Christensen.