WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is twisting reality on gun control and the environment, in a week of familiar exaggerations, misstatements and fabrications on topics from drug prices and the news media to trade.
Pressed over the weekend for his position on gun legislation, Trump declined to answer whether he would support expanded background checks in the wake of deadly mass shootings and blamed Democrats in Congress for "doing nothing" on the issue.
That's not true. The Democratic-controlled House in February approved legislation, which has stalled because the Senate hasn't acted. Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he won't move on it or any gun legislation until Trump says what he wants.
On the environment, Trump is dismissing the reality of stalled U.S. progress in air quality. In revoking California's authority to set stricter fuel economy standards on cars than Washington, he claimed that more lenient rules would be "good" for the environment. His administration's data show otherwise.
Here is a recap of Trump’s recent fabrications.
GUN CONTROL
TRUMP, on gun legislation: "It's an issue that, frankly, Congress is wasting all their time on nonsense. ... The Democrats in Congress are doing nothing." — remarks to reporters Sunday
THE FACTS: Actually, Trump is the holdup on gun control legislation.
The House passed a bill in February that would require background checks on all gun sales, including those between strangers who meet online or at gun shows. But McConnell, R-Ky., said it's not clear the Senate would be able to pass the legislation or that Trump would sign it into law. Last week, McConnell said that Congress would remain "in a holding pattern" on gun control as lawmakers await proposals from the White House.
Trump had pledged to veto the House-passed bill, but then offered contradictory messages in reacting to recent mass shootings. Days after the El Paso shooting in August, he said he was eager to implement "very meaningful background checks" on guns and told reporters there was "tremendous support" for action. He later backed away, saying the present system of background checks was "very, very strong."
A proposal floated last week by Attorney General William Barr on Capitol Hill would require background checks on all commercial gun sales, including at gun shows. Trump told reporters the plan was one of many ideas under consideration and he would go "very slowly."
He and White House aides have discussed a number of gun control measures with lawmakers, including steps to go after fraudulent buyers, notify state and local law enforcement when a potential buyer fails a background check, issue state-level emergency risk protection orders, boost mental health assistance and speed up executions for those convicted of mass shootings.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., have told Trump that gun-control legislation must include the House-passed bill to expand background checks, saying any other proposal could leave open dangerous loopholes.
CLIMATE
STEVEN MNUCHIN, secretary of the Treasury: "We are very focused on clean air, clean water ...The U.S. technology has made major progress in these areas." — interview Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union"
TRUMP: "You know right now we have the cleanest air that we have ever had in this country?" — New Mexico rally on Sept. 16.