On May 12, 2020 NBC claimed that President Donald Trump made false claims regarding COVID-19 testing. NBC's claim is unsupported by fact and in itself false.Trump stated that "If somebody wants to be tested right now, they'll be able to be tested.".
On May 12, 2020 NBC claimed that President Donald Trump made false claims regarding COVID-19 testing. NBC's claim is unsupported by fact and in itself false.
Fact Check: False Claim by NBC
NBC's claim is unsubstantiated and false. NBC based its claim on a poll which showed 5% of people they polled said they were able to be tested and that 12 million expected tests do not equate to more than 3.6% of the population.
- Fact: An answer to a poll is not a scientific metric.
- Fact: Polls are both historically and notoriously inaccurate
- Fact: Tests expected not equating to 100% of the population is meaningless.
- Fact: Nothing stated by NBC negates President Trump's statement.
NBC appears to base the expectation of testing 12 million people not equating to the entire population of the United States, 9 million of who had already been tested, on its conclusion that anyone who wants a test cannot be tested.
The accurate conclusion would be that the data given would be inconclusive and could not support any such claim. Another issue with this claim is that the article lacks data or even an estimate as to how many people would want to be tested.
Additionally, NBC bases its claim on a lack of evidence to support the claim they claim is false.
Summary
This is misleading, misinformation, and a deliberate false claim based on a conclusion lacking the data to support it.
Claim: Trump Lied Saying "everyone who 'wants' a test can get one"
Fact Check Verdict: FALSE CLAIM
Claimant: NBC
Additional Claimants: Jane C. Timm.
