Fact Checking CNN's Fact Check of Trump Interview Reveals False Claims

In an article published by CNN titled "Fact-checking Trump’s ‘Meet the Press’ interview", CNN makes multiple false claims.

In an interview on 'Meet the Press' with host Kristen Welker, Trump answered questions with answers that CNN's Daniel Dale and Jack Forrest falsely claimed were "false". 

Biden directed Justice Department to indict Trump

CNN could have gotten this one right had they left it at "This claim is not supported by any evidence", but they pressed forward resulting in a false claim. 

This claim is not supported by any evidence. There is no sign that Biden has been involved in the decision to criminally investigate or prosecute Trump; ordinary citizens on a Florida grand jury voted to indict Trump in June, and the prosecution is led by a special counsel, Jack Smith. Smith was appointed in November 2022 by Attorney General Merrick Garland, a Biden appointee, but that is not proof that Biden was involved in the prosecution effort.

While not exactly true, it's fairly accurate to say "This claim is not supported by any evidence". While there is indeed some evidence, we agree with CNN that there is not enough to make this claim. 

However, CNN doesn't stop there. They continue to claim that "There is no sign that Biden has been involved in the decision to criminally investigate or prosecute Trump". Perhaps there is no "sign" depending on the definition of what they mean by sign, but  there is certainly hard evidence to the contrary. 

 Below are three excerpts from a letter to Trump attorney's from acting archivist at NARA, Debra Wall. 

CNN's claim is false and demonstrably erroneous. In 2022 NARA, in a letter to Trump's attorney, explicitly stated that Biden had ordered Presidential records, that would normally be restricted, for the purpose of giving them to the Department of Justice to begin an investigation on former President Trump.

In that letter, Wall clearly states several times that the Department of Justice is acting under a direct order from Joe Biden and Joe Biden is requesting these documents. Notably, under the Presidential Records Act, Joe Biden is the only individual with the power to do so.

Thus, Biden not only knew about the investigations, he was directly involved. This is a "sign". This is hard evidence. CNN has made another false claim.

Voting fraud during 2020 election

Trump claimed the election was rigged, CNN said this is a false claim. However, the CNN  talks about fraud instead. 

This claim is false. The election was not rigged, and there is no evidence of any fraud large enough to have changed the outcome. 

They follow that up with a note about Trump's staff stating the election was secure. However, Trump said the election was rigged. He didn't say anything about fraud, nor did he discuss security. He is referring to the non-legislative rulings that have been the primary complaint since before the election, during the election, and after the election.

Only the Supreme Court can decide on non-legislative rulings, not CNN. Thus, this is another false claim by CNN. 

   

Trump Blames Nancy Pelosi for Jan 6th Security Failures

Dale and Forrest claim that Trumps claim was false.

This is false. The speaker of the House is not in charge of Capitol security. That’s the responsibility of the Capitol Police Board, which oversees the US Capitol Police and approves requests for National Guard assistance. -- CNN

While this is true, she was not in charge, to say that Pelosi was not involved at all in the decision making is inaccurate. The former Speaker's office was indeed involved with the security on January 6th. This is outlined in the Congressional report titled "Security Failures at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021" which details the Speakers involvement and shortcomings regarding the security on January 6th.  

That report concluded that the former Speaker was "CLOSELY INVOLVED INSECURITY DECISIONS IN THE LEAD UP TO AND ON JANUARY 6, 2021" and not that staff within the House Sergeant at  Arms allege Pelosi is liable for security failures on January 6th, 2021. This report is linked below in the references. 

While CNN is correct in it's claim that Pelosi was not in charge of security, they leave out critical details which outline that she was involved in decisions made regarding the security on January 6th and other individuals involved also  fault the former speaker. 

CNN's claim overall of "this is false" is false as it needs context

 

Summary  

In a fact check article published by CNN, Daniel Dale and Jack Forest claim that Trump made false claims in an interview with "Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker. However, it is CNN that made 3 false claims and repetitive claims they have made before in past articles. 

Fact Check Verdict:   3 FALSE CLAIMS  

Claimant:  Daniel Dale,  Jack Forrest, and CNN

References:

1. CNN Article (Fact Check)
2. Archivist Letter (PDF)
3. Jan 6 Security Report (PDF)
4. Image: NBC