As the 2024 presidential election draws closer, former President Donald Trump’s campaign is ramping up its television advertising. However, many of these ads are filled with misleadingly edited quotes and selective omissions. This article examines several tactics used in these ads to mislead viewers, particularly concerning statements made by Vice President Kamala Harris and other claims regarding the Biden-Harris administration.
Cutting Out Key Words
One prominent tactic involves removing critical words from quotes. In a Trump ad featuring Harris discussing tax policy, she states, “Taxes are gonna have to go up.” The ad misleadingly omits context, as Harris’s complete statement was about estate taxes affecting the wealthiest Americans.
Additionally, the ad attributes the statement, “Harris is seeking to significantly raise taxes,” to The New York Times. However, the original article clarified that Harris aimed to raise taxes on high-income earners and large corporations, not on all Americans.
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Misrepresenting News Sources
Another tactic seen in Trump’s ads is portraying statements from his campaign as if they were reported by independent news organizations. For instance, one ad attacks Harris over her past support for fracking and displays the Reuters logo next to the phrase “KAMALA’S SCHEME: ‘KILL JOBS.’” In reality, the Reuters article only quoted the Trump campaign’s assertion that Biden’s energy policy would “kill jobs,” misleading viewers into believing this was a news declaration.
Similarly, the ad claims Harris would “raise gas prices,” attributing this to an article from E&E News. The original article only mentioned this phrase while referencing claims made by Trump’s administration, further distorting the message.
Using Unrelated Sources
Some ads misuse unrelated sources to bolster their claims. A Trump ad states, “Their weakness invited wars. Welfare for illegals,” while attributing “welfare for illegal immigrants” to an NBC News article from 2018. This article did not reference Biden or Harris and discussed a different context concerning occupational licensing for DACA recipients.
Exaggerating Statements
Trump’s ads often exaggerate the impact of economic changes. An ad claims, “Massive Layoffs Hit Michigan,” citing a Newsweek article. However, the article referred to “mass” layoffs, which included under 1,400 workers across two auto plants. Furthermore, the ad fails to mention that employment in Michigan’s auto manufacturing sector has increased by approximately 15% since Biden took office, reaching its highest level since 2007.
Mischaracterizing Quotes
One ad presents a claim that the “Biden-Harris administration just admitted that they released thousands of illegal immigrants convicted of violent crimes.” A quote from the acting director of ICE appears to support this assertion. However, this ICE letter does not clarify that all those mentioned were released under the Biden administration or that they are all illegal immigrants. The data includes individuals who entered the country over decades, and many are still incarcerated.
