Fact-Check: Trump's Claims About BRICS and Middle Eastern Investments
What We Know
Former President Donald Trump made several claims regarding investments from Middle Eastern countries during his presidency, particularly emphasizing a figure of $5.1 trillion in investments. He also mentioned $17 billion in new investments from Bahrain. According to Reuters, Bahrain's Crown Prince announced plans to invest more than $17 billion in the United States during a meeting with Trump. This investment was part of broader discussions involving various sectors, including aerospace and technology.
Trump's assertion about the $5.1 trillion figure has been met with skepticism. Reports indicate that this number has fluctuated significantly, with Trump increasing it from $2 trillion to as much as $7 trillion over a short period (AP News). The White House has not provided clear details on how these figures were calculated, leading to questions about their accuracy.
Moreover, a detailed analysis by MSNBC highlighted that the actual agreements and investments cited by Trump may total around $283 billion, a stark contrast to the $5.1 trillion he claimed. This discrepancy raises concerns about the validity of the figures Trump has been promoting.
Analysis
Trump's claims about the investments from the Gulf region, particularly the $5.1 trillion figure, appear to be exaggerated. The AP News report indicates that while Trump has consistently mentioned large numbers, the actual commitments are much lower and often include investments announced prior to his presidency. For instance, the breakdown provided by the White House included commitments from Saudi Arabia and Qatar that were not new but rather extensions or renewals of existing agreements.
The announcement of $17 billion from Bahrain is confirmed by multiple sources, including Bloomberg and Al Jazeera, which reported on the specifics of the deals involving major companies like Boeing and Oracle. However, the context of these investments is crucial; they are part of ongoing economic relationships rather than entirely new commitments spurred by Trump's administration.
The reliability of the sources reporting on Trump's claims varies. While established news organizations like Reuters and AP News provide factual reporting, Trump's own statements often lack substantiation and can be categorized as "truthful hyperbole," a term he coined in his book, The Art of the Deal. This tendency to inflate numbers for effect complicates the assessment of his claims.
Conclusion
The claim that Trump is "angry with the BRICS group" and that he received $5.1 trillion in investments, along with $17 billion from Bahrain, is Partially True. The $17 billion investment from Bahrain is accurate and confirmed by multiple reputable sources. However, the $5.1 trillion figure is misleading and likely inflated, as it does not reflect actual, new investments but rather a combination of existing commitments and speculative future investments. The lack of clarity and the tendency to exaggerate figures in Trump's statements contribute to this partial truth.
Sources
- Bahrain announces $17 billion in US deals during Trump
- Trump tallies promised Mideast investments in US differently
- What are the Gulf 'trillions' that Trump says will boost the US economy?
- Bahrain announces $17 billion in US deals during Trump
- Trump points to $5.1 trillion in investments from the Middle East that aren't exactly real
- Bahrain's PM Vows $17 Billion US Investment During Trump Meeting
- Bahrain to invest $17bn in US amid deals with Boeing
