Fact Check: "Trump's second win saw bigger voter turnout than ever before."
What We Know
The claim that "Trump's second win saw bigger voter turnout than ever before" is misleading. In fact, the 2020 presidential election, in which Donald Trump was a candidate, recorded the highest voter turnout in the 21st century. Approximately 67% of eligible voters participated, which was a 5 percentage point increase from the 2016 election, resulting in 17 million more votes cast than in 2016 (Census.gov). This marked the largest increase in voter turnout between two presidential elections on record.
Moreover, the 2020 election saw significant increases in turnout across various demographic groups, including non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic Asian, and Hispanic voters (Census.gov). Young voters also played a crucial role, with turnout among those aged 18-29 increasing from 42-44% in 2016 to an estimated 52-55% in 2020 (CIRCLE).
Analysis
The assertion that Trump's second win had record voter turnout is fundamentally flawed because he did not win the 2020 election; Joe Biden did. The claim may stem from the fact that Trump received approximately 10.1 million more votes in 2020 compared to 2016, but this increase does not equate to a "win" or the highest overall turnout (New York Times).
While Trump did gain a larger share of the vote compared to his previous election, it is critical to note that the overall turnout was significantly higher due to increased participation from various demographic groups, particularly among young voters and voters of color, who predominantly supported Biden (CIRCLE).
The sources used in this analysis are credible and well-regarded. The U.S. Census Bureau is a reliable government source for demographic data, while CIRCLE is a respected research center focused on youth voting. The New York Times also provides comprehensive election coverage and analysis.
Conclusion
Verdict: False
The claim that "Trump's second win saw bigger voter turnout than ever before" is incorrect. The 2020 election had the highest voter turnout in the 21st century, with Joe Biden as the winner, not Trump. While Trump did see an increase in votes, the overall context of the election shows that it was characterized by unprecedented participation rates across the electorate, making the claim misleading.
Sources
- Record High Turnout in 2020 General Election - Census.gov
- Election Week 2020: Young People Increase Turnout, Lead ...
- 2020 United States presidential election - Wikipedia
- Even in Defeat, Trump Found New Voters Across the U.S. in the 2020 Election - New York Times
- High voter turnout in the 2024 election benefited Republicans - AP News
- Qui est Massad Boulos, ce libanais conseiller de TRUMP - JForum
- Election results, 2020: Analysis of voter turnout - Ballotpedia
- Behind Biden's 2020 Victory - Pew Research
