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If the 2016 election proves one thing, it is that social media and politics have become irrevocably connected. Long gone are the days of television networks dominating the political discourse, acting as a forum for political opponents to argue over policy points.

A hallmark of our social media age is viral political posts which claim to support or attack a candidate. In recent weeks, a Facebook post outlining Trump’s record as President has reached over 80,000 shares.

As with all viral social media posts, especially within the political realm, fact-checking is of the essence to avoid the widespread distribution of bogus information.

Due to the fact that the list is incredibly long, we have opted to focus on some of the most contentious issues currently under debate in American politics.

So, how does the post stack up to the facts? It appears to be clear cut in many claims and slightly messy in others.

Economy

Trump has wasted zero time hammering on about the positive effects of his administration on the economy.

For one, it is true the 25% lowest paid Americans enjoyed a 4.5% income boost in November 2019, outpacing the 2.9% gain for the country’s highest paid workers. The boost has been attributed to an increase in minimum wage and entry-level pay.

Federal workers will also receive a pay increase in two “minibus” bills signed by Trump, which gives federal employees across multiple agencies a 3.1% increase in pay, set to kick in for the remainder of 2020.

Middle America became the center of the 2016 presidential election as both candidates sparred over policies to revitalize U.S. manufacturing, which has been largely decimated as a result of NAFTA, CAFTA, and globalization.

The President’s claim that U.S. manufacturing is experiencing a renaissance is factual, with manufacturing growing at rates not seen in the last 30 years. Furthermore, polling data points to manufacturers’ optimism on Trump’s economy, with 95.1% claiming they have “a positive outlook for their companies.”

Before we talk about unemployment, it is important to note that we are addressing unemployment claims prior to COVID-19, which obviously has had a huge effect on the unemployment rate.

Throughout 2019, Asian American, African American, Hispanic, and youth unemployment reached all time lows. As a matter of fact, youth unemployment reached levels not seen since 1969, pointing to a strong economy and a growing workforce.

Healthcare

On the healthcare front, the Trump Administration has worked to lower the price of prescription drugs for patients, resulting in a mixture of success and unknowns.