Fact-Checking President Trump’s Comments from Camp David Meeting

During a Cabinet meeting at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland, President Donald Trump claimed, without evidence, that recent cyberattacks in Minnesota were the fault of the state, specifically targeting Democratic Gov. Tim Walz. Trump also repeated false claims on various topics, including immigration, foreign conflicts, and prescription drug prices.

Trump’s Allegation on Cyberattacks in Minnesota

Trump stated: “I think that Minnesota is behind it. You know who’s behind it? Minnesota. Because they’re grossly incompetent. I think the governor is behind it. I don’t think there was an Iranian cyberattack.”

The Facts:

Authorities have not publicly identified the source of cyberattacks on over 30 water systems in Minnesota. Security authorities warned that Iranian hackers have shown interest in targeting such systems. The FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and other agencies issued an advisory highlighting Iranian targets on critical infrastructure sectors. Trump offered no evidence linking Minnesota or Gov. Walz to these cyberattacks. Cynthia Kaiser from Halcyon’s Ransomware Research Center indicated Iran’s “geopolitical motivations” might be a factor, citing Iran’s history of targeting U.S. water systems.

Walz responded on X: “Trump knows exactly who is responsible for this attack, and knows that other states were hit too. This is what modern warfare looks like, and it further illustrates there’s no plan to win a war with Iran.” He also mentioned the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, for allegedly compromising the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

Trump on Prescription Drug Prices

Trump claimed: “The prescription drugs were going through the roof for many years, and now we’re getting record discounts with price differences of 300, 400, 500, 600%.”

The Facts:

This claim is incorrect. Lowering drug prices by more than 100% would mean being paid to take medications, a scenario that Geoffrey Joyce from the University of Southern California calls “total fiction.”

Trump’s Claim About Immigration

Trump stated: “The biggest thing, the worst thing that Biden did is allowing 25 million people into our country.”

The Facts:

This figure is exaggerated. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported over 10.8 million arrests for illegal crossings under President Biden from January 2021 through December 2024. Arrests do not equal the number of people, as many individuals attempted to cross multiple times due to pandemic-era asylum restrictions.

Trump’s Statement on Ending Wars

Trump claimed: “I ended eight wars.”

The Facts:

This claim is overstated. Trump often cites his role in mediating relations, but his contributions are not as definitive as he suggests. Some conflicts he mentions, such as those between Israel and Hamas, or Armenia and Azerbaijan, did not have active wars to end.

This analysis clarifies the accuracy of Trump’s statements, as covered by Associated Press writers. For more detailed AP Fact Checks, visit their website.