The Controversy Surrounding Donald Trump's Claims About MSNBC

Recent statements by President Donald Trump about citizenship questions and the media have sparked renewed debate. In particular, Trump's assertions regarding MSNBC and the 2020 census have drawn scrutiny and scrutiny from fact-checkers and the larger media landscape.

The Role of Social Media and Television Appearances

President Trump frequently uses his social media platforms to direct his followers to his television shows and appearances. This is not unusual. However, on a Friday morning, Trump did something somewhat unusual. He advocated for his followers to watch conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh appear on Fox News. More strikingly, he hailed Limbaugh's performance on the show, describing it as a "great job."

Fact-Checking Limbaugh's Comments

Fact-checkers would find Limbaugh's statements misleading. Limbaugh's appearance on the show coincided with Trump's embarrassing admissions about his efforts to alter the 2020 census. During the interview, Limbaugh shifted the conversation to questions regarding the citizenship question, assigning it blame for the controversy. These comments are in stark contrast to the truth: the Obama administration did not remove the citizenship question after 50 years as Limbaugh suggested.

The Truth Behind the Citizenship Question

The Obama administration did not reintroduce the citizenship question after it had been absent for 50 years. The Census Bureau traditionally included the question only in the long-form section of the census survey from 1970 to 2000. After 2000, the question was asked yearly via the American Community Survey (ACS), a separate poll administered to a sample of households. The ACS replaced the long-form supplement in 2005, leading to the absence of the citizenship question in the 2010 census, which was conducted under Obama's presidency.

White House Aides and Similar Statements

Kellyanne Conway, a prominent White House aide, also made similar statements on Fox News. Conway questioned why discussions about the citizenship question didn't occur when the Obama administration removed it, despite the Census Bureau continuing to include it in the ACS.

The Role of the Associated Press and Other Fact-Checks

For those who might receive angry emails from their conservative friends, the Associated Press and other fact-checking organizations have shed light on the situation. It is clear that the Obama administration did not remove the citizenship question after 50 years as Trump and Limbaugh claimed. The change to the ACS occurred in 2005 as a result of the discontinuation of the long-form supplement, leading to the absence of the question in the 2010 census.

Keywords: Donald Trump, MSNBC, Citizenship Question, Census