The New York Times has amended its fact-check of former President Trump's claim that Vice President Kamala Harris supported taxpayer-funded transgender surgeries for illegal immigrants, admitting that the accusation was "basically true."
The New York Times has reversed its stance on former President Trump's claim that Vice President Kamala Harris supported funding transgender surgeries for detained illegal immigrants, acknowledging that the accusation was "basically true."
Trump made the remark during Tuesday's presidential debate, citing a 2019 ACLU questionnaire in which Harris expressed support for gender-affirming care for transgender and nonbinary people, including those in immigration detention and prison.
NYT Corrects Fact-Check, Admits Trump's Claim about Harris' Transgender Surgery Funding "Basically True
Initially, Times health reporter Sheryl Gay Stolberg fact-checked Trump's claim, stating that it "needs context." However, the context she provided further supported Trump's accusation. Stolberg quoted the ACLU questionnaire and Harris' response, confirming that she advocated using taxpayer funds for gender-affirming care for transgender and nonbinary individuals in immigration detention and prison.
However, Stolberg also criticized CNN's reporting on the issue, noting that it drew "sharp criticism from supporters of gay, lesbian and transgender people." A Harris campaign spokesman attempted to distance the vice president from her previous stance, saying, "That questionnaire is not what she is proposing or running on."
NYT Corrects Fact-Check, Admits Trump's Claim about Harris' Transgender Surgery Funding "Basically True
Conservative critics online mocked the Times' "This needs context" label, arguing that the context clearly supported Trump's claim. Fox News contributor Guy Benson wrote, "NYT: ‘Needs context!’ The context: It's literally her position." Conservative digital strategist Greg Price similarly posted, "Trump: ‘She wants to do transgender operations on illegal aliens in prison.’ NYT: ‘This needs context’ The context: ‘Oh yeah she actually supported that.’"
The next day, in a report highlighting the political showdown, a Times article acknowledged the validity of Trump's comment, saying it was the "wildest sounding attack line that was basically true." The Times has not yet responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
NYT Corrects Fact-Check, Admits Trump's Claim about Harris' Transgender Surgery Funding "Basically True
The rush to dismiss Trump's attack on Harris was widespread across the legacy media. Time magazine issued a correction after declaring his claim as "false." The New Yorker staff writer Susan Glasser downplayed the accusation in a post-debate column. The Atlantic's Ali Breland initially mocked Trump's claim but later updated her article to admit that Harris had indeed told the ACLU she supported funding such surgeries.
This incident highlights the tendency of legacy media outlets to quickly dismiss or minimize claims made by Republican politicians, even when there is evidence to support them. It also underscores the importance of thorough fact-checking and the willingness to acknowledge errors or inconsistencies in reporting.
NYT Corrects Fact-Check, Admits Trump's Claim about Harris' Transgender Surgery Funding "Basically True
