Section II · SubversionExhibit S-018
Contradiction
Philly.com on Trump's murder-rate claim vs. its year-end tally
■ The pieces
- Philly.com (Chris Palmer): Trump said Philly's murder rate is 'terribly increasing.' It's not. (Jan 26, 2017)https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/politics/presidential/Trump-said-Phillys-murder-rate-is-terribly-increasing-Its-not.html
- Philly.com (Chris Palmer): As most crime decreases, Philly records highest year-end homicide total since 2012 (Dec 29, 2017)https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/crime/philly-crime-decrease-homicides-over-300-ross-police-20171229.html
■ What they show
In January 2017 Chris Palmer reported that Trump's claim that Philadelphia's murder rate was 'terribly increasing' was not true. In December 2017 the same reporter wrote that, while most crime fell, the city recorded more than 300 homicides that year, its highest year-end total since 2012.
■ The other side
The January piece was correct about the data then available (homicides had been broadly declining). The rise was recorded later in 2017, so the two stories reflect changing numbers, not inconsistent reporting.
Who it helped: DemocratsCalled Trump's claim false before the year-end numbers bore it out.
■ Why it's here
This exhibit is filed under Subversion, not graded as a lie. What subversion means →