Fox News Airs White House Slides — One Contradicts Trump’s Claim That Gas Is Under $2.50

Fox News, the only major network to display several White House–provided slides during President Donald Trump’s 18‑minute holiday address, ended up broadcasting a graphic that contradicted one of the president’s central claims about gasoline prices.

CNN’s Brian Stelter reported that NBC, CNN, ABC and CBS declined to air the visuals alongside the speech, saying the slides lacked clear sourcing. The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for comment.

During the address Trump said, “Gasoline is now under $2.50 a gallon in much of the country. In some states, by the way, it just hit $1.99 a gallon.” That statement was contradicted by independent data: AAA’s website showed the national average at $2.91 per gallon on Wednesday. The White House slide shown on Fox News — which the network labeled as provided by the White House — also indicated gas prices generally hovered at or above $3 per gallon for much of Trump’s second term so far.

Other Disputed Economic Claims

Fox News aired seven of the White House slides during the address, including charts purporting an increase in the “native‑born employment level” and a slide suggesting the cost of everyday food items has fallen under the administration. Several of those slides, including the gas‑price chart, were shown again later on Hannity.

By contrast, data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture cited in the address show food prices rose 3.2 percent since August 2024 and are increasing faster than overall inflation. Other claims in the speech were likewise at odds with available data: Trump’s statement that he reduced drug prices by 600 percent is mathematically impossible, and his claim of attracting $18 trillion in investments conflicts with the White House’s own estimate of $9.6 trillion.

The administration’s employment claims also drew scrutiny. The president said more Americans are working than ever, but the national unemployment rate hit a four‑year high in November, with more than 700,000 additional people unemployed that month compared with the period before Trump’s inauguration.

Immediate Fact-Checks

The address contained multiple inaccuracies that prompted near‑immediate fact‑checking from outlets including CNN’s Harry Enten and MSNBC commentator Jen Psaki after the speech concluded.

Throughout the 18‑minute address, the president spoke at a faster pace and with a louder tone than usual, closing with a brief holiday greeting: “To each and every one of you, have a merry Christmas and a happy new year. God bless you all.”