Interactive Fact-Check
An Analysis of a Political Discussion
Claims by Trump Supporter
Claims by Trump Critic
Data at a Glance
Presidential Election Popular Vote
This chart compares the national popular vote totals for the 2016 and 2020 U.S. presidential elections. Hover over the bars to see the exact number of votes for each candidate.
Key Context for Understanding
Civil vs. Criminal Law
A **criminal** case must be proven "beyond a reasonable doubt," while a **civil** case uses a lower standard of "preponderance of the evidence." Being found "liable" in a civil case is a legal finding of responsibility for damages, not a criminal conviction.
Popular Vote vs. Electoral College
The U.S. President is elected by the Electoral College, not the national popular vote. It is possible for a candidate to win the presidency while losing the popular vote, as happened in 2000 and 2016.