Fact vs. Fiction: Trump’s Claims of Mobs Stealing Large Appliances

Claim: Former President Trump claimed that mobs of 500 people are stealing large appliances like air conditioners from department stores, leading to store closures and urban decay.

Reasoning: Trump referenced news reports of residential HVAC thefts and incidents of organized retail thefts, often involving smaller items like cosmetics and luxury goods. However, there is no evidence supporting the claim that large groups are stealing large appliances such as air conditioners or refrigerators en masse from department stores. Experts and media reports indicate that while organized retail theft exists, it typically involves smaller, high-value items rather than large appliances.

Fact or Fiction? Fiction. There is no substantiated evidence supporting the claim of large-scale appliance thefts by mobs from department stores.