Fact-Checking the Immigration Chart That Trump Says ‘Saved My Life’

Donald J. Trump, while accepting the Republican nomination for president on Thursday, displayed an immigration graphic that he credited with saving his life during an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania days earlier.

Moments before a gunman opened fire at the rally, Mr. Trump turned to reference the chart, a move that he said prevented him from being shot in the head. The shooting left his ear bloodied, killed one spectator and seriously injured two others.

“That was the chart that saved my life,” Mr. Trump said during his acceptance speech as the graphic flashed across multiple screens. He later added, “Without that chart, I would not be here today.”

Mr. Trump, who has made cracking down on illegal immigration core to his campaign, is all but certain to continue highlighting that chart as he seeks to reclaim the White House. But aspects of it, and how he has described it, are highly misleading.

The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Here’s a look at the facts.

“If you look at the arrow at the bottom, that’s the lowest level — the one on the bottom, heavy red arrow — that’s the lowest level of illegal immigrants ever to come into our country in recorded history right there, right there. And that was my last week in office.”

— Mr. Trump

Mr. Trump was referring to a thick red arrow on the chart, titled “Illegal Immigration Into the U.S.,” that points to a significant drop in migrant crossings at the southern border during his presidency.