Trump’s skewed ledger of achievements

WASHINGTON — The start of a new administration is never a clean slate, even when parties flip. Day One is just another day for military operations, a budget that is still in place from the old crowd, and a vast array of economic, social, and law enforcement initiatives left over by the last president.

You would not know this from President Trump.

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He loudly and proudly takes credit for many positive news developments since he took office Jan. 20, even when they had roots in the Obama era.

In his speech to Congress and other remarks in recent days, Trump has claimed credit for:

■ Big savings in an F-35 fighter jet contract that were in motion well before he became president.

■ Corporate job announcements that also had been months or longer in the making.

■ An infusion of money from NATO partners that reflects a long-standing intent by some members to increase their military capabilities.

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■ A tough-on-criminals approach to immigration enforcement that was planned and put into place during Obama’s presidency.

■ A $12 billion drop in the US debt, a routine blip traced to the regular timing of tax payments and other fiscal factors unconnected to any president.

■ His plan to restore military supremacy, though he inherited military capabilities that are already second to none.

However, Trump has sought to shift some responsibility to the last administration for an operation he authorized that did not go smoothly: the covert mission in Yemen in which a Navy SEAL and civilians were killed. That mission ‘‘was started before I got here,’’ Trump said.

A look at a selection of his statements from the past week:

►On NATO: Speaking of the NATO alliance, ‘‘Our partners must meet their financial obligations. And now, based on our very strong and frank discussions, they are beginning to do just that. In fact, I can tell you the money is pouring in. Very nice. Very nice.’’

The facts: No new money has come pouring in from NATO allies. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis made a strong case when he met with allied defense ministers at a NATO gathering last month, pressing them to meet their 2014 commitment to spend 2 percent of their gross domestic product on defense by 2024.

Mattis and other leaders said the allies understood the message and there was some discussion about working out plans to meet the goal.

►On immigration: ‘‘According to the National Academy of Sciences, our current immigration system costs America’s taxpayers many billions of dollars a year.’’

The facts: That’s not exactly what that report says. It says immigrants ‘‘contribute to government finances by paying taxes and add expenditures by consuming public services.’’

The report found that while first-generation immigrants are more expensive to governments than their native-born counterparts, primarily at the state and local level, immigrants’ children ‘‘are among the strongest economic and fiscal contributors in the population.’’

This second generation contributed more in taxes on a per capita basis, for example, than did the rest of the population in the period studied, 1994-2013.

►On the F-35: ‘‘We’ve saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars by bringing down the price’’ of the F-35 jet fighter.

The facts: The cost savings he persists in bragging about were secured in full or in large part before he became president.

The head of the Air Force program announced significant price reductions in the contract for the Lockheed F-35 fighter jet Dec. 19 — after Trump had tweeted about the cost but weeks before Trump met the company’s CEO about it.

►On new jobs: ‘‘Since my election, Ford, Fiat-Chrysler, General Motors, Sprint, Softbank, Lockheed, Intel, Wal-Mart, and many others have announced that they will invest billions of dollars in the United States and will create tens of thousands of new American jobs.’’

The facts: Trump is taking credit for corporate jobs decisions that largely predate his election. In the case of Intel, construction of the factory in Chandler, Ariz., that Trump referred to actually began during Obama’s presidency.

Some of the job announcements have come after companies, such as the wireless carrier Sprint, reduced their numbers of workers. More im-portant, even while some com-panies create jobs, others are laying off workers.

►On defense: His budget plan will offer ‘‘one of the largest increases in national defense spending in American history.’’

The facts: Three times in recent years, Congress raised defense budgets by larger percentages than the $54 billion, or 10 percent, increase that Trump proposes. The base defense budget grew by $41 billion, or 14.3 percent, in 2002; by $37 billion, or 11.3 percent, in 2003, and by $47 billion, or 10.9 percent, in 2008, according to Defense Department figures.

►On unemployment: ‘‘Ninety-four million Americans are out of the labor force.’’

The facts: That’s true, but for the vast majority of them, it’s because they choose to be.

That 94 million figure includes everyone age 16 and older who doesn’t have a job and isn’t looking for one. It also includes retirees, parents who are staying home to raise children, and high school and college students who are studying rather than working. They are unlikely to work regardless of the state of the economy.

►On terrorism: ‘‘According to data provided by the Department of Justice, the vast majority of individuals convicted for terrorism-related offenses since 9/11 came here from outside of our country. We have seen the attacks at home — from Boston to San Bernardino to the Pentagon and yes, even the World Trade Center.’’

The facts: It’s unclear what Justice Department data he’s citing, but the most recent government information doesn’t back up his claim. Just over half the people Trump talks about were born in the United States, according to Homeland Security Department research.

That report said of 82 people the government determined were inspired by a foreign terrorist group to attempt or carry out an attack in the United States, just over half were native-born citizens.

Even the attacks Trump singled out weren’t entirely the work of foreigners. Syed Rizwan Farook, who along with his Pakistani wife killed 14 people in the 2015 attack in San Bernardino, Calif., was born in Chicago.