Fact check: 10 out of the last 11 recessions began under a Republican president

1. Summary of the results

The statement is factually accurate according to multiple sources. The data specifically shows that 10 out of 11 U.S. recessions between 1953 and 2020 began during Republican presidencies ^{[1] [2]}. This pattern extends beyond the specified timeframe, as out of 17 total recessions over the past 100 years, 12 occurred under Republican administrations and 5 under Democratic ones ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual points are worth noting:

• Every Republican president since Benjamin Harrison experienced a recession during their first term ^[1]
• During the Reagan-to-Trump timeline, Republican presidencies saw four recessions: one each under Reagan and George H.W. Bush, and two under George W. Bush ^[4]
• By contrast, Democratic presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama had zero recessions start during their terms ^[4]
• Various economic metrics have generally performed better under Democratic administrations ^[1]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

While the statement itself is factually accurate, there are several considerations regarding its presentation:

• Correlation vs. Causation: The statement implies but doesn't explicitly state a causal relationship between Republican presidencies and recessions. Economic cycles are complex and can be influenced by numerous factors beyond presidential policies.
• Time Frame Selection: The chosen period (1953-2020) could be seen as selective, though broader historical data (100-year analysis) shows a similar pattern ^[3]
• Political Implications: This statistic is often used in partisan political discourse. While factual, it benefits:
• Democratic politicians and strategists who can use it to argue for their economic policies
• Liberal media outlets and political organizations who can use it to criticize Republican economic management
• Economic analysts and institutions who might use it to support certain policy approaches

The statement would be more complete with acknowledgment of the complex factors that contribute to economic cycles and recessions, rather than suggesting a simple partisan correlation.