Challenged the characterization
““We did not literally seal the borders (to fentanyl). Obviously some is still getting in; otherwise deaths would be zero.””
Caulkins disputed the premise that the borders had been sealed to fentanyl and noted that continuing deaths show ongoing entry.
- Speaker
- Jonathan P. Caulkins
- Capacity
- drug-policy or public-health researcher
- Observed
- August 26, 2026
- Published here
- September 9, 2026
- Targets
- JD Vance
- Classification rationale
- The statement directly challenges the factual premise used in Vance’s causal attribution.
Surrounding material
Full context
Before the quotation
Vance attributed Maine’s overdose decline to the Trump administration having sealed the border.
After the quotation
The response addresses the causal attribution and does not dispute that Maine’s overdose deaths declined.
Evidence
Complete source record
PolitiFact review of Vance’s Maine overdose claim (opens in a new tab)Expert interviews and ruling
Reports named interviews with University of Maine, Carnegie Mellon, University of Maryland, Georgetown, and Brown drug-policy and public-health researchers, plus a response from the vice president’s office.