Obama claims US is 'stronger' than 'when I first came into office'

As economy weakens, debt soars, America loses global influence and border crisis deepens

President Barack Obama claimed Monday night during a Democratic Party fundraising dinner that the United States is 'stronger' than it was when he assumed office in January 2009.

His statement, though, appears to be at odds with key economic indicators, America's sliding reputation abroad, and the American public's estimation of the direction the country has taken under the Obama administration.

'In all sorts of ways,' Obama told Democratic partisans who paid between $15,000 to $32,400 to hear him speak, 'we are not just stronger than when we – where we were when I first came into office.'

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