Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
– Donald Trump interacting with followers after assassination attempt.
– Donald Trump seen without any injury at the recent RNC.
– Donald Trump attends UFC event shortly after getting shot.
Fact
Visuals predate July 13, and don’t show Trump’s public appearances after the assassination attempt.
Former US President Donald Trump was injured after a gunman opened fire at his campaign rally Saturday in Pennsylvania. As the news of the assassination attempt broke, social media platforms witnessed multiple unverified visuals being linked to the incident. While several users extended solidarity to the Republican leader, others claimed the shooting was staged.
Adding to this narrative, several social media users shared images/videos of Trump linking it to his public appearances after the assassination attempt. Newschecker investigated three of such visuals and found them to be predating the incident.
Donald Trump Cracking Jokes After Assassination Attempt?
A video showing the Republican presidential nominee interacting with his followers, and clicking photographs has surfaced on social media platforms, with users claiming that Trump was seen joking after his assassination attempt.
Also Read: No, Man Yelling ‘Slash Republican Throats’ In Viral Video Is Not Trump Rally Shooter
Fact Check/Verification
A Google lens search on the keyframes of the footage led us to an X post by @realtoriabrooke, dated May 20, 2024. Carrying a slightly shorter version of the same video, it stated, “WATCH — President @realDonaldTrump takes a selfie with a family.”
We found that the video was also uploaded on a website bilibili.com in May 2024, confirming that the incident predates the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Is This Trump’s Photo From The Recent Republican National Convention?
A photograph of Donald Trump with his running mate JD Vance has been shared on X claiming, “This is Trump today at the RNC convention. Eric Trump said half his ear is gone. That was a lie. If a bullet from an AR-15 grazed his ear it would look worse than this. I’m not saying he wasn’t hit by something (glass?). Show us the medical report.”
Fact Check/Verification
We looked up the image on Google lens which yielded a report by ABC carrying a similar photograph of Trump and Vance near a dias. The same was captioned, “U.S. Senate Republican candidate J.D. Vance speaks as former U.S. President Donald Trump smiles at a rally to support Republican candidates ahead of midterm elections, in Dayton, Ohio, U.S. November 7, 2022. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo”
A comparison of images can be seen below.
Further, the image was listed on the stock photograph website, Getty Images with the caption, “JD Vance, co-founder of Narya Capital Management LLC and US Republican Senate candidate for Ohio, right, talks on stage with former US President Donald Trump during a ‘Save America’ rally in Vandalia, Ohio, US, on Monday, Nov. 7, 2022. Former President Donald Trump suggested an announcement that he plans to make another White House bid is imminent and attacked Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at a rally in Pennsylvania, a sign the former president is training his ire on a potential chief rival in a 2024 GOP primary. Photographer: Joshua A. Bickel/Bloomberg via Getty Images”
Hence, the image is old and has been falsely shared to show Donald Trump at the recent Republican National Convention.
Donald Trump At UFC Event Shortly After Being Shot?
A video showing former US President Donald Trump with Dana White, the President of Ultimate Fighting Championship, has been shared online to claim that the Republican attended a UFC event “shortly after being shot.”
Fact Check/Verification
A Google lens search on the keyframes of the video led us to an X post by @irontigersog, dated March 10, 2024. Carrying a longer version of the video, it stated, “Former President of the United States of America Donald Trump arrives at #UFC299 in Miami.”
We found that Sky News Australia also shared the video on YouTube on March 11, 2024. “Former US president Donald Trump met with huge applause as he made his entrance to UFC 299 on Saturday. Trump was accompanied by UFC CEO Dana White as they made their way to the octagon. The former president attended the UFC event, based in Miami, with his daughter and former presidential adviser Ivanka Trump,” the description stated.
Hence, the video does not show Trump at a UFC event shortly after being shot during a rally last week.
Conclusion
We could thus conclude that old visuals have been shared to show Donald Trump’s public appearances after the assassination attempt.
Result: False
Sources
X Post by @realtoriabrooke, Dated May 20, 2024
Post On bilibili.com, Dated May 22, 2024
Getty Images
X Post By @irontigersog, Dated March 10, 2024
YouTube Video By Sky News Australia, Dated March 11, 2024
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
