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
US President Joe Biden tweeted on Rahul Gandhi’s recent visit to the United States.
Fact
Viral screengrab showing an alleged tweet by US President Biden is fabricated. No such tweet was found on the live timeline, or archived versions of Twitter handle @POTUS.
An alleged screengrab of a tweet showing US President Joe Biden’s jeering remarks on Rahul Gandhi’s recent visit to the States is being widely shared on social media platforms. The alleged tweet, dated May 31, 2023, by @POTUS reads, “We welcome Rahul Gandhi to the USA. But just because India has become free from open defecation under the leadership of Narendra Modi, it doesn’t mean that you can come to my country to sh*t in open whenever you want.” Newschecker found the viral tweet to be fabricated.
Several Twitter and Facebook users shared the viral screengrab claiming to show Biden “welcomed” Rahul Gandhi to the States.
Such posts can be seen here, here, here, here, here and here.
Newschecker received the screengrab on our WhatsApp tipline (+91-9999499044) multiple times requesting to be fact checked.
Also Read: No, Pak PM Did Not Congratulate Karnataka For Electing Congress In Assembly Polls
Fact Check/Verification
We scanned through the official Twitter account of the US President but did not spot any such tweet. A Twitter advanced search for the text seen in the screengrab from May 30, 2023 to June 1, 2023 did not yield any such post by @POTUS either.
None of the archived versions of the US President’s Twitter profile saved on May 31 featured any such tweet.
Such archived versions can be seen here, here, here, here, here and here.
An analytical tool, Social Blade, confirmed that no tweets have been deleted by @POTUS since May 31, 2023 by the time of publishing this article.
We did not come across any news reports indicating US President Biden had made any such remarks on Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the United States.
Furthermore, the viral screengrab was tweeted by @BHKtweets on May 31, 2023 with the caption, “Whattt….!!? 😱”
Notably, the bio of this Twitter handle reads, “Threads, Memes, Cartoons, Satire.”
The handle also retweeted a post calling the viral screengrab fake, while giving “special mention” to “@BHKtweets and @BHKslams”
Also Read: Video Of Rahul Gandhi’s Interaction With Differently Abled Man Shared With False Claim
Conclusion
Viral screengrab of a purported tweet by US President Biden on Rahul Gandhi’s recent visit to the United States was found to be fabricated.
Result: False
Sources
Twitter Account Of President Biden
Twitter Advanced Search
Tweet By @BHKtweets, Dated May 31, 2023
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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.
