Facebook Twitter Tumblr Close Skip to main content
A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

No Obama Statue in the White House

No Obama Statue in the White House

Q: Did President Barack Obama commission a life-size bronze statue of himself to leave in the White House?

A: No. That fake news story was “intended for entertainment purposes only.”

NASA Won’t Pay You to Smoke Weed

NASA Won’t Pay You to Smoke Weed

Q: Does NASA pay $18,000 for people to stay in bed and smoke weed for 70 straight days?

A: No. NASA conducts bed-rest studies, but it does not allow participants to smoke marijuana or even drink alcohol.

Hollywood Strike Hoax

Hollywood Strike Hoax

Q: Did Hollywood celebrities threaten to strike until President Donald Trump resigns?

A: No. That story was made up by a “HYBRID site of news and satire.”

Clinton Cargo Raid Didn’t Happen

Clinton Cargo Raid Didn’t Happen

Q: Were refugees, weapons and drugs found on a Clinton Foundation cargo ship?

A: No. That is yet another story from a prolific satirical website.

GOP Bill and Sexual Assault

GOP Bill and Sexual Assault

Q: Are sexual assault and rape preexisting conditions under the GOP health bill?

A: No. The bill doesn’t identify any preexisting conditions, and it says insurers can’t deny coverage to individuals who have them. But insurers could charge more for medical conditions in certain cases.

Trump Not Deporting Native Americans

Trump Not Deporting Native Americans

Q: Did President Donald Trump tweet that he will deport American Indians to India?
A: No. This claim comes from a satirical website.

No ‘First Grandma’ Charges

No ‘First Grandma’ Charges

Q: Was Michelle Obama’s mother, Marian Robinson, charged with larceny and fraud?

A: No. That false claim piggybacks on a fake news story that we already wrote about.

Is Congress Exempt from GOP Health Bill?

Is Congress Exempt from GOP Health Bill?

Q: Does the new GOP health care bill apply to members of Congress and their families?

A: For procedural reasons, the bill passed by House Republicans exempted lawmakers from some of its effects. But a stand-alone bill passed unanimously would do away with that exemption if the legislation becomes law.

Russia’s Ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses

Russia’s Ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses

Q: Did President Trump urge Jehovah’s Witnesses to seek asylum in the U.S. after the religious group was banned in Russia?

A: No. A fake news story attributed that statement to Trump.

SCOTUS Didn’t Ban Teaching About Islam

SCOTUS Didn’t Ban Teaching About Islam

Q: Did the Supreme Court rule that public schools cannot teach students about Islam?

A: No. That false claim was spread by a network of fake news websites.