Viral social media posts and videos have falsely claimed that “martial law [is] imminent” in the U.S. Those bogus reports are being pushed in some cases by those who sell emergency and survivalist products.
Martial Law Isn’t ‘Imminent’
Stories by Saranac Hale Spencer
Staff Writer, FactCheck.org
Death Quote Wrongly Attributed to Trump
Social media posts are spreading a quote falsely attributed to President Donald Trump about the coronavirus. He didn’t say, “People are dying who have never died before.” But Ernest Hemingway did.
No ‘Huge Red Flag That Fraud Occurred’ in Mass. Primary
A misleading tweet uses a faulty interpretation of exit polling in Massachusetts and incomplete reporting on two other races to claim there were irregularities in Super Tuesday elections.
Video Doesn’t Show ‘#ElectionFraud’ in Illinois
Social media posts claim that a video clip is evidence of “#ElectionFraud.” The clip actually shows a standard newsroom rehearsal ahead of the Illinois primaries.
False Claims of Nationwide Lockdown for COVID-19
The National Security Council is warning Americans of a “FAKE” rumor circulating on social media that falsely claims President Donald Trump will impose a nationwide “mandatory quarantine.”
Viral Biden Video Is Deceptively Edited
A deceptively edited clip of Joe Biden makes it look like he endorsed President Donald Trump. Actually, he said that Trump would be re-elected if Democrats wage a negative campaign.
O’Rourke Endorsement Triggers False Posts on Biden’s Gun Policy
Beto O’Rourke’s endorsement of Joe Biden has been used as fuel for misinformation about the former vice president’s gun control policy. If elected president, Biden did not say he is “coming for your guns.”
COVID-19 Tests Don’t Cost Over $3,000
A meme with the false claim that “[t]he US is charging over $3,000 per test” for patients who may have COVID-19 has been circulating on social media. For now, the two agencies authorized to test for the illness are not billing patients.
Accounting for Net Worth of Trump, Clintons and Obamas
A meme circulating on Facebook claims without evidence that Hillary Clinton has made $95.5 million since she ran for president in 2016, and falsely implies that she and former President Barack Obama enriched themselves by “steal[ing] your money.”
FactChecking the South Carolina Debate
In another feisty affair, the Democrats traded barbs over contested quotes, crime and Castro. We referee some of the rhetoric.