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

Interview Prompts Erroneous Claim of Vindman Firing

Interview Prompts Erroneous Claim of Vindman Firing

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a Ukraine expert working in the White House, was not fired by President Donald Trump — as posts circulating online continue to perpetuate. The confusion was born out of a recent television interview with Trump’s national security adviser.

Old Meme Misinforms on CHIP Funding

Old Meme Misinforms on CHIP Funding

A 2017 meme has resurfaced on Facebook, spreading outdated speculation that the Republicans would not fund the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program. In fact, President Donald Trump signed bipartisan legislation in February 2018 that funds CHIP through fiscal year 2027.

Posts Falsely Claim Trump ‘Stole’ From Vets

Posts Falsely Claim Trump ‘Stole’ From Vets

Viral Facebook posts falsely claim that President Donald Trump “stole” charitable donations meant for veterans. A court ruled Trump illegally used his foundation for political purposes when it held a fundraiser for veterans, but all of the money raised went to veterans’ groups.

Blowing the Whistle on a Misinforming Meme

Blowing the Whistle on a Misinforming Meme

Memes circulating widely on social media misidentify a former White House staffer as the whistleblower who touched off the impeachment inquiry into President Trump.

Misleading Meme on First Three Bills by Democrats

Misleading Meme on First Three Bills by Democrats

An old Facebook meme from April recently went viral again, wrongly identifying the first three bills introduced by House Democrats in January. The first three Democratic bills did not seek to impeach the president, end the Electoral College or provide “$54 billion in foreign aid.”

Meme Falsely Claims Obama Released al-Baghdadi

Meme Falsely Claims Obama Released al-Baghdadi

Various memes circulating online falsely claim that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the Islamic State leader who recently died after a U.S. raid, had been released from U.S. military custody under President Barack Obama. He was actually released in 2004, under President George W. Bush.

Misleading Posts Target GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz

Misleading Posts Target GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz

Social media posts distort the facts around an 11-year-old, dismissed DUI charge against Rep. Matt Gaetz. They also leave the false impression that he “stole from dying people.”

Dubious Posts Tie Political Families to Ukraine Work

Dubious Posts Tie Political Families to Ukraine Work

There’s no evidence for social media claims that the children of Nancy Pelosi, Mitt Romney and John Kerry are working for “Ukrainian gas companies” or sitting “on the board of directors for energy companies doing business in Ukraine.”