A publication known for spreading “satire” content that confuses social media users attributed a bogus quote about soldiers’ pay to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Viral Story Spreads Made-Up AOC ‘Quote’ on Soldiers
Debunking Viral Claims
FactCheck.org is one of several organizations working with Facebook to debunk misinformation shared on the social media network. We provide several resources for readers: a guide on how to flag suspicious stories on Facebook and a list of websites that have carried false or satirical articles, as well as a video and story on how to spot false stories.
Meme Distorts AOC’s Election Vote Count
A misleading meme states that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez received “about 16,000 votes” while running for office in 2018. She won her seat with 110,318 votes in the general election. She received 16,898 votes in the district’s Democratic primary.
Comparing Benefits for Refugees and Senior Citizens
A popular meme falsely claims that each month refugees in the United States receive over three times more money in “federal assistance” than Social Security beneficiaries. That’s a new version of an old claim we debunked over a decade ago.
Protections for Drivers Who Hit Protesters Didn’t Pass
A viral post falsely asserts that Republicans are responsible for “passing laws making it legal to run over protesters with your car.” That distorts proposed, but not enacted, legislation in several states offering some protections for drivers who unintentionally injure demonstrators blocking streets.
Fake AOC Quotes Keep on Trucking
Another fake quote attributed to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is circulating online. She didn’t say that “truck drivers are destroying America”; that quote came from a website that describes its content as satire.
Citizenship, the Census and Obama
Memes circulating online claim that former President Barack Obama removed the citizenship question from the 2010 census. He didn’t. The citizenship question in 2010 was handled the same way it had been since 1970.
A False Claim About H.R. 8 and a ‘Firearms Registry’
A viral meme falsely accuses five House Republicans of voting with Democrats to create a “firearms registry.” The bill in question specifically prohibits “the establishment, directly or indirectly, of a national firearms registry.”
Bogus Photo Combines Trump, Epstein Images
A photo circulating online has been manipulated to show Jeffrey Epstein with Donald and Ivanka Trump in 1993.
Trump Retweets Made-up Reagan Quote
There’s no evidence President Ronald Reagan predicted Donald Trump would be president, as a meme shared by Trump falsely claims.
Meme Uses Deceptions to Accuse Harris of ‘Lies’
A viral meme uses erroneous claims about Sen. Kamala Harris’ schooling and race to accuse the Democratic presidential candidate of “lies.”