A viral meme is spreading false information connecting the infamous drug lord El Chapo to three major Democratic politicians.
‘El Chapo’ Trial Used To Spread Viral Deception
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 Pins False Claim On Lou Dobbs
Despite claims made in a viral meme, Lou Dobbs of Fox Business Network has not reported that “Mexican drug cartels are paying Pelosi and Schumer millions to keep border open.”
‘Green New Deal’ Doesn’t Call for ‘End’ to Air Travel
A resolution before Congress outlining actions to address climate change prompted the misleading claim that the deal aims to “end” air travel and “build trains over the oceans.”
Phony Claim That Gold Went To Afghanistan
A meme making a bogus claim about the U.S. giving gold to Afghanistan is circulating online.
False Claim About Ocasio-Cortez’s ‘Demand’
A false claim circulating online states that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — in exchange for a border wall — “demands welfare” for immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. That story originated on a self-described satire site before spreading elsewhere online without any disclaimer.
Super Bowl Ratings Not Trumped by SOTU
The Super Bowl had double the viewers than the State of the Union address, contrary to a false claim on social media.
Blackface Photo Doesn’t Show Clintons
A photo of two people, one of whom is in blackface, has been circulating online for years with the unfounded claim that it shows Bill and Hillary Clinton. A Twitter user said he posted the photo in 2015, even though he had no evidence it was the Clintons, to “stir interest.”
Posts Spread Satirical Trump ‘Quote’
A quote attributed to President Donald Trump in Facebook posts actually originated in a well-known satirical New Yorker column.
Bogus Claim About ‘Impeaching’ Pelosi
A claim that the White House may impeach House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is false, but it is still circulating widely online.
Pelosi Didn’t Spend $497 Million on Renovations
Nancy Pelosi did not spend $497 million on office renovations during the government shutdown. That claim originated from a self-described satirical website, but it has now spread to other websites and social media posts without a disclaimer.