Q: Did Nike end its new deal with Colin Kaepernick because he made “anti-white” remarks?
A: No. That made-up story was first published by a website that says its work is satire.
False Claim About Kaepernick’s Nike Deal
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.
Old Spin on Health Care Fraud Bust Returns
Q: Were “412 Michigan Muslims arrested in fed’s ‘largest bust in U.S. history’”?
A: No. Only about 30 of those arrests were made in Michigan, and there is no evidence all of the individuals arrested were Muslim.
Anti-Trump Comment Falsely Linked to Florida Shooter
Q: Did Reddit postings show the shooter in Jacksonville, Florida, was part of the “anti-Trump resistance”?
A: No. The Reddit account in question did not belong to the shooter, David Katz, despite what viral stories said.
Joe Arpaio Not Named to Replace John McCain
Q: Was Joe Arpaio, the former Maricopa County, Arizona, sheriff, appointed to finish John McCain’s term in the Senate?
A: No. That claim is made up — the Arizona governor has not yet named a replacement.
Does Ocasio-Cortez Have ‘Ties’ to Soros?
Q: Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tied to George Soros?
A: Not directly. Her campaign gained momentum from an interview she gave on an internet show that is supported, in part, by a nonprofit that received a grant from an organization that received funding from a Soros foundation.
Clinton’s Emails, Weiner’s Laptop and a Falsehood
Q: Did the FBI wait until after the 2016 election to review the Hillary Clinton emails found on Anthony Weiner’s laptop?
A: No. A viral story misinterprets an FBI document and ignores widely reported facts.
Pelosi Told Democrats to Win, Not Lie
Q: Did Rep. Nancy Pelosi tell Democrats to lie to get elected?
A: No. She said Democratic candidates who oppose her becoming House speaker again should “do whatever you have to do,” as long as they win.
Cops Kneeling: Still False, A Year Later
Q: Did police officers “take a knee” and then “walk out on” the Washington Redskins?
A: No. That made-up story was first posted by a self-described satirical website last year.
Bogus Claim of Voter Fraud in Ohio
Q: Were there “major signs of voter fraud” in Ohio’s congressional special election?
A: No. The Ohio Secretary of State’s office says there have been no reports of voter fraud.
Stories Conflate Immigration Issues
Q: Did the Obama administration separate “72,410 Children From Their Families in 2013”?
A: That’s the number of immigrants removed that year who had U.S.-born children. But viral stories wrongly conflate removals with President Trump’s zero tolerance policy.