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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Posts Misrepresent Unfreezing of $16 Billion in Iranian Funds

Posts Misrepresent Unfreezing of $16 Billion in Iranian Funds

A recent deal involving a prisoner swap and the extension of a Trump-era waiver have freed $16 billion in previously frozen Iranian funds. Social media posts distort the sources of the money to falsely claim “Joe Biden gave 16 billion to Iran.” The Iranian money has been unfrozen with restrictions that it be used for humanitarian purposes.

Trump Plans to Attend Son’s Graduation and GOP Fundraiser, Contrary to Online Claim

Trump Plans to Attend Son’s Graduation and GOP Fundraiser, Contrary to Online Claim

While his criminal fraud trial is not in session on May 17, former President Donald Trump plans to attend the high school graduation of his son Barron in Florida as well as a campaign event in Minnesota. A post on Threads misleadingly claims he will “miss his son’s graduation for fundraiser.” The graduation is in the morning and the fundraising dinner in the evening.

Tim Scott’s False and Misleading Claims About Unemployment

Tim Scott’s False and Misleading Claims About Unemployment

Republican Sen. Tim Scott has claimed that African Americans, Hispanics and Asians all had their lowest unemployment rate under former President Donald Trump. But the lowest unemployment rate on record for African Americans was under President Joe Biden, and the lowest unemployment rate for Hispanics was the same under both presidents.

Pro-Trump Super PAC Edits Biden’s Past Comment About Deportations

Pro-Trump Super PAC Edits Biden’s Past Comment About Deportations

A TV ad from a super PAC supporting former President Donald Trump features a clip of President Joe Biden only saying “nobody is going to be deported,” falsely suggesting that Biden promised his administration would never deport anyone who entered the U.S. illegally.

Threads Post Distorts Trump’s Remarks on Iron Dome for U.S.

Threads Post Distorts Trump’s Remarks on Iron Dome for U.S.

At a campaign rally in Michigan, former President Donald Trump promised to build an Iron Dome missile defense system for the U.S. that would serve as “a shield around our country.” A post on Threads falsely claimed Trump said the system would be used to “‘defend us’ from Canada.”

Still No Evidence COVID-19 Vaccination Increases Cancer Risk, Despite Posts

Still No Evidence COVID-19 Vaccination Increases Cancer Risk, Despite Posts

It has not been shown that COVID-19 vaccines cause or accelerate cancer. Yet opponents of the vaccines say a new review article “has found that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines could aid cancer development.” The review conclusions are mainly based on the misinterpretation of a study on mRNA cancer vaccines in mice.

Biden’s Dubious Civil Rights Arrest Anecdote

Biden’s Dubious Civil Rights Arrest Anecdote

In his interview with SiriusXM radio’s Howard Stern, President Joe Biden revived a dubious anecdote about having been arrested as a teenager while standing in solidarity on the porch of a Black family amid a desegregation protest.

Posts Misrepresent Raising of Palestinian Flags at Harvard

Posts Misrepresent Raising of Palestinian Flags at Harvard

Protesters against the war in Gaza raised three Palestinian flags on the Harvard University campus on April 27. Social media posts misleadingly claimed the university “replaced the American flag with the Palestinian flag.” The Palestinian flags were removed by Harvard staff shortly after they were raised by the protesters.