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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Trump Makes Unsubstantiated Claim About Fani Willis

Trump Makes Unsubstantiated Claim About Fani Willis

There is no evidence that Fani Willis, the district attorney for Fulton County, Georgia, had “an affair” with a “gang member” she was investigating, as former President Donald Trump claimed in a campaign speech.

Trump’s Defense Lawyer Spins the Facts

Trump’s Defense Lawyer Spins the Facts

John Lauro, one of former President Donald Trump’s lawyers, went on five Sunday talk shows to present a counternarrative to a federal indictment that accuses Trump of engaging in a criminal conspiracy to remain in office despite losing to Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

Trump’s First Amendment Defense

Trump’s First Amendment Defense

Former President Donald Trump and one of his attorneys have invoked a First Amendment defense in response to the federal indictment charging Trump with trying to “subvert the legitimate election results.” But legal experts note Trump’s speech isn’t constitutionally protected if he engaged in a criminal conspiracy, as the indictment alleges.

What Trump Asked of Pence

What Trump Asked of Pence

In an interview hours after former President Donald Trump was indicted for an alleged conspiracy to overturn the 2020 presidential election, one of his attorneys said that all Trump had ultimately asked his vice president to do was “simply pause” the Electoral College count at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Former Vice President Mike Pence called that claim “completely false.”

Indictment Details Trump’s Attempt to Overturn Swing State Election Outcomes

Indictment Details Trump’s Attempt to Overturn Swing State Election Outcomes

The federal indictment against former President Donald Trump, concerning his efforts to remain in office despite losing the election, details actions Trump and his co-conspirators allegedly took to get state officials to change legitimate electoral votes. The indictment says the pressure campaign involved knowingly making false claims of voter fraud — many of which we’ve written about before.

Q&A on Trump’s Jan. 6 Indictment

Q&A on Trump’s Jan. 6 Indictment

On Aug. 1, the Department of Justice filed an indictment against former President Donald Trump concerning his attempts to remain in power despite losing the 2020 presidential election — efforts that culminated in obstructing the counting of electoral votes on Jan. 6, 2021, the indictment charges.

Post Retreads False Claim About Biden’s Funding for Historically Black Colleges

Post Retreads False Claim About Biden’s Funding for Historically Black Colleges

The Biden administration has awarded billions in funding to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, including more than $2.7 billion provided in the American Rescue Plan. Yet a social media post revives an old, false claim that Biden revoked $250 million that then-President Donald Trump “pledged to give historical black colleges for the next 10 years.”

Posts Spread False Claim About Luke Bryan After CMT Pulls Jason Aldean Video

Posts Spread False Claim About Luke Bryan After CMT Pulls Jason Aldean Video

A video by country singer Jason Aldean was pulled by Country Music Television after critics called it offensive and racist. Some Aldean fans have responded by calling for the “Bud Light treatment” of CMT and falsely claiming that, in solidarity, singer Luke Bryan removed his own videos from the channel. The bogus claim about Bryan originated on a satirical website.

Trump Appointed Weiss with Democrats’ Blessing

Trump Appointed Weiss with Democrats’ Blessing

Democrats’ response to Republican claims that Hunter Biden got a “sweetheart deal” has been to note that former President Donald Trump appointed U.S. Attorney David Weiss – the prosecutor who allowed Biden to plead guilty to misdemeanor tax charges and enter a pretrial diversion program on a gun charge.

Social Media Posts Fabricate a Political Endorsement by Altering Lady Gaga Photo

Social Media Posts Fabricate a Political Endorsement by Altering Lady Gaga Photo

Lady Gaga campaigned for Joe Biden during the 2020 election and performed at his inauguration. But viral social media posts use an altered photo to falsely make it appear she has endorsed Donald Trump for president in 2024. The performer, who has been highly critical of Trump, has not made a public endorsement in the 2024 race.