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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Apparent Assassination Attempt on Trump Sparks Unfounded Claims of ‘Inside Job’

Apparent Assassination Attempt on Trump Sparks Unfounded Claims of ‘Inside Job’

The arrest of Ryan Wesley Routh in an apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has sparked unfounded claims online that Routh had “inside” knowledge of Trump’s plans. Public reports about Trump’s schedule indicated his likely whereabouts, and evidence shows Routh staked out the site for about 12 hours.

False Claims of Backlash to Taylor Swift’s Endorsement of Harris

False Claims of Backlash to Taylor Swift’s Endorsement of Harris

Pop star Taylor Swift endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president on Sept. 10. Social media posts falsely claim that, as a result, Swift’s ticket sales have plummeted and some of her concerts and a major endorsement deal have been canceled. The remaining U.S. shows on Swift’s Eras tour are all sold out, and she has not lost her partnership with Coca-Cola.

Posts Misrepresent Police Reports Preceding Trump Rally in New York

Posts Misrepresent Police Reports Preceding Trump Rally in New York

Former President Donald Trump has been the target of two assassination attempts over the past three months. Viral posts are now spreading the false claim that police discovered explosives in a vehicle near a Trump campaign rally in New York on Sept. 18. Police said the claim is “unfounded.”

Vance’s Misleading Claim About Immigrants and Murders in Springfield, Ohio

Vance’s Misleading Claim About Immigrants and Murders in Springfield, Ohio

Sen. JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, circulated a baseless rumor on social media that the residents of Springfield, Ohio, “have had their pets abducted and eaten by” immigrants. Now, Vance has cherry-picked data to make the unfounded claim that immigrants are responsible for an 81% increase in the city’s murders.

Posts Sharing Mpox Misinformation Recycle Claims from Prior Viral Outbreaks

Posts Sharing Mpox Misinformation Recycle Claims from Prior Viral Outbreaks

Responding to rising mpox cases in Africa, the World Health Organization declared a public health emergency of international concern on Aug. 14. Social media posts subsequently repeated a plethora of false or baseless claims, including that COVID-19 vaccines cause the viral disease or that the current outbreak is part of a global conspiracy.

Right for America

A super PAC that supports former President Donald Trump.

America PAC

A pro-Donald Trump super PAC that was created by billionaire Elon Musk.

Harris’ Jobs Remarks Lack Context

Harris’ Jobs Remarks Lack Context

In boasting of job creation, Vice President Kamala Harris told an organization of Black journalists, “We have the lowest Black unemployment rate in generations.” The rate did dip to its lowest point last year, but as of last month it was the same as the pre-pandemic rate under the Trump administration.