Some social media posts have responded to Floyd’s death by pushing misinformation and conspiracy theories.
Falsehoods Follow George Floyd’s Death
Month: May 2020
Baseless Conspiracy Theory Claims Floyd Case Was ‘Staged’
Viral text posts are advancing the groundless claim that George Floyd’s arrest and death in Minneapolis were “staged” to incite “racial tensions.” But they offer no evidence to support that conspiracy theory.
Minneapolis Police License Plate Doesn’t Raise a ‘False Flag’
Social media posts incorrectly claim that Minneapolis police license plates “dont say POLICE,” and that proves the death of George Floyd was a planned event. Actually, many police vehicles in Minneapolis have that license plate.
Viral Photos Don’t Show Minneapolis Officer in Floyd Case
Politically charged social media posts have wrongly identified pictures as showing the Minneapolis police officer who was seen kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, who died shortly after. The two photos circulating do not show the officer, Derek Chauvin.
Year-Old Biden Spoof Emerges Anew
A year-old video spoof that manipulated a television interview to make former Vice President Joe Biden appear incoherent recently has been circulating on social media. But many of those who are posting the video have not disclosed that it was edited and intended as satire.
FactChecking Biden’s ‘Breakfast Club’ Interview
In a May 22 radio interview, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden made a number of false, misleading or exaggerated claims.
Trump’s Evidence-Free Attempt to Link Scarborough to Aide’s Death
President Donald Trump has repeatedly sought without evidence to link MSNBC host Joe Scarborough to the death of one of his staffers in 2001, when he was a Republican congressman.
More False Mail-In Ballot Claims from Trump
California will send every registered voter in the state a mail-in ballot for the November general election. But President Donald Trump falsely said, on Twitter and at the White House, that the ballots would go to “anyone living in the state, no matter who they are or how they got there” and “people that aren’t citizens.”
COVID-19 Isn’t Caused by Bacteria
False information that claims COVID-19 is caused by a bacteria and can be easily treated started spreading by text message, and is now viral on social media. Actually, COVID-19 is caused by a virus and there is no treatment for it.
Obama’s Criticism Didn’t Set a Presidential Precedent
A meme circulating on Facebook — and retweeted by President Donald Trump — falsely claims former President Barack Obama is the “first ex-president to speak against [his] successor.” Actually, many U.S. leaders criticized those who followed them into the White House.