Russian collusion
- Claim: Trump's campaign colluded with Russia to influence the 2016 election.
- Reality: The Mueller investigation found insufficient evidence to prove a conspiracy.
Trump called neo-Nazis "fine people"
- Claim: Trump praised neo-Nazis after Charlottesville.
- Reality: Trump condemned neo-Nazis but mentioned "fine people" on both sides of the statue debate.
Jussie Smollett
- Claim: Actor Jussie Smollett was attacked in a hate crime.
- Reality: It was revealed that Smollett staged the attack.
Bubba Wallace garage pull
- Claim: A noose was found in Wallace's NASCAR garage.
- Reality: It was a garage pull rope, not a noose.
Covington kids
- Claim: High school students harassed a Native American elder.
- Reality: Full footage showed the students did not instigate the incident.
Governor Whitmer kidnapping plot
- Claim: Right-wing extremists plotted to kidnap Michigan's governor.
- Reality: Allegations of FBI entrapment and overreach emerged.
Kavanaugh rape
- Claim: Brett Kavanaugh committed sexual assault.
- Reality: Evidence was lacking to support the accusations.
Trump pee tape
- Claim: Trump engaged in lewd acts in Moscow, as described in the Steele dossier.
- Reality: The claims remain unverified.
COVID lab leak was a conspiracy theory
- Claim: The idea that COVID-19 leaked from a lab was dismissed as a conspiracy.
- Reality: The lab leak theory is now considered plausible by many experts.
Border agents whipped migrants
- Claim: Border agents were whipping migrants.
- Reality: Photos showed agents using reins to control horses, not whipping people.
Trump saved nuclear secrets at Mar-a-Lago
- Claim: Trump mishandled nuclear documents.
- Reality: This is still under investigation.
Steele Dossier
- Claim: The dossier's unverified claims about Trump were taken as fact.
- Reality: The dossier was funded by political opponents and full of unverified information.
Russian bounties on US soldiers in Afghanistan
- Claim: Russia paid bounties to kill US soldiers.
- Reality: The reports were later found to be unsubstantiated.
Trump said drinking bleach would fight COVID
- Claim: Trump suggested people should drink bleach.
- Reality: Trump suggested exploring disinfectants as treatments, not ingestion.
Muslim travel ban
- Claim: The executive order was a ban on Muslims.
- Reality: It targeted specific countries with terrorism concerns, not all Muslims.
Hunter Biden's laptop was Russian disinformation
- Claim: The laptop story was dismissed as Russian propaganda.
- Reality: The laptop has been verified.
Andrew Cuomo best COVID leadership
- Claim: Cuomo was praised for his COVID response.
- Reality: He later faced criticism for nursing home deaths and scandals.
Trump built cages for migrant kids
- Claim: The cages for migrant children were attributed to Trump.
- Reality: These facilities were built during the Obama administration.
Austere religious scholar
- Claim: The Washington Post described ISIS leader al-Baghdadi this way.
- Reality: The description caused backlash for downplaying his terrorism.
Trump overfed Koi fish in Japan
- Claim: Trump improperly fed fish during a ceremony.
- Reality: The video was misleadingly edited.
Build Back Better will pay for itself
- Claim: Biden's plan would be self-funding.
- Reality: Skepticism arose about its self-funding claims.
Trump tax cuts benefited only the rich
- Claim: The tax cuts primarily benefited the wealthy.
- Reality: Middle-class benefits were also noted.
Cloth masks prevent COVID
- Claim: Cloth masks were promoted as highly effective.
- Reality: Later research showed they are less effective than other types.
If you get vaccinated you won't catch COVID
- Claim: Vaccination guarantees immunity.
- Reality: Vaccines reduce severity but do not guarantee complete immunity.
SUV killed parade marchers
- Claim: The vehicle was the focus of headlines during the Waukesha attack.
- Reality: The driver's intent was downplayed.
Trump used teargas to clear a crowd for a bible photo
- Claim: Trump used teargas for a photo-op.
- Reality: Evidence indicated other factors in crowd dispersal.
Hunter Biden's laptop was Russian disinformation
- Claim: Repeated for emphasis, initially dismissed.
- Reality: Now confirmed legitimate.
Trump built cages for migrant kids
- Claim: Repeated for emphasis, attributed to Trump.
- Reality: Started under Obama.
Ivermectin is a horse dewormer and not for humans
- Claim: Ivermectin is only for animals.
- Reality: Approved for human use in specific conditions, criticized for unapproved COVID treatments.
Mostly peaceful protests
Trump overpowered secret service for wheel of "The Beast"
- Claim: Trump fought agents to take control of his vehicle on January 6.
- Reality: The claim is dubious.
Officer Sicknick was murdered by protesters
- Claim: Officer Sicknick died from injuries sustained during January 6.
- Reality: Medical findings contradicted this.
January 6th was an insurrection
- Claim: Termed an insurrection.
- Reality: Legal definitions and charges vary.
Trump mocked a reporter's disability
- Claim: Trump mocked the reporter's disability.
- Reality: Trump claims his actions were misunderstood.
BYU students hurled racist insults at Duke volleyball player
- Claim: BYU students were racist towards a Duke player.
- Reality: Investigation found no evidence to support the allegations.
These examples illustrate how media narratives can sometimes diverge from later findings or context, affecting public perception and discourse.
