Recent report by USA Today, published on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, highlights a fabricated statement falsely attributed to Donald Trump that has been circulating widely online. This claim emerged following Hunter Biden’s conviction on three felony gun charges.
False Statement Details
The false statement suggests that Trump will “save” Hunter Biden after being re-elected for a third term. Shared by several prominent individuals and organizations, including National Review, Rasmussen Reports, and former Barack Obama adviser David Axelrod, the statement implies Trump would intervene to assist Hunter Biden, despite his criticism of both Hunter and President Joe Biden.
The fake statement begins with, “Many people have asked me to comment on the conviction of Hunter Biden,” and goes on to accuse Hunter Biden of lying on a gun application. It criticizes President Biden’s stance on gun control and claims Trump would save Hunter Biden after his re-election, stating, “Don’t worry, Joe – I will save your son after I get elected – for the third time!”
Fact-Checking the Claim
A spokesperson for Donald Trump confirmed the statement is not legitimate. There is no record of such a statement on Trump’s Truth Social account or campaign website. Furthermore, Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt issued a statement that does not match the content of the fake claim circulating online.
Genuine Statement from Trump’s Campaign
In contrast to the fabricated statement, the actual statement from the Trump campaign addresses Hunter Biden’s trial as a distraction and predicts the end of President Biden’s term. The genuine statement does not mention any intervention on behalf of Hunter Biden.
Despite efforts to clarify the false nature of the statement, it has continued to spread. National Review removed their story containing the fake statement, Axelrod deleted his post sharing the false information, and Rasmussen Reports acknowledged the statement was not authentic in a follow-up post on X.
Response to Misinformation
In response to the spread of misinformation, the Trump campaign’s official X account and Donald Trump Jr. have shared the real statement to counter the false claims. The genuine statement emphasizes Hunter Biden’s trial as a distraction and criticizes the Biden family, predicting President Biden’s downfall on November 5th.
Importance of Fact-Checking
As the fabricated statement continues to circulate online, it highlights the critical need for fact-checking before sharing information. In today’s era of widespread misinformation, verifying the authenticity of statements and sources is essential to prevent the spread of false information.This situation underscores the importance of diligence in verifying information and the potential consequences of sharing unverified claims. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against misinformation in the digital age.
