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    • Here are the most viral falsehoods about Donald Trump that we debunked
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    Here are the most viral falsehoods about Donald Trump that we debunked

    Online Niel Posted on

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    Throughout the presidential campaign, former President Donald Trump has been both the subject and purveyor of a variety of false claims online.

    Now, with less than a week to go until Election Day, social media users have continued to share misinformation about Trump, from altered images and fake posts to false statements about his judicial cases and attempts on his life.

    Trump has also made false claims, including his oft-repeated claim that he lost to Joe Biden in 2020 because electoral fraud. Multiple reports, reviews and audits confirmed that the results of the 2020 presidential election were legitimate.

    He also falsely claimed that millions of non-citizens vote in the US election, that Haitian migrants in Ohio ate pets and that The government had no money to help hurricane victims because it was spent on migrants living illegally in the country.

    Multiple polls show Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris in a tie close race in battleground states that both candidates ends its last week on the campaign trail.

    Here’s a series of checks on Trump from USA TODAY’s fact-checking team.

    Related: False and misleading claims about Kamala Harris increase as election nears | Fact Check Summary

    Claim: The Constitution “clearly states that a felon cannot hold elective office”

    Our Rating: False

    Neither the 14th Amendment nor any other part of the Constitution prohibits felons from running for office, an expert told USA TODAY. The section referenced in the post bars anyone who has taken an oath to uphold the Constitution and “engaged in insurrection” from taking office, but a March Supreme Court decision requires Congress to act to enforce it .

    Full Fact Check: The 14th Amendment does not prohibit felons from taking office

    Claim: Trump had convictions “reversed” as of Oct. 10 and was awarded $500 million in restitution

    Our Rating: False

    As of October 10, Trump’s conviction in his criminal case for hush money had not been “overturned.” He faces a separate civil fraud judgment of nearly $500 million and has posted a bond of $175 million, but has not received any of that money “back.” While the justices heard arguments in September on his appeal of that ruling, they did not rule before the post was shared.

    Full Fact Check: The Post wrongly claims that Trump’s conviction was “overturned” in October

    Claim: Image shows Trump post saying ‘I hate Adolf Hitler’

    Our Rating: Changed

    The image is a fabrication. The details of the post are consistent with an online meme generator, and there is no record of the post on Trump’s Truth Social profile or in reputable media reports.

    Full Fact Check: The image of Trump’s post about “hate” for Hitler is fabricated

    Claim: Excluding Trump from Oregon’s voter pamphlet is evidence of election interference

    Our Rating: False

    The Oregon GOP and the Secretary of State’s Office said former President Donald Trump’s affidavit was excluded because he chose not to file one. His name is listed in the pamphlet with a disclaimer saying he, too, will still appear on state ballots.

    Full Fact Check: Excluding Trump’s statement from the Oregon pamphlet is no sign of interference

    Claim: Trump canceled second debate, appearances on CNN, ’60 Minutes’ and more

    Our Rating: Partially False

    Trump canceled some of the events mentioned in the post, but never agreed to attend others.

    Full Fact Check: Partially false claim, Trump canceled CNN town hall, NRA rally and other events

    Claim: The video shows Trump’s transcript

    Our Rating: Changed

    The bulletin image is fabricated. Fordham University identified it as inauthentic in a social media post.

    Full Fact Check: These are not Trump’s grades from Fordham. The image in the video is a “fake”

    Claim: Image shows Trump’s post about a second suspected assassination attempt

    Our Rating: Changed

    The image is a fabrication. There is no record of posting on the Trump Truth Social account.

    Full Fact Check: Trump’s alleged post that his potential assassins are “0-2” is fabricated

    Claim: Image shows The Atlantic headline that says “Trump is literally Hitler”

    Our Rating: Changed

    The image is fabricated. The Atlantic said the headline was a modified version of an Oct. 22 article titled “Trump: ‘I need the kind of generals Hitler had.’ The summary is also modified.

    Full Fact Check: No, the Atlantic did not run a story with a headline saying Trump is Hitler

    Claim: Image shows Trump wading through floodwaters after Hurricane Helene

    Our Rating: Changed

    Experts and an AI detection tool have confirmed that the image is generated by AI. There is no evidence that Trump walked through the floodwaters after Hurricane Helene.

    Full Fact Check: The image of Donald Trump wading through floodwater is generated by artificial intelligence

    Claim: Melania Trump has said she wants a divorce

    Our Rating: False

    Melania Trump has not made any public statement to support the claim, and a spokesman for Donald Trump said the claim is false. The former first lady has reiterated her support for her husband in numerous interviews in the final weeks of the 2024 campaign.

    Full Fact Check: Melania Trump publicly supported her husband, did not ask for a divorce

    Claim: Trump posted about military relationship, interaction with ‘Civil War soldier’

    Our Rating: False

    Trump didn’t post this. It came from an impersonator whose account was suspended for violating platform rules. There is no record of the post from Trump’s verified account.

    Full Fact Check: Impersonator, not Trump, posted about military, meeting ‘Civil War veteran’

    Claim: Image shows a Fox News article about Donald Trump donating $1,300 to hurricane relief

    Our Rating: Changed

    The image was originally posted online on a Trump parody page. Experts said the photo of Trump with the check showed signs of being generated by artificial intelligence and there was no evidence that Fox News published such a story.

    Full Fact Check: The AI-generated image of Trump with hurricane relief verification started out as a parody

    Claim: Image shows Trump’s post attacking Jack Smith

    Our Rating: Changed

    Trump attacked Jack Smith in a variety of ways, but he didn’t post this. The image is a fabrication. There is no record of posting on his Truth Social profile.

    Full Fact Check: Trump called Jack Smith a “stupid leftist”? No, the image is fabricated

    Claim: Trump promised victims only 3% of Hurricane Helene proceeds

    Our Rating: False

    The GoFundMe page has pledged to direct all funds raised to hurricane victims, as per the platform’s policy. About 3% of each donation goes toward GoFundMe’s transaction fees.

    Full Fact Check: No, Trump didn’t just promise 3% of GoFundMe proceeds to Helene’s victims

    Claim: Displaced Trump supporters can get free shelter at Mar-a-Lago, other properties

    Our Rating: False

    The claim is baseless. Trump has not made any public statement offering free housing to supporters affected by the hurricane.

    Full Fact Check: Free Mar-a-Lago Lodging for Displaced Trump Voters? No, this has no basis

    Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here.

    USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to impartiality, fairness and transparency. Our fact-checking activity is supported in part by a grant from Meta.

    Online Niel
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