PolitiFact rated a viral moment involving President Joe Biden “false.”
After delivering a speech at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, Biden turned to his right and held his hand out for what appeared to be a handshake.
There was no one next to him.
Biden proceeded to wander on stage for a moment. He then exited.
In case you missed it:
After Biden finished his speech, he turned around and tried to shake hands with thin air and then wandered around looking confused pic.twitter.com/ZN00TLdUUo
— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) April 14, 2022
The moment sparked mockery and criticism.
If Biden’s actions don’t demand a call for the 25th Amendment, nothing does! #clueless #lost #godhelpus https://t.co/94lQdm7pEB
— Jeanine Pirro (@JudgeJeanine) April 15, 2022
Biden wasn't "shaking hands with a ghost" and we should stop making ridiculous jokes like that.
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) April 15, 2022
He was shaking hands with his voters. https://t.co/Vr3D4ivKOw
President Shit Show. #BidenIsALaughingstock https://t.co/5cwjMADTtr
— Matthew Kolken (@mkolken) April 15, 2022
Why isn’t there someone there to guide him? Terrible look for America. Who is protecting the prestige of the office? https://t.co/qCnwmSQCiZ
— Miranda Devine (@mirandadevine) April 15, 2022
In a lengthy Twitter thread, PolitiFact came to Biden’s defense.
“You might have seen a clip of President Joe Biden ‘shaking hands’ with thin air. It never happened,” PolitiFact stated.
The fact-checking website noted the claim “appeared on YouTube and Twitter, shared by Republicans like Sen. Ted Cruz. It even appeared on Instagram, where Snoop Dogg shared the video with his followers.”
The claim appeared on YouTube and Twitter, shared by Republicans like Sen. Ted Cruz. It even appeared on Instagram, where Snoop Dogg shared the video with his followers. https://t.co/btnSG8FEW5
— PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) April 20, 2022
According to PolitiFact, “Videos show that Biden was actually pointing at the audience behind him with his whole hand. He acknowledges the right side, then the left, and begins to walk forward.”
The statement claims the video is “one of many that form a history of comedic and embarrassing presidential moments that garnered public attention. Efforts to portray presidents as ineffective or seize on moments that make them look that way are not new.”
The video is one of many that form a history of comedic and embarrassing presidential moments that garnered public attention. Efforts to portray presidents as ineffective or seize on moments that make them look that way are not new.
— PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) April 20, 2022
PolitiFact argued the “supposedly embarrassing presidential moments going viral online aren’t fully authentic or fake,” adding, “Instead, real photos and videos have been edited in misleading ways — ways that will usually find a receptive audience.”
The website then quoted research scientist Mike Caulfield, saying, “When we look at something that seems like one of these human moments, we’re like, ‘I don’t need to know anything. I can see it right there.'”
He added, “It does breed, I think, a false sense of confidence in us.”
"When we look at something that seems like one of these human moments, we're like, ‘I don't need to know anything. I can see it right there,’” research scientist Mike Caulfield said. “It does breed, I think, a false sense of confidence in us."
— PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) April 20, 2022
Concluding the report, PolitiFact stated, “The clips of Biden gesturing to those seated in the audience are being misconstrued to appear as if he was trying to shake hands with air. We rate this claim False.”
