This is a guide to key stories we did during the 2020 election between Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden.
A Guide to the Candidates’ Claims
Issues: 2020 election
Revived Political Post Falsely Attributed, Again, to Clint Eastwood
Facebook users falsely claim a post critical of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden was written by actor Clint Eastwood. A nearly identical post aimed at former President Barack Obama — and also misattributed to Eastwood — has circulated since 2013.
Viral Posts Take Biden Quote on Voter Fraud Out of Context
Social media posts shared by Eric Trump and Fox News host Jeanine Pirro take a quote by Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden out of context to claim he “admits to voter fraud.” Biden was actually describing his efforts to prevent voter fraud and suppression.
Biden Hasn’t Suspended In-Person Campaigning
A false claim on social media suggests former Vice President Joe Biden has stopped all in-person campaigning until the election. He has plans to visit several states before Nov. 3.
Photo of Man in Halloween Costume Isn’t Mark Kelly
Social media posts, including one retweeted by Donald Trump Jr., falsely claim that a yearbook photo shows Democratic Senate candidate Mark Kelly dressed as Hitler for Halloween. Kelly’s campaign and several of his former classmates told FactCheck.org that the photo is not of Kelly.
Social Media Posts Misquote Trump on Immigrant Family Separations
President Donald Trump didn’t say “‘GOOD’ about the kids being separated from the parents” at the southern border during the final presidential debate, as social media posts wrongly claim. He said “go ahead” to the moderator, who was trying to move on to the next topic.
Posts Target Trump With False Claim on MAGA Hats
Social media posts erroneously suggest that President Donald Trump’s campaign hats are made in China, while those for former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign are made in the U.S. The official hats sold by both campaigns are made by American companies.
Posts Misquote Biden on Section 8 Housing
Facebook posts falsely claim that at his Oct. 15 town hall event, former Vice President Joe Biden said he grew up in Section 8 housing. Biden actually said he lived in a building which “became Section 8 housing much later.”
Conspiracy Theory Baselessly Claims Biden Had Navy SEALs Killed
A viral conspiracy theory spread across social media baselessly claims former Vice President Joe Biden “had SEAL Team 6 killed” as part of a cover-up after a purportedly failed assassination of Osama bin Laden. President Donald Trump shared the unfounded theory on Twitter.
Posts Falsely Attribute Comments on Churches to Harris
There is no record of Sen. Kamala Harris ever calling churches “PROPAGANDA CENTERS for intolerant homophobic, xenophobic vitriol,” as viral posts on Facebook falsely claim.