Current:Home > StocksFACT FOCUS: Online reports falsely claim Biden suffered a ‘medical emergency’ on Air Force One -AssetTrainer
FACT FOCUS: Online reports falsely claim Biden suffered a ‘medical emergency’ on Air Force One
View
Date:2025-04-22 02:17:58
False reports that President Joe Biden had a “medical emergency” while traveling back to Delaware on Friday after a campaign stop in Wisconsin, spread widely on social media on Friday. They were without merit.
Here’s a look at the facts.
___
CLAIM: President Joe Biden had a “medical emergency” aboard Air Force One on Friday.
AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. There were no signs of a medical emergency on the flight, according to an Associated Press reporter who was traveling with Biden. Air Force One arrived at Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Delaware, at 7:22 p.m. The president exited the plane on his own, saluted and spoke with an officer at the base of the stairs and took a question from a reporter before leaving the airport.
THE FACTS: As Biden returned to his home in Wilmington, Delaware, after a campaign stop in Madison, Wisconsin, on Friday social media users falsely claimed that the president had suffered a “medical emergency” aboard Air Force One.
Air Force One landed in New Castle, Delaware, at 7:22 p.m. about the same time posts started spreading about Biden’s alleged medical emergency.
“I just received a tip from an anonymous source,” reads one X post. “My source says that Joe Biden is currently experiencing a medical emergency on Air Force One as I type this. No further details are known.”
What to know about the 2024 Election
- Democracy: American democracy has overcome big stress tests since 2020. More challenges lie ahead in 2024.
- AP’s Role: The Associated Press is the most trusted source of information on election night, with a history of accuracy dating to 1848. Learn more.
- Read the latest: Follow AP’s complete coverage of this year’s election.
Another X post states: “Joe Biden is reportedly having a medical emergency on Air Force One right now. Press access has been removed.” It had received approximately 15,000 likes and 10,900 shares as of Saturday morning.
The posts presented no evidence that such an event occurred. Press access was not removed.
Video shows Biden walking down the steps of Air Force One in Delaware, speaking with an officer, answering a reporter’s question about whether he would watch a highly anticipated interview he did with ABC News’ George Stephanopolous and getting into a car, all without issue.
There were no signs of an emergency aboard Air Force One and the press was not denied access to the plane at any point, according to an AP reporter who was traveling on Air Force One with Biden during the flight from Wisconsin to Delaware. The reporter added that press was able to move about the plane as usual and that a door separating press from Biden’s top staff was open for most of the flight.
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates called the claim “100% false” in an X post on Friday night.
Other posts claimed that the press did not see Biden when the presidential motorcade arrived at his home Friday night and that his campaign had canceled upcoming events as a result of the supposed emergency.
A press pool was in Biden’s motorcade when he was dropped off at his Wilmington home, according to the AP reporter who was traveling with the president. The reporter said journalists did not see him enter the house, but they routinely do not see him enter his Wilmington home because it is set back from the street and it is typical to only see the motorcade going through the gates leading to the house.
Biden had no public events planned for Saturday. He was scheduled to speak at a National Education Association convention on Sunday, but canceled after the union’s staff announced a strike on Friday.
“President Biden is a fierce supporter of unions and he won’t cross a picket line,” his campaign said in a statement. “The President is still planning to travel to Pennsylvania this weekend.”
___
Associated Press reporters Colleen Long and Zeke Miller contributed to this report.
___
Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck.
veryGood! (73966)
Related
- Bodycam footage shows high
- The Best SKIMS Drops This Month: A Bra That's Better Than A Boob Job, Cozy Sets & More
- Jack Schlossberg Reveals His Family's Reaction to His Crazy Social Media Videos
- Aging and ailing, ‘Message Tree’ at Woodstock concert site is reluctantly cut down
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- Tommy Lee's Wife Brittany Furlan Rescues Their Dog After Coyote Snatches Them in Attack
- Reality TV star Julie Chrisley to be re-sentenced in bank fraud and tax evasion case
- New Study Finds Lakes in Minority Communities Across the US Are Less Likely to be Monitored
- McKinsey to pay $650 million after advising opioid maker on how to 'turbocharge' sales
- A Missouri man has been executed for a 1998 murder. Was he guilty or innocent?
Ranking
- DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
- NFL Week 3 overreactions: Commanders are back, Vikings Super Bowl bound
- C’mon get happy, Joker is back (this time with Lady Gaga)
- In dueling speeches, Harris is to make her capitalist pitch while Trump pushes deeper into populism
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Alabama man declared 'mentally ill' faces execution by method witnesses called 'horrific'
- C’mon get happy, Joker is back (this time with Lady Gaga)
- Sara Foster Addresses Tommy Haas Breakup Rumors
Recommendation
Jorge Ramos reveals his final day with 'Noticiero Univision': 'It's been quite a ride'
U.S. wrestler Alan Vera dies at 33 after suffering cardiac arrest during soccer game
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez says New York City mayor should resign
Wisconsin rock climber dies after fall inside Devils Tower National Monument
Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
Who is Matt Sluka? UNLV QB redshirting remainder of season amid reported NIL dispute
Celebrate local flavors with tickets to the USA TODAY Wine & Food Experience
Johnny Depp calls Amber Heard defamation trial 'a soap opera' while promoting new film