Current:Home > MarketsFACT FOCUS: Online reports falsely claim Biden suffered a ‘medical emergency’ on Air Force One -TrueNorth Capital Hub
FACT FOCUS: Online reports falsely claim Biden suffered a ‘medical emergency’ on Air Force One
View
Date:2025-04-17 06:46:21
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! (8)
Related
- At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
- Michigan Gov. Whitmer calls for increased investments in education in State of the State address
- Law enforcement officers in New Jersey kill man during shootout while trying to make felony arrest
- Magnitude 4.2 earthquake rocks Southern California, rattling residents
- Opinion: Gianni Infantino, FIFA sell souls and 2034 World Cup for Saudi Arabia's billions
- She fell near an icy bus stop in the city. She likely froze to death before help came.
- Turkey's parliament approves Sweden's NATO membership, lifting key hurdle to entry into military alliance
- 4 secret iPhone hacks to help you type faster on the keyboard
- Federal appeals court upholds $14.25 million fine against Exxon for pollution in Texas
- Eva Mendes Defends Ryan Gosling From Barbie Hate After Oscar Nomination
Ranking
- The company planning a successor to Concorde makes its first supersonic test
- Many experts feared a recession. Instead, the economy has continued to soar
- Nick Dunlap turns pro after becoming first amateur to win PGA Tour event in 33 years
- Jim Harbaugh leaves his alma mater on top of college football. Will Michigan stay there?
- New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
- Iran disqualifies former moderate president from running for reelection to influential assembly
- Florida man clocked driving 199 mph in dad's Camaro, cops say
- Who replaces Jim Harbaugh at Michigan? Sherrone Moore and other candidates
Recommendation
Meet the volunteers risking their lives to deliver Christmas gifts to children in Haiti
Jason Kelce's shirtless antics steal show in Buffalo: 'Tay said she absolutely loved you'
More than 1 in 4 U.S. adults identify as religious nones, new data shows. Here's what this means.
A US Congressional delegation affirms bipartisan support for Taiwan in first visit since election
The Louvre will be renovated and the 'Mona Lisa' will have her own room
Maine’s top court dismisses appeal of judge’s decision on Trump ballot status
Harbaugh returning to NFL to coach Chargers after leading Michigan to national title, AP sources say
Colombia declares a disaster because of wildfires and asks for international help