Posts falsely claim Biden waved 'to nobody' after Lithuania speech
- This article is more than one year old.
- Published on July 14, 2023 at 20:19
- 3 min read
- By Bill MCCARTHY, AFP USA
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"Biden waves and points to nobody again," says text over a video shared July 12, 2023 by Tim Young, a conservative comedian and social media personality.
Young's posts show a roughly 13-second clip from the close of Biden's July 12 address in Vilnius, Lithuania, during which he vowed the West "will not waver" in its support of Ukraine against Russia's invasion.
The remarks followed a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a summit for NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
But despite the social media posts, Biden did not wave "to nobody" -- the video is zoomed in and edited to omit the spectators Biden waved at.
Other footage captured by AFP and other news organizations (archived here and here) shows the full crowd surrounding Biden's stage.
AFP also took several photos of the audience, including people situated toward the right side of the stage at Vilnius University -- the direction of Biden's wave.
AFP contacted the White House for comment, but no response was forthcoming.
Similarly edited or altered clips purporting to show Biden sleeping, confused or misreading social cues have targeted the Democrat for years, often amplified by opponents who argue he is too old for the job at 80.
AFP has debunked other misinformation about Biden waving at no one here.
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