FACT CHECK: Was Kamala Harris Arrested In Singapore?
A post shared on Facebook claims that Vice President Kamala Harris was arrested in Singapore and that a new vice president has been announced.
Verdict: False
While Harris did recently travel to Singapore, she was not arrested during her trip. She has not been replaced as vice president.
Fact Check:
Harris traveled to Singapore on Aug. 22 to meet with leaders there, Reuters reported. The title of a video posted to Facebook claims she was arrested during the trip, saying, “Kamala Was Arrested in Singapore, New Vice President Is Announced.”
The claim doesn’t hold up under scrutiny, as Harris was, according to an Associated Press photo, seen boarding her plane to leave Singapore Aug. 24. Her verified social media accounts also remained active throughout and after her brief stay. Check Your Fact found no credible news reports about Harris being arrested or detained during her visit to the country.
The claim that Harris has been replaced by a new vice president is likewise inaccurate. Harris gave a speech in Shanksville, Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, the day after the video was shared on Facebook, to honor the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, according to Axios. Numerous news outlets, including Axios, NPR and ABC News, reported on the speech and identified Harris as the vice president. Harris remains listed as the vice president on the White House’s website.
Prior to her appearance in Shanksville, Harris also made a speech in support of Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 8, according to Politico. Footage of that speech can be found on CBS News‘ YouTube channel. (RELATED: No, This Photo Does Not Show Kamala Harris With Jeffrey Epstein)
Check Your Fact reviewed the video included in the Facebook post and found it offered no evidence to corroborate the title’s claim. The narrator of the video only briefly mentions the claim, instead focusing on topics such as rising inflation, the Taliban leadership and some conspiracy theories.
At one point, the narrator attempts to baselessly suggest Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has been removed from the court due to “charges against him.” Roberts, however, authored an opinion for the court on Sept. 1 and is still listed on the court’s website as the chief justice. In July, Check Your Fact debunked a similar claim that alleged Roberts had been arrested and charged for child trafficking.
The narrator also asserted former President Donald Trump was reinstated in August, a false rumor that has been debunked by other fact-checking outlets.