Fact Check: Does This Photo Show John McCain And Lindsey Graham Alongside Bin Laden?
An image shared on Twitter purportedly shows late Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain and South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham with Osama Bin Laden.
— .. (@Xx17965797N) November 21, 2022
Verdict: False
This photo is digitally altered. The original version shows McCain and Graham meeting the Afghan President in 2013.
Fact Check:
Graham testified for two hours before a Fulton County Grand Jury investigation into alleged 2020 election interference by former President Donald Trump, Axios reported. The Supreme Court had previously denied Graham’s request to delay the testimony, according to CNN.
The Twitter post allegedly shows a declassified image featuring McCain, Graham and Bid Laden in front of the Afghan Presidential Palace. Neither the post or image list when or where the photo was taken.
“Hal Turner Radio Show,” text on the image reads. “Declassified: Photo of Lindsey Graham with Osama Bin Laden and John McCain.” (RELATED: Did Time Magazine Name Joe Biden And Kamala Harris ‘The Most Unpopular Duo?)
The image is digitally altered. A reverse image search revealed the original photo was posted to McCain’s Twitter account in 2013. The Photo is Graham and McCain standing with then-President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai.
Senator @GrahamBlog and I met with President Karzai yesterday as well #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/UgHTE4luZB
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) July 4, 2013
Graham and McCain visited Afghanistan on Jul. 4, 2013 to honor the troops. McCain tweeted about the event saying, “Our troops serving in #Afghanistan represent the best of America – let’s keep them in our prayers this 4th of July,” the Daily News reported. Bin Laden was killed in May 2011 in an operation in Pakistan, according to Britannica.
There are no credible news reports suggesting there has been a recent declassification of a meeting between the senators and Bin Laden.
This is not the first time fake tweets have been the source of misinformation. Check Your Fact recently debunked a post claiming to be a tweet from a British Parliament member.
