FACT CHECK: Did An Audience Member Give Biden The Finger During His Speech In Poland?
An image shared on social media allegedly shows a man giving President Joe Biden the finger during his speech in Poland.
That’s all you need to know about how the Polish people felt about Biden during his visit to Poland 😉 pic.twitter.com/E3OmP6SxOj
— Angelina (@bythesfbay) February 23, 2023
Verdict: False
The image is digitally altered. The original photo shows the man with two thumbs up, not an obscene gesture.
Fact Check:
Biden visited and spoke in Poland on Feb. 21 to secure support from Ukraine’s allies after his surprise visit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, The Associated Press reported. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev responded to Biden’s address in eastern Europe by threatening nuclear war to defend Russia, according to The Hill.
The Twitter image purportedly shows an audience member using explicit gestures after Biden’s speech. The alleged image shows Biden waving to the crowd as some take photos. “That’s all you need to know about how the Polish people felt about Biden during his visit to Poland,” the caption reads.
The image has been digitally altered. Check Your Fact conducted a reverse image search that revealed the original unaltered image. In the genuine photo, the audience member is giving Biden two thumbs up.
One year after Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine, Ukraine is still independent and free.
The United States will continue to work with our allies and partners to stand against Russia’s aggression and provide critical support to the people of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/Yncea1BtKk
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 22, 2023
There are no credible news reports that suggest this occurred during Biden’s address in Poland. There have been no press releases from the White House that addressed any inappropriate protesting or disorderly conduct directed at the President. (RELATED: Does This Photo Show An Imam Thanking A Dog For Rescuing People In Turkey?)
This is not the first time a video or photo with a misleading or false caption has circulated online. Check Your Fact recently debunked video allegedly showing man-made storm clouds after the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
