FACT CHECK: No, The French Military Did Not Say They Are Prepared To Arrest President Macron For Treason
A photo of a headline shared on Twitter claims the French military has purportedly said they are prepared to arrest President Emmanuel Macron for treason.
🔥| BREAKING NOW: Top military officials in France have warned French President Emmanuel Macron that he will be arrested in the coming days unless order is restored to the country immediately.
Things are heating up big time! pic.twitter.com/LCIP2J77R4
— Cillian (@CilComLFC) July 8, 2023
Verdict: False
The claim stems from a Jul. 6 article published by “The People’s Voice,” a website that is known for spreading “fake news.”
Fact Check:
Macron received a severed human finger in the mail earlier this week, Fox News reported Friday. The incident comes amid protests impacting the country after Nahel Merzouk, a teenager of Algerian descent, was fatally shot by police on Jun. 27, according to the New York Post.
“French Military Say They Are Prepared To Arrest Macron for Treason,” the headline, shared via the Twitter post and viewed over 700,000 times, purports.
The claim is false and stems from a Jul. 6 article published by the website “The People’s Voice.” A “Liability Disclaimer” included on the site’s “Terms of Use” page indicates it “makes no representations about the suitability, reliability, availability, timeliness, and accuracy of the information, software, products, services and related graphics contained on the site for any purpose.”
The site, which has previously been known as “NewsPunch” and “YourNewsWire,” is described as “one of the most well-known purveyors of fake news online,” according to a 2019 article from Mashable. (RELATED: Viral Video Of Apple Store Being Looted Predates French Protests)
In addition, the article claims 20 senior military officers produced a letter warning Macron would be arrested if law and order was not immediately restored to the country. The article also claims the letter has been circulating in both France and Britain.
Check Your Fact found no credible news reports supporting the claim, and Macron has not referenced the claim on his website or verified social media accounts. Furthermore, neither the French Minister of the Interior and Overseas Gerald Darmanin nor the French Ministry of the Armed Forces has publicly released a statement addressing the claim.
Check Your Fact has contacted Darmanin and the French Ministry of the Armed Forces for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received.
