Fact Check

Did Lauren Boebert Ask Why Africans Immigrated to US 'If They Didn't Want To Be Slaves?'

A close reading of the username behind this question provides important context.

Alex Kasprak

Published Dec. 28, 2023

(Twitter)
Image courtesy of Twitter
Claim:
Rep. Lauren Boebert, on the social media platform X, asked, "Why did the Africans immigrate here if they didn't want to be slaves?"
Rating:
False
False

About this rating

In late December 2023, as GOP Presidential hopeful Nikki Haley's answer to the question "What caused the Civil War?" went viral, a purported post by Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., on X gained traction as well — as "the worst" post about the Civil War:

The screenshot did not capture a real post by the congresswoman. Instead, it was a post from a spoof account, @LaurenBoobert, that has since been suspended. Boebert's official handle on X is @RepBoebert.

Because Boebert did not author the pictured post, the claim is False.

Sources

“@FaithRubPol.” X (Formerly Twitter), https://twitter.com/FaithRubPol/status/1740236575966183739. Accessed 28 Dec. 2023.

“Nikki Haley, Asked What Caused the Civil War, Leaves out Slavery. It’s Not the First Time.” AP News, 28 Dec. 2023, https://apnews.com/article/haley-election-civil-war-slavery-a509ff9d7cc5e271c42592276b75735c.

“@RepBoebert.” X (Formerly Twitter), https://twitter.com/RepBoebert. Accessed 28 Dec. 2023.
 

By Alex Kasprak

Alex Kasprak is an investigative journalist and science writer reporting on scientific misinformation, online fraud, and financial crime.