Fauxtography

Numerous photographs and videos circulate on the Internet. Some are real. Some are fake. Some are real, but have been given false backstories.

Is This a Picture of a Shirtless Trump? Reverse image search is your friend.

False

No, ‘The Squad’ Didn’t Pose Wearing Swastika Dresses The so-called "Squad" in the U.S. Congress is the frequent target of disinformation.

False

Did Rep. Pramila Jayapal Go Maskless in Congress? Rumors swirled after a pro-Trump mob broke into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Miscaptioned

Did Vendor ‘Nah’ Sell $100 Trump Sweatshirts? This is a real photo but ...

Miscaptioned

Do Photos Show Rioters with Zip Cuffs at US Capitol? Photographs of the insurrectionist mob that stormed the Capitol showed several rioters ready with zip-tie...

True

Was the Oval Office Trashed During the Capitol Riot? Damage done to areas of the Capitol during a pro-Trump siege was quite real.

False

Is the Ruyi Bridge in China Real? The fantastical architecture of the Ruyi Bridge in China led some to believe that it...

True

Fake CNN Report: COVID Vaccine Recipients Become Cannibals Sharing doctored CNN news chyrons is a cottage industry on social media platforms.

False

This photo is rumored to be the horngus of a dongfish.

Is This the Horngus of a Dongfish? The dongfish lives in the online world, but in no other habitat.

False

Was US Sen. David Perdue Photographed Making a ‘White Power’ Gesture? We know the photograph of the Georgia senator is real.

Unproven

Did Pilot ‘Draw’ Syringe in Sky to Celebrate COVID-19 Vaccine? But the drawing wasn't exactly visible in the sky.

True

Are These US Space Force Uniform Concepts Real? The Trump administration established the Space Force as a separate military branch in December 2019.

Miscaptioned