The claim: An image shows a June 14 statement from Donald Trump during the January 6 hearings
in the middle of the House Select Committee hearings Investigating the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol, some allege online that former President Donald Trump made a statement about the hearings on his birthday.
A Facebook post shared June 14 shows a purported statement bearing Trump’s trademark “Save America”. Trump is said to have said in the statement that on January 6, 2021, he was flushing hearings that suggested people “peacefully stormed the Capitol” and asked his supporters for donations.
“I got saliva in the back of my throat when I read this!” reads the caption of the message.
Another Facebook post shared June 14 with the purported statement includes a caption that says, “I really thought this was fake at first.” Similar posts have been widely circulated on facebook and tweet.
But the picture of the alleged statement has changed. USA TODAY has found no evidence that the statement exists on any of Trump’s social media accounts or his personal website.
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USA TODAY reached out to the social media users who shared the claim for comment.
Statement is made up
The alleged statement is fake, Liz Harrington, Trump’s spokesperson, told USA TODAY in an email.
“It’s also going around on Twitter with a lie that I posted it and deleted the tweet,” Harrington said. “I don’t even use Twitter anymore to post President Trump’s real statements.”
Checking facts† Image of Costco gas pump screen blaming Biden is fabricated
USA TODAY has not found the alleged statement on Trump’s personal websiteto be Truth Social Account or in any case credible news stories† Archived versions of his website also show no trace of the statement.
The only explanation Trump posted on June 14th his personal website featured an endorsement from Abraham Hamadeh for the Arizona Attorney General. Nowhere in that statement is language from the fabricated statement used or mentions the January 6 hearings.
Our rating: Modified
Based on our research, we are reviewing ALTERED an image purporting to show a June 14 statement from Trump about the January 6 hearings. The statement in the Facebook post was fabricated, his spokesperson said. It was not posted on Trump’s personal website or his Truth Social account.
Our fact-checking resources:
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Liz Harrington, June 17, email exchange with US TODAY
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Donald Trump, consulted on June 20, Personal website
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Donald Trump, June 14 Endorsement of Abraham Hamadeh
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USA TODAY, June 11, What did Americans learn from the January 6 commission hearing about the Capitol attack?
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Donald Trump, consulted on June 20, Truth Social Profile Page
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Reuters, June 16, Fact Check-Image Claiming To Show Trump’s Statement About Flushing Jan 6 Notes In A Toilet Is Made Up
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Liz Harrington, consulted on June 20 Twitter profile page
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USA TODAY, June 10, A ‘refined’ 7-part plan. ‘Slip in people’s blood’: Prime-time takeaways January 6 hearing
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USA TODAY, June 12, Congressional hearings create historic moments, but their ultimate impact varies
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Check your fact, June 17, FACT CHECK: HAS DONALD TRUMP PUBLISHED THIS STATEMENT ON JANUARY 6TH FLUSHING NOTES IN THE TOILET?
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USA TODAY, June 16, Trump lawyer who pressured Pence to turn down voters asked for pardon after January 6: Summary
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WayBack Machine, June 14 Archive of Donald Trump’s personal website
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Donald Trump’s made-up statement is circulating online