Says President Trump’s limousine driver did burnouts to entertain Daytona 500 spectators during a rain delay.
Stand up for the facts!
Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy.
We need your help.
I would like to contribute
No, the presidential limo wasn’t doing burnouts at the Daytona 500
Did President Donald Trump’s limousine driver put the rubber to the road and do burnouts in Cadillac One at the Daytona 500?
Sorry to disappoint, but no.
A Facebook post shares an altered image of such a scene, along with a caption that says, "the presidential limo driver entertains the crowd during the rain delays at the Daytona 500 with smokey burnouts."
The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)
The president and first lady did attend the Feb. 16 event, and multiple media organizations reported Trump’s limo took a warmup lap around the track.
Featured Fact-check
But the driver did not decide to use the official state car of the president of the United States to do some smoky burnouts, in the rain no less.
Beyond the Facebook post, we found the altered image in a tweet that said: "This is what we needed at the #DAYTONA500 is for @realDonaldTrump limo to do a burnout." The image then got passed around as authentic.
If such a thing happened in the First Car, we would all know about it.
We rate this altered photo an extra-smoky Pants on Fire!
Our Sources
Facebook post, Feb. 16, 2020
Twitter, image tweet, Feb. 16, 2020
Time, President Trump Takes Warmup Lap at Daytona 500 in Limousine, Feb. 17, 2020
Browse the Truth-O-Meter
More by Samantha Putterman
No, the presidential limo wasn’t doing burnouts at the Daytona 500
Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!
In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.