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.

More Info

I would like to contribute

Samantha Putterman
By Samantha Putterman June 30, 2020

Image of toddler in KKK garb isn’t of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. It was taken before he was born

If Your Time is short

  • The photograph was taken before Kemp was born.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is not the toddler photographed wearing a Ku Klux Klan outfit with his mother.

But some posts on Facebook are sharing an old photo that says this is the case.

The black-and-white image shows a young boy and a woman wearing KKK attire and displays text that says, "Just so you know this is Governor Kemp and his Mother."

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.) 

Featured Fact-check

There is no evidence the image shows Georgia’s current governor, or his mother. 

The original photograph appears on Getty Images with a caption that notes that the identities of the woman and child are unknown.

Getty notes that the image was created on April 27, 1956. Brian Kemp wasn’t born until Nov. 2, 1963, so it’s not possible that he could be the boy pictured.

We rate this miscaptioned photo Pants on Fire!

Our Sources

Browse the Truth-O-Meter

More by Samantha Putterman

Image of toddler in KKK garb isn’t of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. It was taken before he was born

Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!

In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.

Sign me up